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Post by belgiumreporter on Sept 10, 2021 8:33:30 GMT -5
This Pentax SP 500 is the latest aquisition for the pentax collection. Every camera has a story to tell and this SP 500 is a rather funny one, the “500” in the name is a reference to its highest shutter speed, which is 1/500 of a second…or is it? Instead of re-designing the SP1000 a whole new shutter system to drop off at 1/500, they just changed out the shutter speed knob to one painted up to 1/500. You can turn the knob past 1/500 and you have 1/1000. This is how pentax made their "budget" model. Still i wonder if the loss on each body sold selling these models was compensated by the lack of investment costs in a new model? Here's the speed knob set on the 'ghost" 1/1000th sec
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Post by julio1fer on Sept 18, 2021 14:53:14 GMT -5
I have one of those, always wondered at the marketing acumen implied. The source for the printed disk must have been charging Pentax for each number in that little black disk.
BTW the 55/2 has a good reputation if my memory is not failing.
Spotmatics are good M42 platforms.
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casualcollector
Lifetime Member
In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on May 4, 2022 10:58:03 GMT -5
I think it was Herbert Keppler who opined that the unmarked detent was faster than 1/500 but usually out of spec for 1/1000. Similarly the 2.0/55 was the 1.8/55 with a fixed disc to reduce the aperture. This allowed use of elements with chipped edges rather than scrapping imperfect but otherwise good components. My recollection from my days behind the camera counter was that the SP500 and SP1000 bore "Made In Hong Kong" markings.
In a similar vein, The Canon TL and Mamiya/Sekor 500 DTL may have been made from bodies whose shutters were slightly out of spec at 1/1000 rather than investing additional labor to tune them up or scrapping them.
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Post by belgiumreporter on May 6, 2022 3:18:27 GMT -5
In a similar vein, The Canon TL and Mamiya/Sekor 500 DTL may have been made from bodies whose shutters were slightly out of spec at 1/1000 rather than investing additional labor to tune them up or scrapping them. Interesting info, this explains a lot on how these "second choice" cameras and lenses still were profitable because there was no need in investing in the developement of lower spec gear.
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