[net.rec.photo] Pentax Help

dkw@homxa.UUCP (D.WOMBOUGH) (10/09/85)

I am planning on buying a 35mm SLR and am trying to decide on 
which camera to buy. I am looking at the Pentax K1000,
but after doing a little reading I see that Programables 
such as the Program Plus and ME Super are not that much
more expensive. I would like to know if it is worth having the programable
goodies. I would like to hear from anybody about how they like
any of the above cameras

		Thanks in advance
			Dennis Wombough

kemasa@sdcc13.UUCP (kemasa) (10/14/85)

I have not looked at the new Pentax cameras, so I don't know what features
they now have, but the last time I looked it appeared to be going toward
being just like a box camera.

I have a Pentax KX, and I like the fact that I decide what to set the camera
exposure to, not the camera itself.  It doesn't take that long to set the
exposure and at that time you can decide if you need a high shutter speed or
depth of field.  I would not get the K1000 just because it doesn't have a
few of the nicer features.  The Pentax MX is a new version of the KX and
you might want to take a look at it if it is still made.  My brother has
two KXs and one MX because he decided that he wanted a motor drive and
he couldn't put it one the KX.  We both feel that the KX & MX fits most needs
except if you just want to point and shoot, which I don't (I have an old
Kodak box camera for that).  In case you might be interested my brother is
selling (or at least the last time I talked to him about it) his second
KX body for somewhere around $100, send mail back to me in case you are.

One point about the M series cameras is that the lens are small and harder
to work than the K series lens, so I would tend toward the larger, and yes
heavier lens, which are quicker to adjust both the f-stop and the focus.

If you get a programable camera, I would make sure you can select either the
f-stop or the shutter speed.  The programables don't like heavy backlighting
and so you have to adjust them for that, except that you get used to using
them somewhat like a simple box camera by just focusing and letting it do
the rest, so you might forget and lose a few pictures.

					Ken S.

herbie@polaris.UUCP (Herb Chong) (10/18/85)

In article <332@sdcc13.UUCP> kemasa@sdcc13.UUCP (kemasa) writes:
>I have not looked at the new Pentax cameras, so I don't know what features
>they now have, but the last time I looked it appeared to be going toward
>being just like a box camera.

i have an old one, an MX which is no longer made, and a Super Program which
is one of the newest.  if you are learning photgraphy and you think
you might be serious, then a less automated camera is the way to go.
you learn exposure and compensation and things like tradeoffs between
depth of field and action stopping ability.  you learn when to trust the
meters and when to override.  a fully automatic everything camera is fine
for a snapshooter who is interested in the pictures and not how they're
taken.  if you are serious but would like to be able to use programmed
modes when you want, then a camera with a fully manual as well as
program and everything in between may be better since you don't have
to buy another camera later.

>One point about the M series cameras is that the lens are small and harder
>to work than the K series lens, so I would tend toward the larger, and yes
>heavier lens, which are quicker to adjust both the f-stop and the focus.

almost all of current pentax lenses fall into the M category.  only exotic
lenses like the 85-f1.4 and other special purpose lenses for the professionals
are as large and bulky as camera lenses used to be.  you will not find a
new pentax lens these days with an M designation.

Herb Chong...

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johnw@astroatc.UUCP (10/23/85)

In article <332@sdcc13.UUCP> kemasa@sdcc13.UUCP (kemasa) writes:
>If you get a programable camera, I would make sure you can select either the
>f-stop or the shutter speed.  The programables don't like heavy backlighting

Programable?   Programable!  Tell me more!  All I've ever seen are
       ====           ====
factory pre-programmed cameras!

Sorry, Maybe I'm too picky

	John W 
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