Pentax AP Original Body Exc+

#147806

The Original 1957 Asahi Pentax. Difficult to find, and in really nice condition. Top plate has a couple of very small blemishes but overall the chrome is in very good condition with very few bright marks.

Working, shutter firing at the correct speeds and frame counter operational. Viewfinder is clean and clear without blemishes. As with many Pentax cameras of this era, the mirror occasionally sticks up when used on the slower speeds. As we expect this camera to be part of a collection rather than a daily user, we decided it was acceptable as-is.

The camera came to us body only - we considered pairing it with a 55mm f/1.8 Auto-Takumar, but decided not to as the correct lens for the AP is a preset 58mm f/2.4.

From Camerapedia:

"The Asahi Pentax, to camera collectors, the AP, was a major progress in the 35mm SLR field of cameras when introduced in 1957. It is the first “modern” Japanese camera, combining a pleasing body design with easily handled controls.

It is surprisingly similar to its predecessor, the Asahiflex, sharing the size and shape of the body casting, while just as similar to its successors right up to the last Spotmatic and beyond. The key feature is the pentaprism, greatly improving the viewfinder over the reversed image hard-to-follow waist-level finder, and its name reflects this fact. It is by no means the first SLR using the 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.

Still rooted in early camera design, it lacks a few conveniences later taken for granted. The most obvious one being slow speed dial at the front, a manual preset lens, and a manual reset external frame counter, but apart from that nothing much sets it apart from cameras made close to two decades later. In models soon to follow, those features would be added one by one."

Frequently Asked Questions

Need some help?

Check our FAQ page for the answers to many commonly asked questions.

Stock Photos

We use stock photos for more commonplace items. The condition rating and photos are representative of the item you will receive.

For unusual or high-end items, or items with modifications or damage, we'll almost-always display photos of the exact item which is for sale.

We understand that specific version or serial numbers can be important. If you have any concerns or requirements then feel free to get in touch and ask us for more details so we can make sure that you're getting exactly what you want.

Delivery

When can I expect my order?

We are a small team running a busy shop, and as such we can't always post items out immediately - but we endeavour to dispatch stock within 48 hours of receiving cleared payment (not including weekends or bank holidays)

If you need an item for the next day, or have any particular delivery requirements, we are happy to try and accommodate this if you discuss it with us prior to ordering. Once the item has been dispatched, we cannot be held responsible for any service delays from the courier that is used. We always post items with delivery confirmation and full insurance up the order value.

Condition

conditionimage

All used equipment we sell is comprehensively inspected and tested by us. We grade our items with the following scale:

Mint- : Mint Minus. As close to new as a used item can be. It will have absolutely minimal signs of use. Of course, fully functional in all respects. We tend to use this rating sparingly.

Exc+ : Excellent Plus. Very good condition, it will have seen light use and there will be some very minor cosmetic imperfections. Of course, everything is fully functional in all respects unless otherwise stated in the description.

Exc : Excellent. Used condition but good overall - what you might expect from a second hand item. Some signs of use, but of course fully working unless otherwise stated. Our standard condition rating.

Avg : Average. Relatively poor condition overall but still fully working. Will have obvious signs of use and/or minor issues - for example optics may have small defects, a built-in light meter may not work, there may be cosmetic imperfections - and so on - but nothing too detrimental to its functionality and the item will be mostly usable in it’s original capacity.

Ugly: Ugly - only a mother could love it! Heavily used, beaten up, or whatever you want to call it. The item will function but will have some obvious defects - for example the slow shutter speeds may not be working, there may be a ding to a filter rim, deep scratches to optics, or significant signs of use and wear.

'Ugly' rated items do not come with any warranty period.

Additional Condition information

Please note that for any condition rating, we do not guarantee selenium-cell light meters which are built into cameras due to age. These types of meter are usually only found on much older models which are 40-50 years old, and have often decayed to inaccurate or inoperative levels.

Also note that all used lenses will have some specks of dust in the optics no matter what the condition rating.

Warranty

All items come with three months guarantee unless otherwise stated. For full information, see our Terms and Conditions page.

Returns

For full information on returns policy, see our Returns page.

YOUR STORE NAME Pentax AP Original Body Exc+