The ASAHI logo and imprint above the Pentax name was phased out in the
1980s. Although Asahi still makes and markets the cameras, the official
name of the US branch is now Pentax Corporation.
If you bought your K1000 new in the mid-1980s, and it says "Asahi Pentax"
you probably got yourself a "Version 2" K 1000, made in Hong Kong. It has a
metal housing like the original Japanese model, with a few "non-essential"
metal parts having been replaced with plastic ones. A later version of the
K1000 was made in China and has a plastic housing. It does not say "Asahi"
on it, and from what I gather, isn't as good.
I got this info from the Asahi Optical Historical Club website...
http://digilander.iol.it/aohc/indexe.htm
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "John A. Hufnagel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 7:57 PM
Subject: What ever happened to... (and some other questions)
> ... The Asahi Optical Company symbol that was on the pentaprism of
> Pentax cameras? My K-1000 has it, my Spotmatic SPII has it, but my ZX-5n
> doesn't. Also, it only says 'Pentax', not 'Asahi Pentax'. I want the
> word 'Asahi' and the logo back on my camera damnit! =)
>
> Also, how do you tell if your K-1000 is a Japanese made model or
> otherwise? I bought mine back in the early or mid 80s but it doesn't
> say Made in Japan anywhere on it. (I was around 12 years old... Would do
> day trips into NYC with my dad for my birthday... I was allowed to get
> one piece of photographic equipment as a birthday gift. Over 3 years I
> got a K-1000 w/ 50mm f2.0 lens, a Sigma 75-200 f2.8~3.5 (this is a
> kick-ass lens!) and a Tokina 35-70 f3.5~4.8 (well... 2 out of 3 ain't
> bad.)... This K-1000 has some battle scars but trudles on like the tank
> it is... Those were some memories... R.I.P. dad.)
>
> Were there any Spotmatic SPII's shipped with the split-image range
> finder screen vs. the standard microprism screen? My dad's had one... I
> say had because we sent the camera into a shop once to get it cleaned
> and checked out... And they stole the damn screen out of it!! I
> couldn't prove it though because my mom used the camera as I had my
> K-1000, and she only used occasionally. I discovered it about 6 months
> later when I went to use it and noticed the range finder was missing!
> The one thing I do know about the camera is that it was actually
> purchased in Japan by a friend of my dads... He was in the USAF and
> station in Hawaii for a while and made frequent visits there. Was it
> possibly a Japan-only option to have the range finder screen? If it was
> possible the camera came so equipped I'd like to find out how hard it
> would be to correct it (i.e. replace the screen on it.) I'm a fanatic
> about this camera being right.
>
> Finally... Anyone got a source for repair manuals for the SMC Takumar
> 1:1.4/50 lens? The distance scale has come unglued and doesn't move
> when the lens focuses, and the front mount for filters has had 2 of the
> 3 mounting screws work their way completely off and disappear, with the
> 3rd getting ready to fall out. I already obtained a spare lens for the
> camera but I would like to see if I can't repair this lens as I have the
> original manual for the camera with both the serial number for the
> camera AND the serial for this lens typed in the book from the shop that
> sold it! (talk about a numbers matching set... And you thought car
> people were crazy!)
>
> Thanks all for any help you can throw my way. If it'll help I live in
> Union County, New Jersey. So if someone can recommend an excellent shop
> I'd appreciate it. (if you think of Chris's Camera in Wayne, don't
> bother replying... They're the ones that swiped my screen! And Chris
> doesn't own the shop anymore. He washed his hands of the place many
> years ago it seems.)
>
> TIA,
>
> - John
>
>
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