Pentax's screw-mount SLR — the SV, all-mechanical with self-timer, screw mount, 1962.
The Pentax SV of 1962 was among the more developed of the screw-mount S-series bodies, adding a self-timer and a re-set-to-zero frame counter to the established design. It was sold in the US as the H3v under Honeywell branding. It sits near the end of the all-mechanical Pentax line just before the metered Spotmatic changed the range.
This is a 35mm film SLR using the screw lens mount that became the M42 standard, taking Asahi's screw-thread lenses. It has a horizontal cloth focal-plane shutter and a fixed eye-level pentaprism with an instant-return mirror, plus a self-timer and automatic-reset frame counter. There is no built-in meter, so exposure is set manually, and the body is fully mechanical, firing without a battery. A clip-on external meter was offered as an accessory for the period.
The SV suits collectors, students, travellers and photographers who want a well-rounded all-mechanical screw-mount Pentax with a self-timer and a clear finder. It handles smoothly and dependably, needing a separate meter or experience for exposure. It is a capable body for considered shooting and one of the more practical pre-Spotmatic Pentax models.
As an early-1960s body, checks matter. Inspect the cloth shutter for pinholes and even travel, testing slow speeds and the self-timer for sticking. There is no meter or battery to consider. Examine the pentaprism and finder for desilvering, haze or fungus. Confirm the film advance and rewind feel smooth. Clean, working screw-mount lenses keep the camera fully usable.