Pentax SP 500 User manual

INDEX


                                      Mercury battery : 16
Introduction 1
                                           Flash synchronization 17
Major working parts of the Honeywell
                                          Important notes 18
Pentax SP 500 2
                                               Infra-red photography 20
Specifications 4
                             How to make deliberate double exposure
Short operating course 6
                                     20
How to hold your camera 8
                                           Difference of angle of Takumar lenses 22
Film loading 9
                                    Takumar interchangeable lenses 23
Film wind and rewind 10
                                              Specifications of Takumar lenses 32
Bright field focusing 11
                                      Complete system of Honeywell Pentax
Microprism 11
                                             accessories for
Automatic diaphragm 12
                                                 close-ups, macrophotography'
Shutter 13
                                        photomicrography and
Depth-of-field guide 13
                                                other miscellaneous accessories 33
Depth-of-field tables 14
                                        Spot exposure meter III 39
Range of light measurement 15
                                        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.

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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.

Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
                                            DN: cn=Mike Butkus, o=Butkus camera manuals,
                                                 ou=butkus.org, email=mike@butkus.org, c=USMike Butkus    Date: 2023.02.05 10:40:04 -05'00'





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--Winding indicator

H--D ring lug

I --Focusing ring

J--X flash terminal

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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

                                   U--Exposure counter index mark
S--Diaphragm and distance index
mark
                                   V-- Depth-of- field guide

T--Distance scale

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.

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.

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Film Advance
Ratchet-type rapid wind lever (for film advance and
shutter winding). 10° pre-advancing and 160 degrees
advancing angle.

"Wound" Indicator
A red disk appears in a small window alongside the
shutter release button when the shutter is wound, 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 wound
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.)

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.

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                          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. Wind 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.)

How to hold your camera
                       In vertical position B.   In vertical position C.
In horizontal position                      Hold your camera       Hold your camera tightly
A. Hold the camera
                             tightly to your forehead   to your forehead with
firmly with your left
                        with your left hand, and   your left hand, raise your
hand, and draw your arm
                      draw your right arm     arm and draw your left
close to your body.
                          close to your body.      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.

  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.

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                 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.

Film Type Reminder dial                   Setting ASA film speed





                               The ASA film speed rating of all
                          35mm films is given in the data sheet
Use the film type dial to show what     packed with each roll of film. The
type of film is in your camera. Simply   higher the ASA number, the more
turn the dial so that the type of film in   sensitive the film. Lift the outer ring
the camera is opposite the A mark. To   of the shutter speed dial and rotate it
check whether the camera is loaded,     until the ASA number of your film is
turn the film rewind knob clockwise.    opposite the red index mark. Be sure
If it turns freely, the camera is not       to set your film speed on the shutter
loaded.                              speed dial because the dial is
                                     connected to the exposure meter
                                      system.

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                          Film wind and rewind

                           1. Before turning the rapid wind lever, slowly turn the film
                      rewind knob clockwise until a slight resistance is felt. This
                        prevents loosening or warping of the film.

                           2. The first portions of the film cannot be used for picture taking
                         as they have already been exposed to light. Generally, two blank
                       exposures should be made before taking your first picture. Wind
                         the rapid wind lover until it stops. Watch to see that the film
                      rewind knob turns counterclockwise, indicating that the film is
                    moving from cassette to take-up spool. Trip the shutter. Wind the
                         rapid wind lever for the first picture; the exposure counter
                         automatically turns to '1', indicating that the first picture is ready
                           to be taken.

                           3. After the final picture on the roll (20 or 36 exposures) has been
                          taken, the rapid wind- lever will not turn all the way as you stroke
                                       it. This indicates that the final picture has been taken on your
                           film, and that the film must be rewound. DON'T open the back of
                         the camera, or all exposed frames will be ruined.


4. Unfold the film rewind crank.

5. Depress the film rewind release button. Turn the rewind crank to rewind the film into the film
cassette. The film rewind crank permits rewinding at a smooth, even rate. (Under some atmospheric
conditions, erratic or too rapid rewinding will cause static electricity marks on the film.) You will
feel the tension on the rewind crank lessen as the leader end of the film slips off the take-up spool.

Stop rewinding when you feel this happen. AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHEN UNLOADING
YOUR FILM. (The rewind release button will return to normal position as you lead your next film
and turn the rapid wind lever.)

6. Pull out the film rewind knob (the back will open automatically), and remove the film cassette.


Bright field focusing

1. You can start viewing and focusing before and
after winding the rapid wind lever. When the
preview lever is in "A" (automatic) position, and
the meter is at "OFF the diaphragm is fully open
except for the moment of exposure.

2. Turn the distance scale ring until your subject
image is clearly in focus. It is not always
necessary for you to view and focus with the
diaphragm fully open. In bright sunlight, you can
easily focus with diaphragm closed to f/5.6 or f/8,
and still observe the depth of field. It is easier,
however, to focus with the diaphragm fully open
as your subject image is much brighter. When the
letter "M" appears beside the lever, the lens is in
manual position; when "A" appears, it is in
automatic position.





                  Microprism

                   Honeywell Pentax cameras have a Fresnel lens with a
                    microprism center underneath the ground glass. As you
                    look through the finder, you will see that the Fresnel
                      lens consists of many concentric rings which provide the
                       brightest possible image on the ground glass.

                 The microprism is the center portion of this diagram.
               When your subject is in focus, the image in the
                    microprism will be sharp and perfectly clear. If your
                      subject is not in focus, the microprism will break the
                   image up into many small dots, much like an engravers
                       screen. You can focus your subject on any portion of the
                   ground glass.

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Automatic diaphragm

When the preview lever is in "A"
(automatic) position, and the exposure
meter is turned to "OFF", the fully
automatic diaphragm is at its largest
aperture at all times, except for the
instant of exposure, no matter what
aperture is set on the diaphragm ring.
When you release the shutter, the
diaphragm automatically stops down to
the predetermined aperture and the
shutter curtains start traveling instantly.
When the exposure is completed, the
diaphragm reopens to maximum
aperture completely automatically and
you are ready to compose, focus, and
shoot your next pictures. If you wish to
visually check exact depth-of-field
before making the exposure, move the
preview lever to "M" Manual) position.
This stops the diaphragm to the aperture
selected and shows you exactly how
much depth-of-field will appear in your
picture. The preview lever may be
moved back to "A" (automatic) position
before or after making your exposure,
or, if you are making pictures in bright
sunlight, it may be left in manual
position, which permits a constant ('heck
of depth-of-field.


 * When the exposure meter switch is turned to the "on
position, the lens diaphragm changes from the automatic to
manual position even though the preview lever is in the "A"
(automatic) position. When the shutter is released, the lens
diaphragm will automatically return to its automatic
position if the lever is set on "A".

Shutter




Turn the shutter speed dial clock. wise or counter-
clockwise to the shutter speed desired. The shutter
speed may be set either before or after winding
the rapid wind lever. As you wind the shutter by
turning the rapid wind lever, the "wound"
indicator turns to red showing that the shutter is
wound.

The indicator window blacks out as you trip the
shutter button. For use of the X setting on the
shutter speed dial, refer to page 17.

With the shutter speed dial set on B (bulb), the
shutter will stay open as long as you depress the
shutter button. As you release your finger from
the shutter button, the shutter closes. When a long
exposure is desired while using the B setting,
attach a shutter release cable with a locking
device to the shutter button. This will permit a
"Time" exposure.

Cautions
1. At slow speeds-slower than 1/30 - support your camera rigidly or use a tripod to prevent
movement of your camera.

2. To protect the shutter mechanism, trip the shutter release before putting the camera out of use for
any extended period.

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Depth of field



                                   For example, if the lens opening of f/8 is to be
                                       used, the range on the distance scale ring covered
                                      within the figure 8 on the depth-of-field guide
                                         indicates the area in focus at the lens opening.
                            You will note from the depth-of-field guide in the
If you want to know how great the      photograph that the range from approximately 10
depth of field is at a certain aperture,    to 25 feet is in focus.
look at the depth-of-field guide. In the  Note that as the lens apertures change, the
above photograph, the distance scale    effective depth of field also changes. For the
is set at 15 feet . . . the lens is focused   depth of fields at different apertures and
on a subject 15 feet away. The           distances. refer to page 14.
calibrations on each side of the
distance index correspond to the      Depth of field is the range between the
diaphragm setting and indicate the     nearest and farthest distances which are
range of in-focus distance for          in focus at different lens apertures.
different lens apertures.

Range of light measurement





The exposure meter of the Spotmatic measures the brightness of the ground glass. Therefore, the meter
should be turned on after you have focused your subject on the ground glass. The following table shows the
range of the meter's light measurement, and should not be interpreted as the camera's total range of f/stop-
shutter speed combinations.
As you will note from the table below, with an ASA100 film, you may use any shutter speed from 1 sec. to
1/500 sec. in combination with any aperture that will bring the meter needle to the midpoint in the
viewfinder. The total range of the aperture settings is, of course, determined by the minimum and maximum
apertures of the lens being used. For example, with the 50mm f/1.4 lens and ASA100 film, an aperture from
f/1.4 (the maximum aperture of this lens) to f/16 (the minimum aperture) may be used with any shutter
speed from 1 sec. to 1/500 sec. that will bring the meter needle to midpoint.

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Mercury battery - There are WEIN Air replacement batteries available that provides the accurate 1.3v
needed.





                     How to check it

                                     1. Set the shutter speed dial to B (bulb)
                                    position.

                                     2. Turn the ASA dial to ASA 100.

                                     3. Push the meter switch to "on" position.

                           Look at the meters needle through the
                                  viewfinder. If the needle rapidly drops, the
                               meter battery has sufficient capacity; if it
                              does not, replace the mercury battery.

                     How to replace it Open the battery housing
                               cover on the bottom cover plate with a coin.
                         Remove old battery and insert new battery
                               with (+) side toward the top of the camera.
                              For replacement, use Mallory PX-400 or
                         RM-400-R or equivalent.

                                 See this link on a Wein Air replacement battery.

CAUTION: The mercury battery is like a phonograph record. It can be damaged by skin acids.
Handle by the edges with a dry cloth only. Be sure the battery is cleaned with the cloth before
insertion into the camera. The battery is not rechargeable.

DANGER: A serious accident has been reported of a small child who has put a mercury battery
(any button battery) into his mouth and has been hospitalized for serious gripes and stomach
inflammation. Please, always keep a battery from the reach of small children

           Webmaster: see my page on mercury batteries


Flash synchronization



The Honeywell Pentax has two sets of terminals --FP and X.
The table below shows which flash contact, which shutter
speed and which flash bulb may be combined for maximum
lamp efficiency. Unless these combinations are rigidly
followed, there will be a failure in flash synchronization. Note
the "X" setting is exactly at the 60 marked on the speed dial.
This indicates the highest shutter speed at which Honeywell
Strobonars or other electronic flash units may be used.

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 Important notes
  1. Always keep the meter switched off when not actually
  taking readings. Leaving the meter switched on will rapidly
  exhaust the battery. It is also necessary to keep the meter
 switched off when mounting a Super-Takumar lens on the
 Spotmatic camera body. If it is switched on, the tip of the
  automatic diaphragm release pin of the lens will hit the pin
  release plate inside the camera body and it may get damaged.

  2. When the index of the shutter speeds turns to red, it indicates
  that the shutter and film speed settings are off the meters
  measurability range. Change the shutter speed setting to a faster
  or slower setting. Refer to page 15.

  3. When the meter is switched on, the lens any Super-Takumar
  lens) is in its manual position even when the diaphragm
 preview lever is in "A" (automatic) position. When the meter is
 switched off manually, or automatically after shutter release,
  the lens returns to its automatic position when it is set in "A"
  position.





4. Exposure increase factors which apply when taking pictures
with filters, close-ups, macro- and micro-photos. do not apply to
the Spotmatic.

5. The length of the tripods screw should not exceed the normal
length of 3/16" 4.5mm). Do not extend it longer than this length
when mounting your camera on tripod. Forcing longer screws
into the tripod socket of the camera will damage the mechanism.

6. We do not guarantee the quality of photographs when brands
other than Takumar lenses and Pentax accessories, such as lens
extenders, are used.