Asahi Pentax K2
The Asahi Pentax K2 is a 35mm SLR introduced in 1975 as the top model in Pentax's original K-series line, launched alongside the KX, KM and K1000. It uses the Pentax K bayonet lens mount and offers aperture-priority automatic exposure with a stepless electronic shutter, positioning it above the manual-only KX and KM when new.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Pentax K2 have ranged from around £12 to £88, with a median close to £63 across the last few years of saleroom results. As of 2026, what a K2 is worth depends heavily on cosmetic condition and whether the electronic shutter and meter are fully functional — tatty or untested bodies sell for under £30, while clean working examples are the ones that price nearer the top of the range.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: March 2026
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| Mar 2026 | £81 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 278) Title: An Asahi Pentax K2 SLR Camera
Description:
silver, body VG, shutter working, lmeter responds to light, with SMC Pentax f/1.4 50mm lens, barrel G, optics G with light dust, with case. |
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| Aug 2025 | £12 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 132) Title: A Pentax K2 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body F-G, brassed on corners, shutter fires but mirror stuck up. |
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| Jan 2025 | £31 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 144) Title: A Pentax K2 SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 7100819, shutter works but speeds all sound the same, some brassing to black paint. |
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| Oct 2024 | £75 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 161) Title: A Pentax K2 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 7028394, body G, shutter works, meter responds to light, with a smc Pentax f/2.8 35mm lens, barrel G, optics G with light dust, |
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| Mar 2023 | £56 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 217) Title: An Asahi Pentax K2 SLR Camera
Description:
black, with SMC Pentax f/1.8 55mm lens, body, G, shutter fires but slow speeds untested, lens, VG |
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| Jan 2023 | £88 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 319) Title: An Asahi Pentax K2 SLR Camera
Description:
chrome, with SMC Pentax-M f/1.7 50mm lens, body, G, shutter working but slow speeds untested, F-G, internal fungus |
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| Mar 2022 | £69 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors sale (Lot 657) Title: A Pentax K2 SLR Camera
Description:
black, with Pentax-M f/1.7 50mm lens, body, G, shutter fires without batteries, lens, VG |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Pentax K2 worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer results, a Pentax K2 typically sells for somewhere between £12 and £88, with a median price around £63. Clean, fully working bodies sit at the upper end of that range.
How much does a Pentax K2 sell for at UK auction?
Recent sales have hammered from roughly £30 for untested or cosmetically worn examples up to about £88 for tidy working bodies. The value is very condition-sensitive because the camera depends on a working electronic shutter.
Is the Pentax K2 the same as the K1000?
No. The K2 was the top model in the 1975 K-series and offers aperture-priority automatic exposure, whereas the K1000 is the entry-level fully manual body in the same line. Both share the Pentax K lens mount.
Does a non-working Pentax K2 have any value?
Non-working K2 bodies still change hands at auction, usually in the £12–£30 range, where they sell as spares or display pieces rather than usable cameras.