Episode 75: The Definitive Pentax Podcast with Gerjan van Oosten

A brand of camera that we've talked quite a bit about on this show is Pentax, but in every episode where this brand came up, the same book and author gets brought up as a great resource for screw mount Pentax and Takumar lenses, which is "The Ultimate/Definitive Asahi Pentax Collector's Guide 1952-1977" by Gerjan van Oosten.  While this is a great book to read, this is a podcast, so we like to talk to people, so for Episode 75, rather than continue to talk about a book, we went straight to the source and got the book's author, Gerjan van Oosten to join us! For this episode, we were missing Theo, but joining Anthony, Paul, Mike, and Gerjan are returning callers Patrick Casey and Wannes Scheipers.  Gerjan discusses some of his least favorite Takumar lenses, backwards compatibility of Takumar lenses, what's so special about the 8-element Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lenses, why the Spotmatic doesn't actually have a spot meter, what Honeywell had to do with Pentax, export market cameras like the Asahiflex H2 and Asahi Pentar, and a fun discussion about a prototype camera called the Pentax Metalica. In addition to Pentax camera and lens GAS, we get into discussions about why so many early SLRs had 58mm lenses, a little bit of Nikon history, Anthony's recent habit of breaking into churches, shooting the Horseman Convertible, and Mike's thoughts on the Leica M5. Gerjan covers his book and that there's three editions of the camera, all with significant changes from the earlier versions.  Only the latest 2023 edition is currently for sale direct from him, so if you're interested in buying this excellent book straight from him, he sells them direct on eBay at the following link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/335212596808 We had a lot of fun recording this episode, but we will be taking a break from new shows for a little while.  Although we have some ideas for future shows, nothing is planned at the moment, nor do we know when the next episode will be recorded, so be sure to look out for our show announcements on our Camerosity Podcast Facebook page, the Camerosity Discord server, and right here on mikeeckman.com. We usually record every other Monday and announcements, along with the Zoom link are typically shared 2-3 days in advance. In This Episode Introducing Gerjan van Oosten / Pentax ES II Recommendations for Takumar Lenses for Someone Getting Started / Gerjan Won't Recommend These Three Lenses Takumar 17mm and 20mm Fisheyes Are "Art Lenses" The Mystique of the Takumar 50mm f/1.4 8-Element Lens Asahi Started making cameras with a 35mm SLR / Mike Loves the Asahiflex / Are the Earlier Cameras Built Better? M42 Version of the Takumar 58mm f/2.4 Lens / Mike Doesn't Love the 58mm Focal Length Paul Made Mike Buy a Nikkor 5.8cm f/1.4 Lens / Why Did Early SLRs Often Have 58mm Lenses? Gerjan Has 3 Versions of His Book, from 1999, 2021, and 2023 and They're All Different Inside Did Pentax Ever Try to Make a 35mm Rangefinder? The Beatles Loved the Asahi Pentax Sv Asahu Pentaxes and Honeywell Pentaxes / Pentaxes for Different Markets There Was Going to be a Pentax H4 But the Name Sounds like Death in Japanese What is the Difference Between Preset and Automatic Lenses? Early Yashica Yashinon and Asahi Takumar SLR Lenses Look Remarkably Similar Many 50mm Lenses Aren't Actually 50mm Pentax Rarities: Asahiflex H2 / Asahi Pentar / Pentaxes Sold in Export Markets Are All Iterations of M42 Takumar Lenses Backwards Compatible? Are K-Mount Pentax Lenses Inferior to M42 Takumars? / De-yellowing Radioactive Lenses The Pentax Metalica Could Have Been a Game Changer Why Did Asahi Sell Pentaxes in the US Under the Honeywell Name? Herbert Keppler's Influence on Pentax / The Pentax Spotmatic Doesn't Have a Spot Meter What is in the Future for Pentax? Anthony Loves the Horseman Convertible and Paul's Leica M4-2 Anthony Breaks into Historic Churches to Take Photos The Leica M5 Has One of the Slowest Meters Ever Made Zeiss-Ikon Super Ikontas / Anthony Loaned