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Produced 1974 to 1977. Serial Numbers 6576xxx - 8132xxx. AOCo Product No. 37109. Updated April 2026.
Produced 1974 to 1977. Serial Numbers 6576xxx - 8132xxx. AOCo Product No. 37109. Updated April 2026.
(Research Note: Since 2010 I have seen 0.67% (1580 copies) of the total estimated 234,500 copies made.)
INTRODUCTION
This lens was made for the final version of the Spotmatic, the Asahi Pentax SP1000 that was solely for export. It is therefore not generally found in Japan.
The graph above shows the estimated number of copies produced closely corresponds to the estimated maximum number (235,000) of cameras it was paired with (G. van Oosten, 2021).
This lens was made for the final version of the Spotmatic, the Asahi Pentax SP1000 that was solely for export. It is therefore not generally found in Japan.
The graph above shows the estimated number of copies produced closely corresponds to the estimated maximum number (235,000) of cameras it was paired with (G. van Oosten, 2021).
DESCRIPTION
Cosmetically it is identical in style to the SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.8 / 55mm (37108) from which it is derived, and modified from, with the addition of an internal ring to limit the maximum aperture to f/2.
As for all its predecessors the lettering of "1:2/55mm" on the nameplate and on the aperture ring is yellow. It is forward compatible for open aperture metering and 7 layer super-multi-coated.
This lens was made only during the latter half of the 37108 production period. Both lenses ceased production at approximately the same time. They differ significantly from the larger 37908 (1;1.4/ 50mm SMC) cosmetically, having 6 blade apertures and weighing less (200g).
Given the above caveats, this lens is optically and mechanically identical to 37108 with 6 elements in five groups.
Cosmetically it is identical in style to the SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.8 / 55mm (37108) from which it is derived, and modified from, with the addition of an internal ring to limit the maximum aperture to f/2.
As for all its predecessors the lettering of "1:2/55mm" on the nameplate and on the aperture ring is yellow. It is forward compatible for open aperture metering and 7 layer super-multi-coated.
This lens was made only during the latter half of the 37108 production period. Both lenses ceased production at approximately the same time. They differ significantly from the larger 37908 (1;1.4/ 50mm SMC) cosmetically, having 6 blade apertures and weighing less (200g).
Given the above caveats, this lens is optically and mechanically identical to 37108 with 6 elements in five groups.
VARIATION
None recorded.
None recorded.
NOTE
LENS PRODUCTION (∑ lenses) ∑n = 1580 Serial Numbers observed in 70 batches covering 218,713 SN min. < ∑ lenses < 250,501 SN max.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 70 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 70 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
|
37108 SN begins 37908 SN begins 37107 SN ends 6576132 (1/ 1) 6649874 to 6652268 (22/ 2394) 6652636 to 6655077 (21/ 2441) 6675106 (1/ 1) 6675731 to 6678703 (23/ 2972) 6681904 (1/ 1) 6682038 to 6683688 (16/ 1650) 6699777 (1/ 1) 6705338 to 6708589 (29/ 3251) 6711859 to 6716637 (52/ 4778) 6850090 to 6850902 (6/ 812) 6851046 to 6852206 (11/ 1160) 6852361 to 6852828 (5/ 467) 6870167 to 6872738 (17/ 2571) 7000544 to 7002089 (6/ 1545) 7002156 to 7003707 (15/ 1551) 7011651 to 7014111 (14/ 2460) 7020469 to 7021790 (11/ 1321) 7022068 to 7023653 (11/ 1585) 7030378 to 7032951 (19/ 2573) 7045739 to 7047702 (11/ 1963) 7048272 to 7054919 (44/ 6647) 7071301 to 7074034 (15/ 2733) |
Serial Numbers in 70 Batches
(n /SN range) 7075215 to 7075849 (8/ 634) 7109742 to 7110597 (8/ 855) 7110954 (1/ 1) 7111096 (1/ 1) 7111452 to 7116204 (31/ 4752) 7116383 to 7118161 (9/ 1778) 7324598 to 7329292 (36/ 4694) 7348952 to 7349924 (11/ 972) 7408749 (1/ 1) 7410845 to 7415216 (27/ 4371) 7420159 to 7423715 (32/ 3556) 7429306 to 7434051 (32/ 4745) 7608905 to 7613869 (42/ 4964) 7623763 to 7628230 (30/ 4467) 7637811 to 7637973 (3/ 162) 7638356 to 7639874 (7/ 1518) 7662107 to 7669274 (47/ 7167) 7680511 to 7682463 (14/ 1952) 7731584 to 7735821 (28/ 4237) 7741827 to 7745254 (32/ 3427) 7757114 to 7761538 (36/ 4424) 7765758 to 7767684 (13/ 1926) 7769503 (1/ 1) 7778284 to 7778351 (2/ 67) |
7778532 (1/ 1) 7891070 to 7894165 (22/ 3095) 7898357 to 7900989 (25/ 2632) 7907985 to 7910978 (18/ 2993) 7911168 to 7913447 (18/ 2279) 7918247 to 7920945 (18/ 2698) 7927484 to 4728249 (7/ 765) 7928606 to 7929942 (16/ 1336) 37908 SN ends 7934609 (1/ 1) 7938869 to 7939094 (4/ 225) 7945779 to 7946197 (5/ 418) 7951738 to 7961837 (53/ 10099) 7971430 to 7971672 (3/ 242) 7982206 to 7983232 (4/ 1026) 7983473 to 7984007 (6/ 534) 7992016 to 8001843 (70/ 9827) 8009762 (1/ 1) 8032276 (1/ 1) 8033980 (1/ 1) 8043667 to 8047347 (27/ 3680) 8047617 to 8060116 (84/12499) 8065856 to 8070006 (33/ 4150) 8077548 to 8132208 (358/ 54660) 37108 SN ends |
MARKETING
Not marketed domestically. Sold exclusively overseas as the standard lens for the SP1000 camera. Operating manuals for the SP1000 described it as;
"SMC Takumar 55mm f/2 with fully automatic diaphragm.
Filters and lenshood size: 49mm.
Equipped with depth-of-field preview lever which affords visual check
of depth of field. Distance scale: 45cm (18") to infinity."
Asahi Pentax Complete System of Photography (06101 En) Adds; "This lens is supplied only with the SP1000 camera body."
"Being a standard lens for Pentax SP1000,
this is also a high performance,
all-round lens that yields very sharp pictures
even at full aperture. You get
pictures with more detail and richer
colors than is possible with any other
system at any price. Available at the
most economical price of these three
standard lenses."
Not marketed domestically. Sold exclusively overseas as the standard lens for the SP1000 camera. Operating manuals for the SP1000 described it as;
"SMC Takumar 55mm f/2 with fully automatic diaphragm.
Filters and lenshood size: 49mm.
Equipped with depth-of-field preview lever which affords visual check
of depth of field. Distance scale: 45cm (18") to infinity."
Asahi Pentax Complete System of Photography (06101 En) Adds; "This lens is supplied only with the SP1000 camera body."
"Being a standard lens for Pentax SP1000,
this is also a high performance,
all-round lens that yields very sharp pictures
even at full aperture. You get
pictures with more detail and richer
colors than is possible with any other
system at any price. Available at the
most economical price of these three
standard lenses."
LITERATURE
W.D.Emanuel (1975 to 1981) ASAHI PENTAX GUIDE includes this lens in the text, but it is missing from the table of lenses provided.
The English MOTOR SPORT magazine , August 1977 p.981 has an advertisement for the SP1000 showing "Spike Milligan's Pentax" fitted with this lens.
W.D.Emanuel (1975 to 1981) ASAHI PENTAX GUIDE includes this lens in the text, but it is missing from the table of lenses provided.
The English MOTOR SPORT magazine , August 1977 p.981 has an advertisement for the SP1000 showing "Spike Milligan's Pentax" fitted with this lens.
