Pentax ES II review

The Pentax ES II was the last camera in Pentax’s famous Spotmatic family.
Released in 1973, it featured an ingenious aperture-priority auto exposure system with SMC Takumar lenses and an electronically controlled shutter.
In this video, Kosmo Foto marks the camera’s 50th birthday with a deep dive into why it’s such a great example of camera design from the golden age of film SLRs.
Shot and edited by John Johnston.
Check out Kosmo Foto’s blog review: kosmofoto.com/...
See more photos on Flickr: www.flickr.com...
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[@shteave]

awesome review! thanks mate!

[@Lanesra71]

I bought the ES II on the strength of your original article years ago. In fact I think I may have chatted to you years ago in Hove. I now own 4 ES II the most recent purchase a silver copy. I like you was worried that my camera would break so that I would have spares.

[@binkyboobosh1]

I've owned an ES2 for 40 years and have used it professionally and for academic and specialist photography. I have the range of Takumar lens which I've also used on various digital SLRs. The finished has brassed nicely on the camera. The only problem is the battery hatch which can come undone. For some while I photographed the royals, here and there. The paps used to talk to me about my old ES2. It looks really good in the black finish. It didn't have a motor drive and when taking pics you have to pick your moment as the paps raced through film at 5fps.

[@mikepxg6406]

I have just purchased my third example of ESII, I could not resist it just £10 on ebay. Like you I also have one in Black with 50mm f1.4 SMC Takumar.

[@kosmofoto]

That's a cracking price for such a good camera.

[@DAODUYDONGmini]

wow, you were so lucky

[@shteave]

PS loved the story about the lady who photographed the clash album cover! really cool!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Nice! I would love to borrow and review an ESII one of these days! Great video and overview of this great camera.

[@DacMan777]

Just buy one .

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@DacMan777 Easy to say, but knowing me…I would want at least 4-5 lenses and I don’t have room for a whole new system! Running Minolta A, Nikon F (MF and AF), Canon EF and Canon FD. Plus Mamyia m645!

[@filmic1]

Neat review. Brings back a flood of fond memories. Our Technical Drawing teacher in high school, '71? showed us our first SLR. His Pentax was a Honeywell Pentax. Thank-you. (I eventually bought my uncle's Miranda Sensorex, loved that.)

[@danc2014]

Not all lens for the ES are marked SMC, some Super Takumar will work with a ES II if they have the aperture lever. If you get a regular Takumar the Auto portion does not work not sure if the meter does correctly either.

[@mariopiper9256]

Great review! I’ve got the Spotmatic SP, SPII, SP-F, a Pentax KX, and of course a K1000. I love them all! I’d love to try the ESII,

[@kosmofoto]

They really are lovely SLRs.

[@etziowingeler3173]

one can hear your love for these cameras, great video

[@Klaus-macht-Bilder_de]

When it cam out 73 I coudn't afford it an took a SPF. Then in 86 I got my 1st ESII and 3 years later a 2nd unfunctional where I just had to replace the internal wire from the battery to the mainboard to make it functional. There are 2 ESII-Versions where the later ones had 2 latches at the batterycover. The older one with only one was very unreliable in contact to the battery. I used bot until 2002 when I switched over to K-Mount -but still think of this great camera

[@nevillewatkins4997]

I have an ES, and that's a temperamental bugger. I didn't think it was going to work. But then I tried it one day, and it did. Actually shooting it was great. I enjoyed it. I wouldn't fancy my chances of getting one repaired though. I get the feeling that anyone who has worked on them avoids them like the plague. 😄

[@DacMan777]

The usual problem with these is a dry mirror return sprocket shaft, its not a difficult thing to fix, you add a small drop of watch oil (nothing thicker will do) with some small cross head screwdrivers and advice on internet on how to do it . Basically You have to remove bottom plate, carefully remove printed circuit board which is held by 3 small screws, this then unplug it, then you lubricate mirror return sprocket and shaft. Simples.

[@mrbwa1]

Excellent camera. I finally had to retire my grandfather's SP and picked up an APF to replace it. Hopefully the ESII has a bit brighter viewfinder than the F (dim viewfinder is basically it's only weakness)

[@terrywbreedlove]

The biggest problem I am having with my beautiful little SP. Is focusing in the stopped down View Finder.

[@gavinjenkins899]

The Chinon CE--II Memotron is basically just a better in every way version of this camera. It still does M42 with aperture priority electornic shutter and open aperture metering like this. But it adds exposure lock, more options of compensation, an explicit control for multi exposures, viewfinder blind, LED readout is easier to see in the viewfinder, some of them I believe have split prisms, and it can open aperture meter ANY M42 lens not just takumars (it does last second stop down metering at half press. So yes that could be SLIGHTLY more annoying than an ES II, but there's definitely no clunky stopping mode that you have to go back out of, etc. etc., just half press, un press goes back to wide open). AND you can manually choose the full range of shutter speeds not just 60+. Oh and 1/2000th second. Did I mention mirror lock on timer? Still nothing extraneous (except maybe the viewfinder blind) but just better versions of all the same stuff It also has stepless shutters, but those don't really matter much, they are over hyped. You're never more than 1/2 stop away worst case with non-stepless anyway and on average you'd only be 1/4 stop off, 1/4 stop just doesn't matter and is well within the margin of error of the meter anyway for whole scene metering and not spot metering etc.

[@DacMan777]

I am like you I am a big fan. I have 17 spotmatics plus Pentax SL's all in in chrome and Black finishes including ES and ESII. So far I have all Super Multi coated Takumars from 24mm up to 200mm, my favorite is the 135mm f2.5. Whats your favorite Takumar lens.. Mike.

[@kosmofoto]

Hmmm.... the 50/1.4 takes some beating, though I am also partial to the 120/2.8.

[@gavinjenkins899]

100 macro f/4 is my favorite

[@monochromebluess]

Enjoyable review. A while back I saw an interview with you singing this camera’s praises so a few days later I found my way to owning one. And then another !! Originally a silver body version and then a black body ES ii. Great cameras and with the super Takamar lenses they just get even better. I need to try your film out with them ! I have a 28mm wide angle lens in addition to the great 50mm 1.4 and also a 135mm lens. I was thinking of getting the 105mm lens or even the 85mm ( although bloody expensive !! ). In the April review you mention you have the 105mm lens. How do you find it for portraits etc.

[@kosmofoto]

Well done. I don't think any of the Takumar lenses are duds, they really are classics. Glad to have helped you find a decent SLR!

[@TheNathanMarino]

I have and love this camera. But I miss a mirror lock-up feature so bad. It's impossible to use Bulb mode in this.

[@kosmofoto]

I must admit I haven't tried it for that, but yes that would be a minus point.

[@martagalanoficial]

Could you please help me on how to find a valid battery for my Spotmatic ES II please? Thanks in advance!

[@kosmofoto]

Hi Marta, the camera takes 4 x LR44 or SR44 batteries.

[@martagalanoficial]

@@kosmofoto Thanks for replying! That very Good News! They arent expensive and easy to find. No adapter or tweaks needed?

[@martagalanoficial]

@@kosmofoto soooo got my batteries. If I push the tiny button (battery check) needle would go to the middle (I guess batteries are ok) But thats the only thing needle does. If I change shutter, aperture, ISO… no matter what parameter, needle stays on top. Am I missing something? Is the light meter broken? Yes, I’m totally newbie in analogic 😫 Please help! You are my last hope 👏🏻

[@kosmofoto]

@@martagalanoficial Hi Marta. The needle will only move if you are in Auto mode and press the shutter. If the needle moves with the battery check pressed, that's a good sign. I would point the camera at differing scenes - like outside the window and in a dark corner of the room and listen to the shutter - it should sound slower when it's pointed at a darker area.

[@martagalanoficial]

@@kosmofotoyeees! It worked! I was not pressing the shutter (duh) A thousand thanks for you quick reply and help! Now I only need to master the focus 😓 BR!

[@nhekos]

Can you create double exposures with this camera?

[@DakariBallard-kj9pg]

How can you transfer the pictures to your iPhone ?

[@zanerendfrey7592]

Develop the film, digitally scan the film, upload scans to your phone