Asahi Pentax ESII
The Asahi Pentax ESII is a 35mm SLR introduced in 1973 as an updated version of the original Electro Spotmatic/ES. It uses the M42 screw lens mount and offered aperture-priority automatic exposure with an electronically timed cloth focal-plane shutter, positioning it as a higher-specification model alongside the mechanical Spotmatic line.
At UK auction in 2026, hammer prices for the Pentax ESII sit in a narrow band of roughly £40–£70, with a median around £65 across recent saleroom results. These are wholesale-level results achieved before commission, and what a tidy ESII is worth today depends heavily on whether the electronics still function — bodies sold untested or with shutter faults sit at the bottom of the range, while clean, working examples sell for the upper end.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: June 2026
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jun 2026 | £65 | £65 | 🇬🇧 eBay | |
Title: Asahi Pentax ESII Chrome 35mm SLR Camera, SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8. Fully Working
Description:
Fully Working. The focus is very smooth and the aperture is clean and working perfectly. The shutter fires well in auto and manual exposure modes. Location: Lewes, United Kingdom |
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| May 2025 | £69 | £55 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 152) Title: An Asahi Pentax Spotmatic ES-II 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 6628704, body VG-E, shutter works, meter responds to light, with a SMC Takumar f/1.8 55mm lens, barrel VG, optics VG, in |
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| Aug 2024 | £40 | £40 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 180) Title: An Ashai Pentax ES II SLR Camera
Description:
An Ashai Pentax ES II SLR Camera, shutter working, self timer working, meter unresponsive, camera unresponsive in auto, body G-VG, with SMC Takumar |
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| Aug 2024 | £70 | £70 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 18) Title: An Asahi Pentax ES II SLR Camera
Description:
An Asahi Pentax ES II SLR Camera, chrome, shutter working, meter responsive, camera responsive in auto, self timer working, body G-VG, with SMC |
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| May 2021 | £60 | £60 | 🇬🇧 David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Musical & Scientific Instruments, Cameras & Maritime (Lot 3121) Title: Asahi Pentax ESII camera, fitted with Asahi 'SMC Takumar 1:1.4/50' lens, Kodak Rettinette ...
Description:
Asahi Pentax ESII camera, fitted with Asahi 'SMC Takumar 1:1.4/50' lens, Kodak Rettinette ... |
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| Jan 1998 | £149 | £130 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 261) Title: Pentax ESII no. 6734058
Description:
Pentax ESII no. 6734058 Estimate: £20 - £150 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Pentax ESII worth in the UK today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices range from about £40 for untested or faulty bodies up to around £70 for clean working examples, with a median near £65.
How much does a Pentax ESII sell for at auction?
Typical saleroom results sit between £40 and £70, reflecting the camera's reliance on functioning electronics and the wide condition spread among surviving bodies.
Does the value of a Pentax ESII depend on whether it works?
Yes — because the ESII's auto exposure and shutter are electronically controlled, a confirmed-working body sells for noticeably more than one described as untested or with meter faults.
Is the Pentax ESII the same as the Electro Spotmatic?
No — the ESII is the 1973 update to the original Electro Spotmatic/ES, sharing the M42 mount and aperture-priority concept but with refinements to the metering and exposure system.