Pentax SV

The Pentax SV was manufactured between 1962 and 1968 in two slight variants.  The first version, which has a green R on the rewind knob, had to be updated to accomodate the new Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens.  The updated version can be identified by the orange R on the rewind knob, and the fact that the back catch was moved from the door to the body.

The SV takes M42 screw mount lenses.  These are often called "Pentax screw mount" lenses although in reality it was quite a common mount and  not a Pentax innovation. There is no internal light meter, and therefore no need for batteries. The dial around the rewind knob is simply a film reminder dial. The SV also has a self timer built in, although this is the ring around the rewind knob triggered by the small silver button on the top plate.  This is the only Pentax to use such a system, most others with a self timer in the mechanical period had a lever on the front of the body.

The SV is a simple but elegant camera which is a joy to use even without a built in meter (I just use my Sekonic hand held meter although many happily use the 'sunny 16' rule).

The lens is a Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 lens although it is quite a late version.  It has an automatic diaphragm like the later Super Takumar lenses, but the aperture ring still goes the "wrong way round" compared to all later Pentax lenses.