Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic IIa User manual

HONEYWELL PENTAX
SPOTMATIC Ila*
\
OPERATING MANUAL

Index
Introduction.
Major working parts of the Honeywell Pentax Spotinatic Ila
Specifications.
Short operating course.
How to hold your camera.
Film loading.
Film wind and rewind.
Bright field focusing .
Microprism .
Automatic diaphragm.
Shutter.
Depth-of-field guide.
Depth-of-field tables.
Range of light measurement.
Mercury battery .
Flash synchronization.
Strobo-eye remote sensor.
Important notes.
Self-timer.
Infra-red photography.
How to make deliberate double exposure
Difference of angle of Takumar lenses.
Takumar interchangeable lenses.
Specifications of Takumar lenses.
Complete system of Honeywell Pentax accessories
for close-ups, macrophotography, photomicrography
and other miscellaneous accessories
Spot exposure meter III.
Honeywell Pentax warranty policy.
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HONEYWELL PENTAX
SPOTMATIC Ila
Your Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic ITa is the most advanced photo¬
graphic tool on the market today.
With its unique Strobo-Eye you have the capability for automatic elec¬
tronic flash ... off camera or on ... bounced , or direct... from 2' to 40'
... with a choice of f/stops.
There is no comparable system.
The Super-Multi-Coated Takumar is an unbeatable lens. The Super-
Multi-Coated Takumar reduces flare and boosts contrast to a degree far
beyond what was previously possible in optical technology. It is a tougher
coating than is available on any competitive lenses and results in pictures
with more detail and richer colors than is possible with any other sys¬
tem at any price.
The Spotmatic Ila itself is an outgrowth and refinement of the original
Spotmatic which introduced through-the-lens metering to the world of
photography. Its stopped-down metering system is the most accurate
method for perfect exposure determination. It also automatically gives
you a depth-of-field preview. It is an averaging system for the easiest
and most dependable exposures in typical picture-taking situations. This
metering system has been refined and improved each year in the Spot¬
matic to a degree of accuracy unmatched in the industry.
The original Spotmatic was the most compact 35mm SLR made. The
Spotmatic Ila retains that same traditional compactness and classic feel.
It also is designed for use with the accessories from the Pentax system, in¬
cluding all of the superb Takumar lens ranging from the ultra-wide-angle
17mm Takumar up to the super-telephoto 1000mm Takumar. The Pentax
system can grow with you as your interests develop in any direction.
This is today's most advanced photographic system. Its unique auto¬
matic electronic flash capability, its superior Super-Multi-Coated Taku¬
mar and classical Pentax body make this a camera we are very proud
to market.
We are sure you will be just as proud to own it.

A — Self-timer cocking lever
B — D-ring lug
C — Shutter release
D — Shutter speed dial
E — Shutter speed index
F — Hot shoe flash contact
G — Hot shoe
H — Film rewind crank
I — Film rewind knob
J — Strobo-Eye sensor
K — Exposure meter switch
L — Preview lever
M — FP flash terminal
N — X flash terminal

Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic I la
O ~
P -
Q-
R -
S -
T -
U -
Distance scale
Diaphragm and distance index
Diaphragm ring
ExjTOSure counter index
Automatic reset exposure
counter
"Cocked” indicator
ASA film speed setting
V — Rapid wind lever
W — F/stop scale
X — F/stop index
Y — ASA scale
Z — ASA index
AA — Range indexes
BB — Depth-of-field guide
CC — Focusing ring

Specifications
Type
35iTim single-lens reflex with built-in light meter.
Film and Picture Size
35mm film (20 or 30 exposures). 24mm x 36mm.
Standard Lenses
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4 or 55mm
f/1.8with fully automatic diaphragm. Filters and
lenshood size: 49mm. Equipped with diaphragm
preview lever which affords visual check of depth
of field. Distance scale: 18' (45cm) to infinity.
Shutter
Focal plane shutter, with single non-rotating dial.
Speeds: B, 1 — 1 /1000 sec. Film speed (ASA) setting
dial and window on shutter speed dial. Built-in
self-timer releases shutter in 5-13 seconds. Shut¬
ter curtains of special rubberized silk.
Warning Signal
The index of shutter speeds turns to red when the
shutter and film speed settings are off the meter’s
measurability range. Refer to page 20.
Finder
Pentaprism finder with microprism Fresnel lens
for instant focusing; 0.88 X magnification with 50
mm lens and approximately life-size with 55mm
lens.
Focusing
Turn the distance scale ring until the subject image
on the ground glass comes into focus.
Reflex Mirror
Instant return type with special shock absorbers
for minimum vibration.
Film Advance
Ratchet type rapid wind lever (for film advance
and shutter cocking). 10’ pre-advancing and 160°
advancing angle.

Lens Mount
42mm threaded lens mount.
"Cocked” indicator
A red disk appears in a small window alongside
the shutter release button when the shutter is
cocked, and blacks out when it is released.
Film Exposure Counter
Automatic re set type.
Flash Synchronization
Equipped with FP and X flash terminals. Elec¬
tronic synchronization at 1/60 sec.
Exposure Meter
Built-in meter measures the brightness of the
ground glass, and couples directly to shutter and
film speed settings. Film speed (ASA) setting
ranges from 20 to 3200 (LVl-28 for ASA-100 film
with standard lens). Mefer is powered with a
mercury battery.
Film Rewind
Rapid rewind crank for speedy film take-up. Film
rewind release button on bottom of camera body
rotates while film is being rewound.
Strobo-Eye Electronic Flash Sensor
Built-in sensor measures reflected light from Stro-
bonar. Film Speed (ASA) setting ranges from 25
to 400. Selection of f/stop setting gives depth-of-
field and/or range.
Strobo-Eye Sensor Measuring Angle
12 degrees.
Dimension
Width S.S" (143mm) x height 3.66" (93mm) x
thickness 3.4* (88mm).
Weight
1 lb. 11 oz. (853 grams) with 50mm f/1.4 lens.
Body alone: 1 lb. 4 oz. (622 grams).

Short operating course
A mercury battery for the light meter is packed separately. Please be
sure to insert it into the battery housing before operating the camera.
For battery insertion, refer to page 16.
1. S ET FILM SPEED
Lift the outer ring of the shutter speed dial,
and rotate to set the ASA number of the
loaded film to the small red index which
appears alongside the figure 1. Then cock
the rapid wind lever.
2. S ET SHUTTER SPEED
Turn the shutter speed dial and set the speed
you wish to use to the index. When out¬
doors, set the speed at 1/125 sec. or faster,
depending upon the lighting. When indoors,
set it at 1/30, or in its neighborhood. Change
the shutter speed later, when necessary.
(Refer to instruction 5, page 7.)
3. C OMPOSE AND FOCUS
While viewing through the viewfinder, turn
the distance scale ring with your thumb and
index finger until you get the sharpest image
of your subject at the microprism center of
the finder.

4. T URN ON LIGHT METER SWITCH
Push up the switch button with your thumb.
Through the viewfinder, you will observe the
movement of the meter’s needle on the right
side of the ground glass. Be sure to turn off
the meter’s switch when not actually taking
readings.
5. ROTATE DIAPHRAGM RING
The needle moves up and down with the turn
of the diaphragm ring. When the needle rests
at the centre, you will get correct exposure.
If the needle does not come to the center no
matter how far you turn the diaphragm ring,
change the shutter speed. When the needle is
off center and close to the (+) mark, you will
get over-exposure: change the shutter speed
to a faster setting. If the needle is closer to
the (—) mark, you will get under-exposure:
change the shutter speed to a slower setting.
6. RELEASE SHUTTER
Hold your camera firmly and trip the shutter.
When the shutter is released, the meter switch
will automatically turn off, and the needle
will drop to the "OFF” position below center.
The diaphragm will reopen to its full aperture
and the overall image will look brighter. Cock
the rapid wind lever for the next picture.
(When taking a series of pictures under the
same lighting conditions, it is not necessary
to repeat instructions 4 and 5.;
7. S ET STROBO-EYE FOR ELECTRONIC
FLASH
Pull up the rewind knob. Set the ASA num¬
ber of your film opposite the ASA index.
Turn the outer dial to position the ASA in¬
dex opposite the desired range mark. Set
your lens to the f/stop indicated by the f/
stop index. Refer to page 18.
7

How to hold your camera
In horizontal position A. Hold
the camera firmly with your
left hand, and draw your arm
close to your body.
In vortical position B. Hold
your camera tightly to your fore¬
head with your left hand, and
draw your right arm close to
your body.
In vortical position C. Hold
your camera tightly to your fore¬
head with your left hand, raise
your right arm and draw your
left arm to your body.
As a genera] rule, your camera should
be held more firmly by the left hand
which does not release the shutter.
If you hold your camera with the
right hand—the hand which releases
the shutter — it may cause camera
movement. Very often, pictures
which are not sharp are due to move¬
ment of the camera. When you focus
with the camera held horizontally
(Position A), hold the lens barrel as
illustrated in photograph. Put the
camera on your left hand thumb and
little finger. Turn the distance scale
ring with your thumb and index
finger. When holding the camera
vertically, some people release the
shutter with the thumb (Position B),
while others release it with the in¬
dex finger (Position C). Position C
is more desirable for fast focusing
and shooting. With the Honeywell
Pentax, whether held vertically or
horizontally, you see your subject
image through the taking lens, ena¬
bling you to compose, focus and shoot
with a minimum of time and effort.