Asahi Pentax - S / H Series

In 1959, Pentax released the S2, or labeled as H2 in the United States under the Heiland brand name. This was Pentax's first mass produced camera but they were able to maintain an extremely high level of quality, much like the hand built AP, S and K lines.

This gallery is a work in progress, so new information and photos will be published over the next few months.

If you see a photo that you would like (on a coffee mug for example), I have enabled the buy button on this gallery. Please note that although I'm in Canada, the photos are processed in the United States, so shipping times may very depending upon where you are.

From left to right;

H2 Silver
H2 Store Demonstrator
H2 Black

Being in North America, the "H2"s are much easier for me to find than the "S2". If you look hard enough, you can often find them at a garage sale, in craigslist etc.
Pentax H2 H2 Store Demonstrator Asahi Pentax H2 Takumar 55 Takumar 55mm H2
1959 Pentax H2. There were 2 versions of the H2 released, the first bring in 1959 and a second version in 1961 that added meter coupling. Meter coupling can be identified by a notch being present beside the shutter speed dial, right beside the "T". So far. all of my H2s are version 1s, and this particular H2 has an extremely low serial number, presumably being from an early production run.
1959 Pentax Silver H2 Asahi Asahi Pentax H2
Here is my Pentax H2 Store Demonstrator. These were built in 1959 and shipped to store owners for obvious use on the store floor.
Pentax H2 Store Demonstrator H2 Store Demonstrator asahi
This is the bottom of the Store Demonstrator with the base place taken off. There is a signature, dated 1962. It's presumably from the original owner of the camera, that being the owner of the store.
store demonstrator signature
Here is the Pentax H2 Store Demonstrator, but this time with a Takumar 100mm f3.5. Both the camera and this particular lens are extremely rare.
Pentax H2 Store Demonstrator Takumar 100mm f3.5 Takumar 100
Here is a 1959 Black Pentax H2, but this time in Black.
1959 Pentax Black H2 Asahi Pentax H2 Asahi Pentax H2
1959 Black Heiland Pentax H2 with a 55/2.0 Auto Takumar
Heiland Pentax 1959 Black Pentax H2
In 1960, the H3 was released. The H3 increased the H2 shutter speed from 1/500 to 1/1000.
Pentax 1960 H3 Black
Another view of the 1960 Black Honeywell Pentax H3 with a 55mm/1.8 Auto-Takumar. Note that the Auto-Takumar is the start of a new lens design for Pentax, which would soon take the Super-Takumar name.
Pentax Honeywell Black H3 Auto Takumar 55mm Honeywell Pentax H3
In 1961, Pentax release a budget model of the H3; the H1. Pentax removed the 1/1000 marking from the shutter dial for marketing reasons but the camera was still capable of that speed.
1961 Pentax H1 Asahi Silver Asahi Pentax H1 Pentax H1
1962 Black Pentax S1a. Like the S1, the S1a listed a maximum shutter speed of 1/500, but 1/1000 was still possible.
Pentax S1a 1962 Black Asahi Pentax Camera Pentax S1a Asahi Pentax
1962 Pentax S1a. This is the second release of the S1a, which was available from 1964 to 1968. The version can be identified by the Orange colour of the "R" rewind symbol, with the first version being green.

The second release had a modification within the mount to accept the newly released Super Takumar 50/1.4, as compared with the Super Takumar 55/2 common on the first release.
1962 Pentax S1a Black Asahi Pentax S1a Asahi Pentax S1a
1962 Black Asahi Pentax S1a "Second Release" with a 50/1.5 Super-Takumar
Pentax S1a Asahi 501.4 Black
Super S2 - The Asahi Pentax S2 Super was manufactured by Asahi Optical Company from 1962 to 1968 and is an enhanced S2 but with top speed of 1/1000 Sec and is identified in this way. There is no "Super" designation on the body.
Ahahi Pentax Super S2 S2 Japan
Asahi Pentax Super S2 - Second Series.

There were two Series of S2 Super

The first Series of S2 Super was an enhanced S2 with 1/1000 second top speed. This was supplied with an Auto Takumar 55 F2 Standard Lens

The second Series of S2 Super was a further enhanced S2 with 1/1000 second top speed and a self zeroing exposure counter as used on the S1a and SV This was supplied with the Super Takumar 55 F2 or 55 F1.8 Standard Lens

Two types of the second series of S2 Super exist. The two types are differentiated by the colour of the letter "R" on the rewind knob as is the case with the S1a and SV .The earlier Type I had a Green "R" and the later Type II from 1966 onwards had an Orange "R"
Ahahi Pentax Super S2 S2 Japan