In 1977, Pentax had introduced two compact 35mm SLRs, the MX and the ME, after the Olympus OM-1 presented in 1972 had introduced a new trend for compactness in SLR cameras.
The Pentax ME was the automatic model, but it had no manual mode. It was replaced in 1979 by the simpler MV and the more advanced ME Super, which was the smallest and lightest SLR (440g) available, with the following changes:
manual mode added
shutter speed range from 4s to 1/2000, sync at 1/125
additional shoe contact for dedicated Pentax flash units
different finder magnification
The marking "ASAHI" in the pentaprism housing was eliminated sometime between the ME and the ME Super
The Pentax ME Super was an aperture priority automatic camera, with an electronic focal plane shutter from 4s to 1/2000, flash synchronized at 1/125. The camera also shoots manually (no battery) at the 1/125 flash speed. The shutter curtains were metal and had a vertical movement. For manual mode, the customary shutter knob was replaced by two buttons, up and down, to select the shutter speed. The exposure meter was of the standard TTL open aperture center weighted type. It was activated by a slight pressure on the release button.
The Pentax ME Super had a 0.95x viewfinder, covering 92% of the field. The finder screen was fixed, with a split image and a microprism ring in the center. The shutter speed chosen by the camera or the user was displayed in the finder, the aperture was not.
There was a self-timer and a hot shoe on the top of the prism with an additional contact for dedicated Pentax flash units. The selector around the release button had five positions: L (lock), Auto, M (manual), 125 and B. The Pentax ME Super could attach the external winder ME (1.5 i/s) or the later Winder ME II (2i/s). The Pentax ME Super could also mount a Dial Data ME databack, or the later Digital Data M databack via a cord adapter.
The lenses were interchangeable with the K bayonet mount. Together with the ME and MX, the SMC Pentax-M series of compact lenses were introduced.
The Pentax ME Super existed in chrome or black finish. There was a special edition called ME Super SE, only sold in chrome finish; the differences are the SE marking and the diagonal instead of horizontal split-image device in the focusing screen.
A derivative with a primitive autofocus mechanism, called the Pentax ME-F, was released in 1981. Production of the ME Super stopped in 1986.
Maker: Pentax
Dates: 1980-1986
Variants: chrome, black, SE
Lens mount: Pentax K with fully automatic diaphragm linkage
Shutter type: SEIKO MFC-E2 electronic focal plane, vertical, metal
Min. shutter speed: 4s
Max. shutter speed: 1/2000
Exposure meter: TTL, open aperture, center weighted by GPD cells. EV 1-19
Exposure modes: aperture priority, manual, 125 mechanical, Bulb
ASA/ISO range: 12 to 1600 ISO
Finder screen: fixed split-screen
Shoe: fixed hot shoe, contact for dedicated flash
X sync speed: 1/125
TTL Flash: no
Motor drive: external Winder ME (1.5i/s) or Winder ME II (2i/s)
Battery: 2 × 1.5V (SR44, LR44 or equivalent)
Weight: 445g w/o lens
Number produced: unknown
K1000 is a 35mm film SLR camera made by Pentax and produced between 1976–97. Its design descends from the original Spotmatic series of screw-mount SLRs introduced in the 1960s.
An affordable camera for the amateur photographer, it was a fully mechanical, manual camera designed without any program modes. It survived much longer than originally intended and became the archetypal "student's camera." The K1000 was equipped with all features required for manual photography: a TTL metering system, wide-ranging shutter speeds from 1/1000 to 1 s, and the ability to use all the available K-mount lenses made by Pentax and licensees such as Ricoh and Cosina. The K1000 omitted some features found on more advanced models, such as depth-of-field preview, self-timer, and separate meter on/off switch.
Despite its great popularity and longevity of the same basic design, Pentax finally ceased production of the K1000 after more than 20 years in 1997.
The K series evolved from the classic Spotmatic SP 1000, in fact the K1000 itself is essentially a Spotmatic with a bayonet rather than M42×1 screw mount.
Lens release: lever on the right lower side of the lens mount, slide downward and turn the lens counter clockwise, when mounting the lens the red marks of the lens and the camera must be aligned
Focusing: manual front focusing, via Fresnel matte screen, ring and scale window on the lens
Shutter: horizontally traveling, rubberized silk focal plane, speeds: 1/1000–1 s +B; setting: speed dial knob on the top plate
Shutter release: on the top plate, with cable release socket
Cocking lever: also winds the film, short stroke, retractable, on the right of the top plate
Frame counter: additive type, auto-reset, window on the cocking lever
Viewfinder: eye level SLR pentaprism, needle index of exposure meter visible in it
Exposure meter: full frame averaging TTL metering with built-in coupled match-needle meter ASA range: 20–3200, setting: ring and window on the speed dial, lift and turn
Exposure setting: manual, turn the speed dial or aperture ring until the needle aligned to the center of the index, in the finder
Rewind: folding crank on the top plate, turns when winding
Rewind release: a button on the bottom plate
Flash PC socket: left lower front side of the camera, w/ removable lid, X-Sync. 1/60, red X mark on the speed dial
Hot-shoe
Self-timer: none
Back cover: hinged, opens by lifting the re-wind lever
Tripod socket: 1/4 in
Strap lugs
Battery: 1.5 V LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver oxide (only for exposure meter)
Battery chamber: on the bottom plate
Attention: leave the lens cap on when you are not using the camera, there is no on-off switch for the exposure meter, so it works continuously
The Pentax MG was a product of Asahi Optical Co later called Pentax Corporation, introduced in 1981 and produced until 1984. It was a replacement of the MV and MV1 cameras as entry level 35mm semi-automatic camera.
The Pentax MG was a manual focus, aperture priority camera, with no manual settings of speeds. The Pentax MG had an electronic focal plane shutter from 1s to 1/1000, synchronized at 1/100. The shutter curtains were metal and had a vertical movement. However, if the batteries fail the camera still operated at 1/100s or B, thus the selector around the release button had three positions: Auto, 100X (1/100, X sync) and B. The exposure meter is center-weighted TTL type with open aperture measuring for Pentax M compatible lenses. The Pentax MG can use any Pentax K-mount and can still be used with current Pentax lenses. There was a self-timer and a hot shoe with an additional contact for dedicated Pentax flash units. The Pentax MG used 2 SR-44 batteries or equivalent to power it.
The Pentax MG had a 0.87x viewfinder, covering 92% of the field. The finder screen was fixed, with a split image and a microprism ring in the center. The shutter speed chosen by the camera was displayed in the finder by LEDs, which also indicated over/under exposure or slow speeds and the possibility of shaking. However the aperture was not displayed. The camera also had an exposure compensation from +2 to -2 EV.
Pentax MG with SMC Pentax-M 50/2 lens
The body resembles that of the M-Family of cameras such as the ME, MX, MV, etc. and as such was compatible with the external Winder ME (1.5 frame/s) or the later Winder ME II (2 frame/s). The Pentax MG could use the Dial Data ME databack with an adaptor to slide in the hot shoe, or it could make direct use of the Digital Data M databack. The Pentax MG was available in chrome or black finish.
General
Lens Mount: K
Mount Limitations: The lens must be set to a numerical aperture
Self-Timer: 4 ~ 10 sec
Mirror Lock-Up: —
Cable Release: mechanical
Infra-Red Release: —
Additional Features: —
Width x Height x Depth: 132 x 85 x 49.5 mm
Weight: 423 g
Exposure System
Exposure Modes: Av
Metering Modes with K and M Lenses: center-weighted
Metering Modes with A and newer Lenses: center-weighted
Meter Material: GPD
Exposure Compensation (Step): XXX
Exposure Lock: —
Meter Range: 2 ~ 19 EV
Manual ISO Range: 25 ~ 1600 ASA
Shutter
Construction: electronic (vertical)
Material: metal
Shutter Speeds: 1 ~ 1/1000, B
Mechanical Speeds: X, B
The Pentax MX was a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera produced by Asahi Optical Co, later Pentax of Japan between 1976 and 1985. It was Pentax's flagship professional SLR until the introduction of the Pentax LX. Internally, the MX is essentially a smaller, lighter version of the Pentax KX, and otherwise has little in common with the rest of the Pentax M-series. However, the MX was designed as the mechanical twin sister of the remarkably successful entry-level Pentax ME.
The MX was solidly built, and featured a fully mechanical construction, including a mechanical shutter of the horizontal cloth type. Only the light metering system was dependent on batteries. The MX is all manual: it does not feature autofocus or autoexposure modes such as aperture-priority, shutter-speed priority, or full program.
A number of accessories were produced, among those: Focusing Screens
SC1: ground glass, split image device, microprism ring (standard)
SA1: ground glass, microprism patch
SA3: ground glass, microprism patch, for wide aperture lenses
SB1: ground glass, split image device
SD1: ground glass, cross collimator
SD11: aerial image, cross collimator
SE: ground glass
SG: ground glass, grid
SI: ground glass, axis,
Data backs, Dial Data MX and a bulk film back. Motorized winder Winder MX (2 frame/s) or a Motor MX (5 frame/s)motor drive.
Like all post-42 mm screwmount Pentax cameras, the MX accepts all K-mount lenses (with the exception of the newer FA-J and DA lenses without aperture rings).
Due to its complete lack of automatic functions, but excellent array of manual controls, the MX is often selected as a camera for photography students to practice their technique. The depth-of-field preview and self-timer functions render the MX superior in this respect to the earlier and cheaper Pentax K1000.
Year introduced: 1976
Mount: K
Meter range: 1 - 19 EV
Meter pattern: c
ISO range: 25 - 1600
DX ISO range: No DX coding
Exposure modes: M, B
Exposure compensation: Not applicable
Exposure lock: Not applicable
Shutter speeds (auto): Not applicable
Shutter speeds (manual): 1 - 1/1000s, B
Shutter speeds (mechanical): 1 - 1/1000s, B
Self timer: Yes
Mirror lock-up: No
Auto bracketing: Not applicable
Multiple exposures: Yes
Winder: External winder 2 fps, motor drive 1-5 fps
Built-in flash: No
TTL flash: No
P-TTL flash: No
Sync speed: 1/60s
Flash exposure comp: Not applicable
Autofocus: No
Autofocus sensitivity: Not applicable
Power zoom: No
Viewfinder: 0.97x, 95%
Viewfinder type: Pentaprism
Diopter correction: No
Exchangeable screen: Yes
Depth of field preview: Yes
Image size: 24 x 36 mm
Panorama format: No
Battery: 2 x S76
Battery grip/pack: Yes, for the motor drive
Size (W x H x D): 136 x 82.5 x 49.5 mm
Weight: 495 g
The Pentax SF7 was a camera from the Japanese Pentax brand, manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (called PENTAX Corporation since 2002). It is also known as the Pentax SF10 in the United States, and was first produced in 1988. It was Pentax's third Autofocus 35mm SLR after the Pentax ME F and the very similar Pentax SFX.
This Pentax SLR comes from the SF range of cameras which Pentax introduced before the Z and MZ range, and were the first set of autofocus SLR cameras the company made. This model, the Pentax SF10 was also known as the SF7 and is similar in styling to the SFXn camera which I own, but is a rather simpler and more basic model than that. It was manufactured in about 1988.
This is a sturdy and heavy camera, similar in weight and very slightly bigger than my digital Pentax K5 DSLR. Although heavy cameras are not a lot of fun to carry about, it is a good camera to get a hold of. The hand grip is quite deep and has a contoured feel which fits in the hand quite nicely. The shutter button falls nicely in place when the camera is in the hand, and it’s easy enough to alter shutter settings with the rocker switch placed behind the shutter button.
Changing modes however is a different matter. This camera was made at a time when electronics were being introduced into camera manufacture, and lots of cameras at this time had button press rather than rotary knobs to change settings and I find they are not as easy or quick. On this camera the one saving grace is the way the camera modes are displayed; Instead of a small A, P, S etc displayed in a small LCD screen, the SF series had large LCD panels mounted on the top of the SLR prism. On the Pentax SF10, this LCD has a display which incorporated an outline shape of the camera which changes to show graphically the modes, and configuration changes.
The control buttons on the top panel of the camera are the mode button discussed above, a button to control the different drive modes, a rocker switch positioned behind the shutter release and the On/Off switch which has an optional ‘beep’ setting for audible feedback. On the back of the camera just behind the hot shoe is an exposure lock button and on the side of the lens mount is the Auto focus/Manual focus switch with an electronic cable release socket above.
The lens mount fitted to the SF10 is a full KAF mount, which means this camera can use any pentax lens made up to the point the camera was made. It obviously wouldn’t be able to focus a modern ultrasonic motor lens, but any screw thread focused lens or manual K mount lens should be fine.
This camera offers all the normal exposure modes most photographers need and regularly use, but doesn’t feature the ‘scene’ modes which are popular these days. This, of course is because it was made earlier than that sort of feature was introduced.
The exposure modes are selected with a combination of the mode button, the rocker switch and the aperture ring on the lens. If the lens aperture ring is set to ‘A’ the mode button and rocker switch will toggle between ‘PROG’ (program or fully automatic mode) and Shutter priority. These modes are shown on the top panel LCD as a series of updates to the picture of the camera – some examples can be seen in the pictures above.
Once the aperture ring is moved off the ‘A’ setting, the mode button and the rocker switch will toggle between AUTO (aperture priority), fully manual mode and bulb.
There is no option to provide any exposure compensation on this camera and since it’s also not possible to override the DX coding of the film speed that includes the trick of changing the film speed. There is an exposure memory lock button however which can be used to meter a particular portion of a scene and then lock the exposure to that reading.
The metering in the camera is a 2 segment averaged reading with autofocus lenses which changes to centre weighted with manual focus lenses.
As I said in the opening paragraph, this is one of the first autofocus cameras which Pentax made and employs a motor in the body of the camera which drives the focus ring via a screw thread coupling. This system has been maintained by Pentax up to the present day and my Pentax K5 can focus the lens fitted to the SF10 in exactly the same way (considerably faster of course and in lower light).
The autofocus performance of the Pentax SF10 is reasonable for the age of the camera. It wouldn’t win any speed battles today, but considering this is a 1st generation autofocus camera it’s reasonably fast in good light as long as the target area has some contrasting patterns. When the light level drops it does a bit of hunting about to find the correct position, but most of the time it will eventually get there. It’s not a quick or accurate as my SFXn, but then it was at the cheaper end of the SF series and the SFXn was at the top end. It is quite noisy during focusing – not just noise from the lens moving but from the focus motor itself which has a high pitched whine. It reminds me of the Minolta 7000 which was also a 1st generation autofocus camera.
In common with all the early autofocus cameras I own there is only one focus sensor fitted in the centre of the viewfinder. That may be considered a disadvantage but in my experience I find one to be fine. I normally use the single central focus point anyway and use the ‘focus and re-compose’ option if I need to focus on something non central. Obviously modern cameras have many focus points in order to do focus tracking, but a camera of this age simply doesn’t have the speed to do that anyway.
For situations where there really isn’t enough light to successfully achieve focus lock there is a small lamp built into the flash housing which is used to strobe the scene and get the lens to lock. I found on my copy of the camera this was not very successful, but again the light wasn’t very bright so it may be just age which has caused it to dim. The camera won’t pop the flash up to use this light by itself, it needs to be raised by the photographer. Looking at the button which raises the flash I would guess it’s a mechanical rather than electrical switch so the camera couldn’t raise it anyway.
When focus is achieved there is a large indicator in the viewfinder which lights and an optional beep can sound as well, both of these also work when the camera is in manual focus mode either by switching the AF/MF switch or by fitting a manual focus lens. Although I like split image focusing screens for manual focus, the focus indicator is actually quite a useful device with manual lenses.
There is one other point I’d like to make about the autofocus on this camera. I have two Sigma autofocus lenses which this camera won’t focus. They are both screw driven autofocus lenses which work without problem on my K5 and any of my MZ series cameras but the screw drive doesn’t turn when they are fitted to the SF10. I checked that the screw drive is engaging with the camera body and it is because turning the focus ring in autofocus mode results in the focus motor in the body turning (I wouldn’t recommend doing this by the way). I wondered if it was something a bit odd with this particular camera so I tried them both on my SFXn and found exactly the same thing. Just for information the two lenses are a Sigma Zoom 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 and a Sigma Zoom 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 UC.
The Pentax SF10 is equipped with a pentaprism viewfinder rather than the pentamirror finder used in the lower end MZ series cameras. This is welcome because it leads to a much brighter view, especially when used with a fast lens. Other than being a prism finder, the viewfinder is somewhat disappointing because there is no Depth of field preview available and also no diopter adjustment.
In terms of exposure and focus information visible in the viewfinder the shutter speeds are visible on the right hand side of the viewfinder and the letter ‘A’, ‘M’ or ‘P’ above to indicate the exposure mode. As mentioned above there is a focus indicator to show when focus is achieved and right at the bottom of the shutter speeds the letters LT indicate when a shutter speed longer than 1/30sec has been selected. All the shutter speeds below 1/60sec are in yellow indicating a tripod should be used – the rest are in green although the 1/2000sec speed will flash if the exposure is over exposed when 1/2000 is selected.
The drive modes are set using the drive mode button and the rocker switch. The camera has a fairly simple selection of single shot, continuous shot and self timer mode. The self timer is electronic with an LED on the front of the hand grip illuminated when the timer is running and the beep option counting the timer down. When the last couple of seconds are reached the LED flashes in unison with the beep for a couple of seconds and then the shutter fires.
This was an entry level camera when the SF series was introduced by Pentax and as such it is missing some of the top end functions the SFXn camera had. However most of the functions most photographers would use are here with the exception of exposure compensation. Even that could be worked around by using the Exposure Lock button so it’s more an inconvenience rather than a deal breaker.
Many people may say the camera is too big and heavy and you certainly know you are carrying it around but it is pretty well balanced and comfortable to use.
Year introduced: 1988
Mount: KAF
Meter range: 1 - 19 EV
Meter pattern: c
ISO range: DX only
DX ISO range: 25 - 5000
Exposure modes: P, Av, Tv, M, B
Exposure compensation: No
Exposure memory lock: Yes
Shutter speeds (auto): 30 - 1/2000s
Shutter speeds (manual): 1 - 1/2000s
Shutter speeds (mechanical): None
Self timer: Yes
Mirror lock-up: No
Auto bracketing: No
Multiple exposures: No
Winder: Built 2 fps
Built-in flash: Yes, GN 12
TTL flash: Yes
P-TTL flash: No
Sync speed: 1/100s
Flash exposure comp: No
Autofocus: Yes (1 point)
Autofocus sensitivity: 2 - 18 EV
Power zoom: No
Viewfinder: 0.81x, 92%
Viewfinder type: Pentaprism
Diopter correction: No
Exchangeable screen: No
Depth of field preview: No
Image size: 24 x 36 mm
Panorama format: No
Battery: 2CR5
Battery grip/pack: No
Size (W x H x D): 157 x 99 x 63.5 mm
Weight: 630 g
Comment: Special accessory: Interval data back
Pentax SF10 35mm Autofocus SLR (also known as SF7)
1st Generation autofocus camera
Aperture priority, Shutter Priority, Program Mode & full Manual Mode
2 segment averaged metering with F series lenses, centre weighted with others
KAF mount accepts all K mount lenses
Solid, well built construction
Single autofocus sensor centrally mounted.
Pentaprism viewfinder
Integrated RTF flash with autofocus assist light
Shutter speed 30sec to 1/2000sec + Bulb
Self timer with electronic countdown and visual indication
Single shot and multiple shot mode
Optional beep function for focus lock
Focus confirmation light in the viewfinder
Integrated off centre hot shoe
Exposure lock
DX coded film chamber
Electronic cable release socket
Powered by 2CR5 battery in grip
The Pentax Spotmatic refers to a family of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by the Asahi Optical Co. Ltd., later known as Pentax Corporation, between 1964 and 1976.
All Pentax Spotmatics used the M42 screw-thread lens mount which was developed before WWII by Zeiss and Praktica. Asahi Optical used the name Takumar for their lenses. These were high-quality, progressively improved lenses, later versions of which featured multi-coating and were called Super Multi Coated Takumars.
The camera allowed one to focus the lens at maximum aperture with a bright viewfinder image. After focusing, a switch on the side of the lens mount stopped the lens down and switched on the metering which the camera displayed with a needle located on the side of the viewfinder. The use of stop-down light metering was at the time revolutionary, but it limited the capability of the lightmeter, specially in low light situations. Later models Spotmatic F, Electro Spotmatic, ES, and ESII were capable of open-aperture metering when used with Super Multi Coated (S-M-C) Takumar lenses with an aperture coupling prong in the lens mount.
Honeywell was the U.S. importer of the Spotmatic. Cameras officially imported by Honeywell were labeled Honeywell Pentax, instead of Asahi Pentax. The Spotmatic IIa was only available as a Honeywell Pentax; it was sold exclusively in the USA and had an electronic interface for specific Honeywell Strobonar electronic flash units.
The original 1964 Spotmatic was one of the first SLRs on the market to offer a through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering system. The camera was presented as a prototype at photokina 1960, and was originally designed to use spot metering. Shortly before production Asahi decided that spot metering would be too difficult to use, and so the metering system was altered to use center-weighted average metering. The change took place too close to production to change the name, and so Spotmatic stuck. The camera had a mechanical shutter with speed range from 1000 to 1 and Bulb. The lightmeter is activated by a lever on the side of the camera, which also stopped down the lens. Mercury battery (1.35 V Mallory RM640) was used to power the light metering system; however due to the way the circuit is designed, silver oxide batteries can be used instead.
=== The Spotmatic was introduced by Asahi in 1964 and was the first camera to sell well with Through-the-Lens light metering. The camera was entirely mechanical apart from the light meter, which was powered by a 1.35 volt PX400 mercury cell[1]. A small switch on the (photographer's) left side of the lens housing was pushed up to stop down the lens and activate the meter; the exposure controls would then be adjusted to centre a needle on the right edge of the viewfinder. The body took lenses with a 42mm Pentax/Praktica screw thread, giving a huge range of alternatives. The system became the workhorse of many professionals of the period. ===
In 1973 the Spotmatic F joined the line. This camera, together with a revamped line of Super Multi Coated (S-M-C) Takumar had the capability of metering without stopping the lens down.
Type: SLR body
Manufacturer: Asahi Optical Co.
Year of launch: 1964
Films: 35mm, speeds up to 1600 ASA
Viewfinder: pentaprism eye-level viewfinder
Lens Mount: Pentax/Praktica screwmount (M42)
Shutter: Focal plane shutter, speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, flash sync 1/60 second
Metering: CdS TTL metering (stopped-down manual match-needle metering system) EV 1.7 ~ 18 (ISO 100) ASA range 20-1600 (on original Spotmatic)
The Spotmatic SP F, launched in 1973, included several improvements. It was the first version to offer open-aperture metering, but this needed the updated Super-Multi-Coated (S-M-C) Takumar lenses with an aperture-position linkage to the camera. The FP option for the hot shoe synchronisation was dropped and the meter circuit design was revised to take account of the lens aperture setting and to indicate correct exposure when zero current is flowing through the meter, which now allowed for a variation in voltage from the battery. The battery now needed extra capacity and was changed to the now-defunct PX625 mercury cell. The light meter is constantly switched on but there is an automatic cut-off when the light is at EV2 or less, so it is important to keep the lens cap on when the camera is not in use, in order to conserve the battery.
Plastic fixed focus compact 35mm camera with built in flash from Pentax. First model in the Pentax Pino series.
This model was first produced in 1984. It has limited features. The user sets the film speed and then selects either one of 3 pictograms for light level (Sunny, Cloudy Sun or cloudy) or on the same ring the distance for flash use by 3 pictograms (bust-size, half-length or full length portrait). There is a battery powered CdS metering but this only warns the user of too low light in viewfinder and does not lock the red shutter button in low light. Viewfinder is basic with no markers.
Flash has to be manually activated by red switch on rear causing a indicator LED/button to pop up. It is turned off by depressing the indicator button.
The user can adjust the aperture to settings beyond those indicated by histogram (e.g. you can widen the aperture at 400ASA 2 settings beyond the cloudy setting)
Lens: 38mm 1:3.8 pentax lens, 3 elments, 3 lens group-composition
Focus: Fixed, range 1.5m to infinity
Aperture: f/3.8 to f/19
Shutter: Mechanical leaf
Shutter Speed: Fixed, 1/125s
Metering: CdS low light warning only
Flash: GN 12 (ISO 100, in metres)
Batteries: 2xAA alkaline (not NiCd). Good for 360 flash discharges with new manganese alkali batteries
Film advance: Manual, thumbwheel on rear
Film speed settings: 100, 200 & 400 ASA
Tripod mount
175gm without batteries
he Pentax Zoom 105 Super is a fully automatic compact camera released by with a 38-105mm zoom lens. It was also sold as the IQZoom 105 Super so it is part of the Pentax Espio IQZoom series, but this branding is often omitted from the camera body. It was manufactured by Pentax in 1990.
An minor updated version was available in 1991 called the Zoom 105-R which has red eye reduction.
The lens is a 38-105mm, f/4-7.8, the power zoom can be controlled continuously or in steps of 46, 55, 70 and 85mm by lightly tapping the zooming lever. The focal length is displayed on the top LCD screen. The focus range is from 1.35m to inf, but with macro mode enabled this changes to 0.75m to 1.35m. There is also a super macro mode. This button is located under a downward sliding cover on the left hand side of the body. This enables fixed focus range of 0.45m. In this mode the flash always fires and auto focus does not function. An electronic self timer, that can shoot up to five exposures. Number of exposure can be adjusted with the zoom toggle switch. The first shot is set at 10 seconds, the second is at 5 seconds, exposure 3 to 5 is at approx 2 seconds. DX encoded film is required as non-DX film is shot at ISO 25. The film is exposed upside down since the take-up reel is to the left. It takes two CR123A batteries, the battery compartment has a screw that can be release with a accessory on the camera strap. The other side of the tool can be used for mid-roll rewind and date adjustment. The camera strap is slotted to the right hand side of the hand grip.
On date models, Month-Day-Year, Day-Month-Year, Year-Month-Day or Day-Hour-Minute can be imprinted. The years 1987 to 2019 can be imprinted.
Type: Fully automatic 35mm film camera with zoom lens
Film: DX-coded ISO 25-3200, frame size 24x36mm
Lens: Pentax power zoom 38-105mm, f/4-7.8 with macro mode. 11 elements in 9 groups - Angle 50-23.5 degrees.
Focusing: Active infrared autofocus system
Shutter: automatic 1/250s-1/3 sec. Bulb: 1/2-60 sec.
Self-timer: up to 5 frames.
Viewfinder: 87% - magnification 0,45-0,97
Exposure Compensation: +-3EV (steps of 0.5 EV)
Double exposure: possible
Flash: built-in.
Film advance: automatic - max. 1.3 fps, automatic rewind.
Power: Two 3v lithium batteries CR-123A or DL 123A
Size: 144x83x67 mm
Weight: 470g without batteries.
The Spotmatic cameras were introduced by Asahi Optical Company in 1964 and marketed through 1976. The camera was one of the first commercially available 35mm SLRs to include through-the-lens metering. The camera name is derived from the use of spot metering on the original design of the camera. The metering system was changed to average metering prior to its release but the change happened too late to change the marketing materials, so the original name continued to be used. A series of different models were made with minor changes and improvements. All Spotmatics use the M42 lens mount. In the United States, Spotmatic cameras were imported and marketed by Honeywell and bear the name "Honeywell Spotmatic". Cameras manufactured for sale outside the US were badged "Asahi Spotmatic".
The Spotmatic SP
The Spotmatic SP was introduced by Asahi Optical Company in 1964, and was one of the first 35mm SLR cameras with through-the-lens light metering. The camera was entirely mechanical apart from the light meter, which was powered by a 1.35 volt PX400 mercury cell. Mercury batteries are now banned but Zinc-Air batteries can be used instead, or it is possible to carry out a minor modification to the meter circuit to allow the use of 1.55 volt 387S silver-oxide batteries. A small switch on the (photographer's) left side of the lens housing was pushed up to stop down the lens and activate the meter; the exposure controls would then be adjusted to center a needle on the right edge of the viewfinder. The body took lenses with an M42 screw thread, providing a large range of available lenses. The system became the workhorse of many professionals of the period. Three variants of the Spotmatic SP are common: 1) Black and chrome body with Asahi Pentax badge on prism housing, Spotmatic badge on front below shutter release and SP badge on top near the rewide knob. 2) All black body with Asahi Pentax badge on prism housing, Spotmatic badge on front below shutter release and SPbadge on top near the rewind knob. 3) Blank and chrome body with Honeywell Pentax badge on prism housing and Spotmatic badge on front below shutter release (but no correspond SPbadge). The Spotmatic SP did not have a hotshoe. The SP500 and SP1000
The SP500 and SP1000 are identical to the Spotmatic SP except there is no self timer and the SP500 shutter speed dial shows a max speed of 1/1000. However, like the SP1000 and SP, the SP500 can actually shoot at 1/1000 by turning the shutter speed dial to an unmarked stop after 1/500. Like the SP, the SP500/SP1000 models came in 3 variants, black and chrome Asahi, black Asahi, black and chrome Honeywell.
The PX400 is is a discontinued Mercuric Oxide coin type cell that was commonly used in cameras and is now banned because of toxicity and environmental fears.
The original PX400 mercury cell produced 1.35V.
There are three possible replacements for this PX400 cell:
the equivalent silver oxide cell, the S400PX.
the equivalent zinc air cell, the WeinCELL MRB400.
a voltage reducing adapter, the H-B adapter and a silver oxide 377 cell
There are no alkaline cells manufactured of this size and shape.
The camera is of fairly solid construction and quite weighty, although quite well balanced when fitted with the Sigma lens I have on it. Most of the camera setting are made with small rocker switches on the camera top plate and another rocker fitter just behind the shutter button which can be moved with the eye to the eyepiece. There is a built in flash, fitted in the usual place above the prism and a flash hot shoe which is unusual because it’s fitted to the right of the camera top plate. The film compartment is DX coded, although the camera can also have it’s ISO set when non-dx coded film is fitted.
When I received the camera there had been a spill of something like orange juice over the top of the camera so the rocker buttons and the pop-up flash were difficult to move. After a bit of cleaning the rockers seem to work OK, but the flash is still a bit reluctant to pop-up and sometimes needs to be prised up with a finger nail.
On the top of the prism behind the pop up flash is an LCD panel (called the CENTIC display panel in the handbook) which shows the current camera settings, and a button at the back of the camera behind the hot shoe turns on a small light to illuminate this panel.
The Pentax SFXn/SF1n is a autofocus 35mm SLR camera introduced in 1989, two years after the SFX (SFI).
It uses a electronic vertical traveling metal focal plane shutter with speeds from 30 to 1/4000 of a second. Slower shutter speeds less than 1/30 of a sec has to be used in manual mode. Flash sync is at 1/125 of a sec.
Exposure modes include Programed AE (normal, action, depth), aperture priority, shutter priority and metered manual modes. The meter is a TTL center weighted type with a range of 1 to 20 EV at (ASA 100, 50mm f/1.4), and can be set for DX-coded film speeds from 25 to 5000 ISO and manual speeds of 6 to 6400 in 1/3 stops. The motorized film transport is able to travel at up to 2.2 fps. It can be powered by a 2CR5 battery or by four AA batteries with the optional grip.
Categories: StubFlickr imagePentaxJapanese 35mm autofocus SLRS
There are a variety of exposure modes offered on the Pentax SFXn, almost as many as offered on a modern DSLR.
It’s possible to use Aperture priority, Shutter Priority & Fully Manual operation. In addition there are three Program modes where the camera sets both aperture and shutter speed. The three program modes are normal ‘Fully Automatic’ mode, a Sports mode which uses the fastest shutter speed possible and a depth mode which maximizes depth of field by using the largest aperture possible.
Aperture priority mode is set when the aperture on the lens is set to anything other than the A setting. If the camera is fitted with a lens with out the A setting than Aperture Priority will be the mode it operates in unless set to manual.
Once the lens is set to A, the camera can be set to any of it’s program modes or Shutter Priority mode by pushing the top plate rocker switch to ‘Mode’ and using the slider behind the shutter button to set the mode, which is displayed on the LCD Panel. This is such a simple operation that it’s very easy to quickly work out all the operating modes of the camera.
Viewfinder
In common with most 35mm film cameras the viewfinder on the Pentax SFXn is big and bright, and the focusing screen is replaceable.
There is one focus point which is marked in the middle of the frame and some electronic indicators up the right hand side and at the bottom. These indicators are not as sophisticated as modern cameras; They are more like some fixed coloured numbers which light up when appropriate. For example, the shutter speed is indicated by a series of numbers up the right hand side of the viewfinder ranging from ‘LT’ (Long Time?) to 4000 (1/4000 sec) to show the shutter speed selected. There is an indicator at the top which is either A (Auto) or P (Program) and a display at the bottom of a green square when focussed and red arrows when not. The shutter speed lights are yellow up to 1/30th indicating caution for hand held photography and green above that. If the exposure will be under or over exposed the indicated speed flashes as a warning.
One piece of information missing from the viewfinder display is the aperture which the lens is set to. With the sigma lens I have fitted you can only see the aperture by looking at the lens, but the LCD display has an F number display so I guess some lenses would display their F stop setting.
Film Drive & Autofocus
The camera has an inbuilt motor drive which can be set to normal single frame shooting, self-timer mode, bracketing mode or self timer multiple exposures.
The autofocus system will work in single focus or continuous mode. This is set with a small switch at the from the the camera which also allows the lens to be set to manual focus. I have found that the focus is quite quick in use with the sigma 28 – 80 lens I have fitted to is and it works in quite low light. The accuracy of the focus system will be determined once I’ve put a film through the camera.
Pentax today announced two new 35mm compacts, the 30 PC-5000 with a 27mm autofocus wide-angle lens and the 25 PC-3000 with a 25mm fixed focus wide-angle.
Both cameras have large bright viewfinders and are fully automatic. Auto features include film loading, which advances film to the first frame, sets the ISO film speed with DX-coded film, advances to the next frame after each exposure, and rewinds it at the end of the roll. The built-in auto flash automatically fires in low light and has a red-eye reduction mode to prevent annoying red spots in the subject's eyes.
To conserve batteries, the cameras automatically shut the power off when left unused for more than three minutes
A data version of the PC5000 is also available.
With the P series cameras, Pentax left the design line that was startet by the ME, led to the successful ME Super und culminated in the superA / superPROGRAM. All dials on the camera body were replaced by buttons.
The P5 /P50 was the first Pentax featuring 2 program modes and a large LCD display on the top. Also, with the P5 / P50 and P3 / P30 cameras, Pentax reintroduced the exposure lock (first seen in the K2 DMD). Technically, the P5 / P50 is very close to A series cameras, e.g. it is compatible the motor drive A.
The standard lens is a 50 mm f/1.7.
The camera has five exposure modes. Settings are displayed in an LCD screen to the right of the prism, and selected by navigating the menu with 'Up' and 'Down' buttons beside the display. The major modes are:
Programmed AE with a bias toward fast shutter speed
Programmed AE biased toward small aperture
Aperture priority AE
Metered manual exposure
Programmed mode for dedicated auto flash
The shutter is a vertical-travel focal plane shutter, with speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second, plus 'B'. Flash synchronisation is at 1/100 second; the camera is compatible with some dedicated Pentax flashes.
The camera reads DX codes on film, and has no other ISO setting control. If film without a DX code is loaded, the film speed is set to ISO 100.
FILM: Auto film-speed setting with 35mm perforated DX coded film with ISO rating from 100 to 400. 24 x 36mm format. Use color print films only LENS: 35mm F3.8, 3 elements 3 groups VIEWFINDER: With Albada bright frame FOCUSING: Infrared active autofocus system. Range: 1.1m (3.6ft) - infinity SHUTTER: Programmed AE behind the lens shutter. Electro-magnetic release EXPOSURE CONTROL: Programmed AE control. Range: EV10 — 15 (ISO 100), EV8 — 13 (ISO 400) FILM LOADING: Easy loading FILM TRANSPORT: Auto film winding and rewinding. Rewinding stops upon completion FLASH: Built-in auto discharge flash SELF-TIMER: Approx. 10-sec-delay self-timer with LED indicator BATTERIES: Two 1.5V AA size ALKALINE batteries (LR6 type). Ni-Cd batteries not usable DIMENSIONS: 124.5(W)x 71(H) x50(D)mm WEIGHT: 240g
Fonte: pentaxoda.blogspot.com
