Pentax's top auto screw-mount SLR — the ES II, wider aperture-priority range, M42, 1973.
The Pentax ES II of 1973 refined the automatic-exposure ES, extending the automatic speed range and adding features such as a viewfinder illuminator and an accessory eyepiece thread. It was the most developed of the automatic screw-mount Pentax bodies. It sat at the top of the M42 range just before Pentax moved to the K bayonet.
This is a 35mm film SLR using the M42 screw lens mount, taking universal M42 lenses, with open-aperture metering on the correct SMC Takumar lenses. It has an electronically-timed focal-plane shutter offering a wide range of stepless automatic speeds in aperture-priority mode plus manual speeds, and a fixed eye-level pentaprism with an instant-return mirror. Automatic and slow speeds are electronically controlled and depend on a battery; without power only the mechanical speeds remain. Metering is TTL.
The ES II suits photographers who want the most capable automatic M42 Pentax for travel, documentary and portrait work. It handles like a Spotmatic while adding aperture-priority automation and a wider auto range for varied light. It pairs naturally with SMC Takumar lenses and remains compatible with the broad M42 pool, making it a versatile close to the screw-mount line.
As an early-1970s electronic body, checks matter. Inspect and expect to replace perished foam light seals and mirror-damper foam. Test the electronically-timed shutter across auto and manual for even, accurate speeds, since ageing electronics can drift. The meter and auto system need a working battery, and the design assumed a 1.35V mercury cell, so a modern replacement may affect accuracy. Check the pentaprism for desilvering or foam haze, and test the advance and rewind. With a dead battery only the mechanical speeds remain.
