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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Last Word, June 24, 2000
Many books have been written about the little Pentax camera. Most scratch the surface of facts about the camera and lenses and come laden down with fluff material about general photography. This book is different. It concentrates on the Pentax screw-mount cameras and lenses made from 1952 to 1977 and covers nearly everything there is to know. Both the casual user and compulsive collection curator alike will find this book riveting. Nearly every item is illustrated in quality photographs. The book is written by a very dedicated collector but still remains objective, pointing out shortcomings where appropriate, strengths and other positive attributes where they are found. Even though most screw-mount gear is compatible across a wide model range, the author cites a number of compatibility issues that may prevent an unsuspecting photographer from suffering expensive damage to camera or lens. For the collector interested in completing an array of Pentax gear, this book provides a road-map. From the most exotic devices like the Nocta night-vision photo attachment, to the most mundane filter, it's all here. In one sitting I learned that several items in my Pentax system were less common than I would have thought; the mystery of a seemingly mismatched lens hood was solved; unaccountable differences between two lenses thought to be identical were revealed like an x-ray. The author solicits input, a very refreshing opportunity to contribute to the vast amount of info about this very influential camera marque. As with many books in their first printing, and especially technical works translated from another languages, this book has a number of forgivable errors, mainly typographical. If you want to learn how to make photographs with Pentax cameras you are not going to get much help here. If you have a mercenary interest in the value of Pentax gear, this book will not help - there are no dollsr-values applied to the gear - in and of itself a redeeming quality in my opinion. Serious collectors and erstwhile dreamers will want this book in their collection. Well worth the price of admission!
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