Back in the Day: Came across this 1969 image of me making a critical military decision-what camera to buy during my upcoming R&R in Singapore. Eventually, I settled on a Pentax...

markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

Came across this 1969 image of me making a critical military decision-what camera to buy during my upcoming R&R in Singapore.

Eventually, I settled on a Pentax Spotmatic with f/1.4 lens which I got for US$130 (the dollar was king then), leaving enough money to buy wide angle and telephoto lenses, a Rollei flash and a Gossens handheld light meter.
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alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

Nice photo. I had a Pentax K1000 which I used and loved for many years. Pentax cameras were and still are very good cameras.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

markie1425 wrote:

.../...

Decades later still with the same mustache style!!!

Have you ever had to shave it?

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Rongnongno wrote:

Decades later still with the same mustache style!!!

Have you ever had to shave it?

In those days, looks like he used to dye it black!!! LoL

I still have a spotmatic, but it's not my original.
But I did shoot one from 1970 till the T90 came out!
I was GLAD to unload it since Pentax was changing the mount.
SS

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

markie1425 wrote:

Came across this 1969 image of me making a critical military decision-what camera to buy during my upcoming R&R in Singapore.

Eventually, I settled on a Pentax Spotmatic with f/1.4 lens which I got for US$130 (the dollar was king then), leaving enough money to buy wide angle and telephoto lenses, a Rollei flash and a Gossens handheld light meter.
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Funny. I've been in that position many times. Which one to buy.

daplight Loc: Kansas

Lt Dan? Did you go the PX route? I was able to order a Nikon F black body, with standard prism for $125 in 66/Vietnam. That was more than a half months pay then. Wish I had kept it, lot of memories…

GraveyDave

Not sure what pentax it was we used in the AF but it had screw mount and we used it for all of our copy work. Had Nikon 35mm bodies, 4x5 in the studio for portraits, connie-omega's for our location official work and a Bessler Topcon 35mm - the only camera that wouldn't freeze and stop working out on the flightline (-70 degrees on a warm winters day). Everyone coveted the assignments to Japan to bring back huge stereo systems and camera equipment at bargain basement prices.
Sorry, got a little lost in the past. Used to fight communism, not have it running our country !

markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

I first grew that mustache in 1968. Although the Army made it allowable in March of that year, I had to shave it four times during my two-year career, even though I was an officer.
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markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

daplight wrote:

Lt Dan? Did you go the PX route? I was able to order a Nikon F black body, with standard prism for $125 in 66/Vietnam. That was more than a half months pay then. Wish I had kept it, lot of memories…

I bought mine in Singapore, December 1969.
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GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Just wondering. What flavor was that ink pen? LoL

IowaGuy Loc: Iowa

markie1425 wrote:

Came across this 1969 image of me making a critical military decision-what camera to buy during my upcoming R&R in Singapore.

Eventually, I settled on a Pentax Spotmatic with f/1.4 lens which I got for US$130 (the dollar was king then), leaving enough money to buy wide angle and telephoto lenses, a Rollei flash and a Gossens handheld light meter.
--

I became friendly with the Nikon rep who called on the PX at Atsugi Japan Naval Air Facility. I still have a couple of the lenses I purchased in the early1970s. I couldn't beat the price for USA labeled gear.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

GraveyDave wrote:

Not sure what pentax it was we used in the AF but ... (show quote)

ah, the topcon... great cameras, even greater lenses. they were never popular in the U.S., but i think that was more due to marketing than anything else. same with pentax - it was the most used camera line in Europe, whereas nikon was the most used pro line here in the U.S.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Do you ever wonder why nobody worried about grey market during that time, just the price.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

Acountry330 wrote:

Do you ever wonder why nobody worried about grey market during that time, just the price.

the primary reason was none of the camera manufacturers refused to sell any needed parts to independent photo technicians. they made all parts readily available to the largest and smallest, mom and pop, repair facilities.

it is only in the last decade that canon and nikon, for instance, cut out all independent repair facilities and have designated only a couple as certified repair shops, and those only, will handle U.S. certified imports. neither nikon nor canon will send repair parts to any independent facility that is not certified by them.

so, if you are wondering why your local repair technician closed shop, now you know.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Acountry330 wrote:

Do you ever wonder why nobody worried about grey market during that time, just the price.

Back in high school I used to wonder why some Spotmatics were Honeywell and some where Asahi!
SS