Asahi Pentax S1a 35mm SLR

[bigdawg]

A nice find. It at one time had the auxiliary light meter attached as the rub marks are still on the satin chrome to attest to it's one time presence. A minimalist camera as there is no coupled light meter and no battery needed. Basically a Spotmatic without the meter. Again if you go one click past 500 on the shutter speed dial you will get 1/1000th shutter speed. True trust me. No split focus so it is a tad harder to get spot on but a very good bright viewfinder. I like it. Same as the Honeywell Asahi H1a. 1962 vintage.

[Deleted]

IMO the S(H)1A is one of the nicest looking and feeling cameras ever made. It fit my hand perfectly. In the late '60s I had one someone had purchased in Japan with the 50mm, 35mm and 200mm Takumar lenses. You need to get an f/2 of f/1.8 Tak for it. That Carl Zeiss lens clashes with the smmoth lines of the camera.

[bigdawg]

Jan 1, 2012 13:45:20 GMT -5 @wayne said:

IMO the S(H)1A is one of the nicest looking and feeling cameras ever made. It fit my hand perfectly. In the late '60s I had one someone had purchased in Japan with the 50mm, 35mm and 200mm Takumar lenses. You need to get an f/2 of f/1.8 Tak for it. That Carl Zeiss lens clashes with the smooth lines of the camera.

Ha-ha. It may clash with the design but it does take great photos. I have 2 55 f/1.8 Takumars that came with some of my other Spotmatics. I had a 50 f/1.4 but have sold it since I got the 50mm f/1.8 Pancolar and my 50mm f/4 Flektogon. Just like the CZJ's a little better.

Here it is with a 55 f/2.

[bigdawg]

S1a with a 55 f/2

[lloydy]

Pentax S1a & Soligor 400 / 6.3
The S1a is without a doubt one of my favorite cameras, I've only just got the Soligor and only tried on my NEX5 so far, I think I'll like the lens as well.

[col]

I once owned a black S1a. passing through Paris airport ( many yearrs ago) part of my baggage vanished .. I guess over the years some light fingered bugger got some good use out of it