A Rare Vintage Pentax AP SLR For 35mm Film With Takumar 55mm F2. 2 & Case, 1950s
Item History & Price
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The Asahi Optical Company released their classic, ground-breaking (but very short-lived) Asahi Pentax - lat...er called just the AP - in 1957, their first pentaprism camera, and the replacement for their previous Asahiflex line of non-reflex cameras. While it was not the first ever Pentaprism camera to be produced, the AP is now considered to be the very first 'modern' 35mm SLR format in a style that is still used today in many DSLRs.
The camera incorporated a number of excellent new features: it was the first camera to combine eye level through the lens focusing, an instant return mirror and a right hand film advance/shutter cocking wind lever, and the camera was so successful that the company would eventually change its name from Asahi Optical to Pentax.
The Asahi Pentax - or the AP to Pentax collectors - was a major progress in the 35mm SLR cameras, and the first “modern” Japanese camera, combining a pleasing body design with easily handled controls. Although similar to its predecessor, the Asahiflex, sharing the size and shape of the body casting, many new features continued right up to the last Spotmatic models over 10 years later and beyond in to the classic K-series.
The key feature of the AP is the excellent pentaprism, which greatly improved the viewfinder over the reversed image hard-to-follow waist-level finder of the Asahiflex, and its name reflects this fact. It was not the first SLR to offer a pentaprism, but it is certainly the first easily handled camera of its kind, sporting a fast operated wind lever, and rewind knob with a small foldable rewind crank handle.Asahi Pentax - or AP - aka the Tower 26 in the USAManufactured 1957-58Mount - M42Exposure modes - Manual, BShutter speeds (manual) - B, 1 - 1/500s, XShutter speeds (mechanical) - B, 1 - 1/500s, XMultiple exposures - YesFlash sync speed - FP and X terminals - 1/50sViewfinder type - PentaprismDepth of field preview - via switch on some lensesImage size 24 x 36mmSize (WxHxD) - 145 x 92 x 50mmWeight - 570gThis is a classic Asahi Pentax 'AP' SLR camera for 35mm film from the late 1950s, with Takumar 55mm f2.2 standard lens and original case, in excellent cosmetic condition throughout, sadly the second shutter curtain needs attention, and the case has suffered with age, but overall a fine example of a classic, collecable camera
![Rare [excellent, ] Pentax Ap Body Only Slr 35mm Film Camera From Japan 724743](https://pic-j.avaluer.net/imgstmb/f/t/r/k/r/-rare_excellent___pentax_ap_body_only_slr_35mm_film_camera_from_japan_724743-1_13_tmb.jpg)
