Pentax · 35mm SLR · 1964 to the mid 1970s
Asahi showed a prototype Spotmatic at Photokina in 1960 and put it on sale in 1964, and it became one of the first SLRs to meter through the lens. The name promised spot metering, but shortly before production Asahi decided spot readings would be too hard to use and switched to averaging from two small CdS cells. You push a switch on the side of the mount, the lens stops down, and a needle in the finder shows the exposure. The shutter is mechanical, 1 s to 1/1000 s, so the battery only runs the meter. Over four million Spotmatic-family cameras sold, and the basic chassis carried on in the K1000 until 1997. The mount is the M42 screw thread Praktica also used, and Pentax's own Super-Takumar lenses fit it, including the 50 mm f/1.4.
The variants
The SP II of 1971 added a hot shoe and a higher top film speed of ASA 3200, and the Spotmatic F of 1973 meters with the lens wide open when fitted with Super-Multi-Coated Takumars. The SP500 and SP1000 are budget versions, the SL has no meter, and the Electro Spotmatic and ES are aperture-priority cameras.
Battery
Many meters from the 1960s and 70s were built for 1.35 V mercury cells like the PX625, which held a steady voltage until almost flat. Mercury cells went off sale after EU and US laws in the 1990s, and a 1.55 V silver-oxide or alkaline cell can throw readings off in a meter that doesn't regulate voltage. There are three fixes. Zinc-air hearing-aid cells give 1.35 V but die within a few months. An adapter like the MR-9 uses a small circuit to drop a silver-oxide cell to 1.35 V. Or a repairer can recalibrate the meter for silver oxide. More on batteries and meters.
The meter was designed for a 1.35 V PX400 mercury cell that's no longer sold. A voltage regulator circuit lets it read correctly on a 1.55 V 387S silver-oxide cell, so a dead meter is often only a missing or wrong battery. Stop-down metering also struggles in low light by design.
Buying guide
We'd buy the Spotmatic SP titled tested with a 50mm f/1.8 at $86 delivered, or pay $159 for one titled film tested and working with a Super Takumar 35mm. There are at least 173 for sale, mostly US sellers plus Japan dealers, and most ask $80–200 delivered, with the lens and the dealer's grade setting the price. The shutter is mechanical, so it fires without a battery. The meter was built for a 1.35 V mercury cell that's no longer sold, but a voltage regulator lets it read correctly on a 1.55 V 387S silver-oxide cell, so a dead needle is often only a missing or wrong cell. The SP II adds a hot shoe and the F meters with the lens wide open, so check the badge in the photos. Skip the seller at 93.8% feedback.
$55.70est. delivered
The lowest delivered Spotmatic titled working, a Honeywell-badged body with a lens, at $56. Working is the seller's word, so ask for a video of the meter needle moving with a fresh 387S cell.
Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR With Lens Working
$85.50delivered
Titled tested, an SP with a 50mm f/1.8 the title calls a Takamura, near the bottom of the band at $86 delivered. Ask what the test covered and which cell the meter was checked with.
Asahi PENTAX Spotmatic SP SLR Camera With Takamura 50mm f/1.8 Lens TESTED
$204.95est. delivered
Titled overhauled, with a lens, and the seller says the light meter works, at $205 delivered, just over the band. It's the only service claim on the page, so it's the one to buy if you want to load film and shoot.
Pentax Spotmatic 35mm Film Camera Overhauled, w/Lens Light meter works. More!
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$55.70est. delivered
$40.00 + $15.70 shipping
Buy It Now$40.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Honeywell-badged, with a lens, titled working.
Seller: edwardeva6
100% positive
Used$85.50delivered
$85.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$85.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested. SP with a 50mm f/1.8, free shipping.
Seller: dagaivor_0
99.2% positive
Serviced$204.95est. delivered
$189.95 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$189.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled overhauled, with a lens. The seller says the meter works.
Seller: jayhawk49er
98.7% positive
Used$45.98est. delivered
$35.99 + $9.99 shipping
Buy It Now$35.99
Our take
Titled untested, with a Takumar 55mm f/1.8.
Seller: nebraskanicefinds
99.8% positive
Used$159.34est. delivered
$149.99 + $9.35 shipping
Buy It Now$149.99
Our take
Titled blue, film tested and working, with a Super Takumar 35mm.
Seller: blue-toybox
99.2% positive
![Pentax Spotmatic SP Chrome 35mm Camera with 50mm f1.4 Lens (No Meter) [EXC-]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZhoAAeSw955qv9uV/s-l500.jpg)
Used$194.00est. delivered
$172.95 + $21.05 shipping
Buy It Now$172.95
Our take
Titled (No Meter), so plan on metering by hand. Dealer grade EXC-, with a 50mm f/1.4.
Seller: victorycamera
99.6% positive
Used$155.98est. delivered
$150.00 + $5.98 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller feedback is 93.8%. Spotmatic F with a Panagor macro lens.
Seller: susanne_renner
93.8% positive
Used$276.92est. delivered
$196.92 + $80.00 shipping
Buy It Now$196.92
Priced high
Dealer grade MINT, with an SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8. About twice the median ask, $80 of it shipping from Japan.
Seller: rtmy19
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay search
