Pentax SP500 Setup guide

Pentax SP 500
On line manual
Posted 11-27-'02
This manual can be used as a reference for many "Auto" cameras
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INDEX
Introduction 1
Major working parts of the Honeywell Pentax SP
500 2
Specifications 4
Short operating course 6
How to hold your camera 8
Film loading 9
Film wind and rewind 10
Bright field focusing 11
Microprism 11
Automatic diaphragm 12
Shutter 13
Depth-of-field guide 13
Depth-of-field tables 14
Range of light measurement 15
Mercury battery : 16
Flash synchronization 17
Important notes 18
Infra-red photography 20
How to make deliberate double exposure 20
Difference of angle of Takumar lenses 22
Takumar interchangeable lenses 23
Specifications of Takumar lenses 32
Complete system of Honeywell Pentax
accessories for
close-ups, macrophotography'
photomicrography and
other miscellaneous accessories 33
Spot exposure meter III 39
Asahi Pentax warranty policy 40
Honeywell Pentax SP 500
This is the Pentax SP 500—another proud member of the world-famous Pentax family whose name
has become synonymous with design innovations and precision craftsmanship in 35mm single-
lens-reflex cameras. When the first Pentax Spotmatic was introduced to the public at the 1960
PHOTOKINA, the world's largest photographic fair, in Cologne, Germany, it attracted the instant
and close attention of photographers and photographic engineers alike. Not available for purchase
at that time, it was a model of the advanced design and features that would be incorporated into
cameras of the future. Pentax cameras and other brands as well. Several years of extensive research

preceded its introduction, and four more years of research and experimentation. followed before the
meticulous Pentax engineers and technicians felt the camera was truly ready.
At last, in late 1964, it reached the eager hands of serious amateur and professional photographers
around the world. Like that early Spotmatic your Honeywell Pentax SP 500 is a computer camera.
Hidden Within its body, its unique, behind-the-lens exposure meter utilizes two highly sensitive
Cadmium Sulphide sensors to accurately measure the light gathered by the camera's lens as it is
reflected from the subject being photographed. Therefore, by measuring the light as it passes
through the lens and matching the exposure needle as seen through the viewfinder, you can be
assured of properly exposed pictures under all but the most impossible lighting conditions. Whether
you're using special, macro- or microphotographic lenses, telephoto lenses, or simply filters on
normal lenses, your Honeywell Pentax SP 500 will give you correctly exposed photographs without
the use of external meters or the need for difficult, time-consuming exposure calculations! Your SP
500 may also be set manually the same as any other quality 35mm camera if special lighting or
selective focus effects are desired. Just leave the exposure meter switch in its OFF position and
select the f/stop and speed settings for the desired effect. The traditional classic design and simple
elegance associated with earlier models of the famous Pentax have been retained in the SP 500
despite the incorporation of many highly advanced features and many internal improvements that
have been developed over the years.
Like the other members of the Pentax family, the Honeywell Pentax SP 500 has a 42mm threaded
lens mount that accepts any of the superb Takumar lenses from the ultra-wide-angle 17mm
Takumar to the super telephoto 1000mm Takumar, a wide range of optics that will satisfy the
demands of even the most critical professional. Moreover, the list of fine accessories is always
growing—to help you keep growing photographically.4w ww.butkus.org

A--Shutter speed index
B--Shutter speed dial
C--Rapid wind lever
D--ASA film speed setting
E--Shutter release
F--Automatic reset exposure counter
G--Cocked indicator
H--D ring lug
I --Focusing ring
J--X flash terminal
K--FP flash
terminal
L--Preview
lever
M--
Exposure
meter switch
N--Film type
reminder dial
0--Rewind
knob
P--Rewind
crank
Q--Film type
index mark
R--Diaphragm ring
S--Diaphragm and distance index mark
T--Distance scale4www.butkus.org
U--Exposure counter index mark
V-- Depth-of- field guide

Specifications
Type
35mm single-lens reflex with built-in light meter.
Film and Picture Size
35mm film (20 or 36exposures). 24mm x 36mm.
Standard Lenses
Super -Takumar 50mm f/1.4 or 55mm f/l.8 with
fully automatic diaphragm. Filters and lens hood
size: 49mm. Equipped with diaphragm preview
lever which affords visual check of depth of field.
Distance scale: 45cm (18") 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. Shutter
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 meters
measurability range. Refer to page 15.4ww w.butkus.org
Finder
Pentaprism finder with microprism Fresnel lens for instant focusing; 0.88x magnification with
50mm 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 degrees
advancing angle.
"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
Lens Mount
42mm threaded lens mount.
Flash Synchronization
Equipped with FP and X flash terminals. Electronic
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
1600 (LV1-18 for ASA-100 film with standard lens.)
Meter is powered with a mercury battery. (Wein Air
replacements)
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.
Loaded Film Indicator
Loaded film reminder dial underneath film rewind knob is marked "PANCHRO" (black and-
white), "COLOR" and "EMPTY."
Dimension
Width 5.6" (143mm) x height 3.6" (92mm) x thickness 3.4" 88mm).
Weight
868 grams (1 lb. 14 oz.) with standard lens, Body alone: 621 grams (1 lb. 6 oz.)

Short-course operating manual
1. SET FILM SPEED.
Lift the outer ring of the shutter speed dial, turn it
around and set the same number as 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. SET SHUTTER SPEED.
Turn the shutter speed dial and set the speed you
wish to use to the index. When outdoors, 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 item 5, page 19.)4ww w.butkus.org
3. COMPOSE 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. TURN ON LIGHT METER SWITCH.
Push up the switch button with your thumb, and the
small window on the switch button will turn to red
indicating that the meter is switched on. Through the
viewfinder, you will observe the movement of the
meters needle on the right side of the ground glass. Be
sure to turn off the meters 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 center,
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 remain fixed off and underneath the 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.)4www.butkus.org

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 vertical position B
.
Hold your camera
tightly to your forehead
with your left hand, and
draw your right arm
close to your body.
In vertical position C
.
Hold your camera tightly
to your forehead with
your left hand, raise your
arm and draw your left
arm to your body.
As a general 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 movement
of the camera. When you focus with the
camera held horizontally (Position A),
hold the lens barrel as illustrated in
photograph.4www.butkus.org
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 index 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,
enabling you to compose, focus and shoot with a minimum of time and effort.

Film loading
Avoid direct sunlight when loading your film.
1. Open the back by pulling out the rewind knob until back cover snaps open.
2. Place the film cassette into the cassette chamber, and push back the rewind knob. Draw out the
film leader and crease across one or two perforations back from the end of the leader. Insert the
creased portion into slot of the take-up spool.
3. Advance the film by alternately turning the rapid wind lever and releasing the shutter until both
sprockets have properly engaged the film perforations. Close the back by pressing it firmly.
4. If the film is properly loaded, the rewind knob will turn counter-
clockwise when you advance the
film by turning the rapid wind lever.