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Pentax P5 / P50

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6 56,738 Sat February 1, 2020
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $29.00 7.67
Pentax P5 / P50

Pentax P5 / P50
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Pentax P5 / P50
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Pentax P5 / P50
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Pentax P5 / P50
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Description:
The Pentax P5/P50 was the second of four P-series cameras; the first was the Pentax P3/P30. The P5/P50 has lower specifications than the Pentax Super Program/Super A that was released three years earlier. It has Program, Av and Manual exposure modes, and the ISO can only be set by the DX coding on the film canister.

The Program mode can be set to prioritize depth of field (by stopping the lens down) or sports (by using a fast shutter speed).

It has an exposure lock and a +/-3 EV exposure compensation.

P5/P50
Year introduced
1986
Mount
KA
Meter range
1 - 18 EV
Meter pattern
c
ISO range
100
DX ISO range
25 - 1600
Exposure modes
P, Av, M, X, B
Exposure compensation
+/-3 EV
Exposure memory lock
Yes
Shutter speeds (auto)
1 - 1/1000s
Shutter speeds (manual)
1 - 1/1000s, B
Shutter speeds (mechanical)
None
Self timer
Yes
Mirror lock-up
No
Auto bracketing
No
Multiple exposures
No
Winder
External winder 2 fps, motor drive 2 and 3.5 fps
Built-in flash
No
TTL flash
No
P-TTL flash
No
Sync speed
1/100s
Flash exposure comp
No
Autofocus
No
Autofocus sensitivity
Not applicable
Power zoom
No
Viewfinder
0.82x, 92%
Viewfinder type
Pentaprism
Diopter correction
No
Exchangeable screen
No
Depth of field preview
Yes
Image size
24 x 36 mm
Panorama format
No
Battery
2 x S76
Battery grip/pack
No
Size (W x H x D)
137 x 87.5 x 50.5 mm
Weight
525 g
Comment
Program modes: Action and Depth of field
Price History:



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New Member

Registered: December, 2013
Posts: 7

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 1, 2020 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Solid, capable
Cons: No do coding override.

This camera is often overlooked. This might be because it’s seen as a bit amateur, with it’s mountain vs runner icons in the LCD. However, it has a good viewfinder, solid feel, and my copy has been very reliable. It has the basic auto capabilities, and the meter generally accurate.
One drawback for me is that you can’t set the iso without a dx code, meaning I can’t use my self load cartridges.

But for the price you can’t go wrong!
   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2014
Location: Nagoya
Posts: 577

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 22, 2016 Recommended | Price: $25.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Cheap, no-nonsense, Av mode
Cons: No manual ISO setting

A nice, simple, ergonomically pleasant body that makes sense for occasional film shooters, as long as you can find one cheaply - some sellers (at least here in the UK) massively overinflate the price, selling them for nearly as much as a Super A, at which point you may as well buy the Super A.
This camera, as detailed in other reviews, has two program modes, aperture priority mode and manual mode (match to the flashing speed indicated in the viewfinder). I only really use aperture priority mode.

Good points:
Av mode. This is an improvement over the P3/P30 which inexplicably lacked it.
Quick loading - pull the film over and go. Works pretty well.
DoF preview - useful if you shoot Av like I do. Inexplicably missing from a lot of other good cameras (looking at you, ME Super).
Large microprism section on the focusing screen. The split-prism is also still good at f5.6.

Bad points:
More shutter recoil than other 80s Pentax cameras I have tried. This may just be my copy.
No manual ISO setting - it defaults to 100, although, since the camera has +/-3EV exposure compensation, you can effectively manually set the ISO from 12-800 so it's not a disaster.

If you can pick one up cheaply, this is a nice little camera and certainly better than a P30. However, if you can stretch to it - and particularly if you want to shoot a lot of film - the more flexible Super A is ultimately a better call.

---Edit 30/8/16---

For anyone reading the review now, the rating was previously a 7 and I have since upgraded it to an 8. Since writing my original review 3 months ago I have found myself putting film after film through this camera almost without noticing. It makes a pleasant, unintrusive companion and sits easily around the neck, being as light as it is. I still prefer my beloved Super A, but this camera has risen well up the ranks as I have got used to it.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,083

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 9, 2015 Recommended | Price: $43.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Nice looking and handling. Quick film loading.
Cons: No DX Coding override, MLU or TTL flash support.

The Pentax P50 camera was released in 1986, one year after the initial “P” Series body (P30/P3) came out. The P50 was the most advanced body in the “P” Series line which was designed around the “A” Series lenses.

The P50 was renamed as a “P5” for the North American market, but the finish/look was identical between cameras.

Even though the P50 was the most advanced of the “P” Series bodies, it had more in common with the middle “A Series” body the Program A, than the top of the line Super A. Both the Program A and P50 have a top shutter speed of 1/1000, no TTL flash support and no shutter priority exposure mode. (The Super A had a 1/2000 shutter speed, TTL flash support and a Shutter Priority mode)

The main differences between the P50 and Super A & Program A were the addition of DX Coding, Exposure Memory Lock, a new way of loading film and a second Program Mode for action shooing.

Observations:
- The first thing you notice about the P50 is its angular shaped body as well as all dials have been removed and replaced with push buttons. The body top has a large LCD screen that shows the Exposure Mode, Shutter Speed & any Exposure Compensation, as well as a sliding on/off switch. There is also a traditional LED shutter bar on the left side of the viewfinder. The aperture is not displayed in any window, which is somewhat disappointing and annoying if you are using one of the two Program modes.

- The P50 has two Program Exposure modes only usable with Pentax lenses with the “A” aperture setting. The Program “Action” emphasizes faster shutter speeds and the Program “Depth” emphasizes DOF for landscape shots. These two Program modes work OK, but I’m not really into that type of shooting, so I mostly use Aperture Priority. The P50 also has a fully Manual Exposure mode and is totally dependent on batteries.

- Which modes you can use on the P50 depends on the mounted lens, here is a list:

K or M Series: Aperture Priority and Manual modes
A, F, FA or D FA Series (with aperture ring): Program Action/Depth, Aperture Priority and Manual modes.
FAJ or D FA Series (with no aperture ring): Program Action/Depth modes.

- Exposure Lock is a nice new addition and the “P” Series bodies are the first to have this feature since the “K” Series K2 DMD, released in 1976.

- The P50 no longer uses the “magic white needles” film loading system. You now just have to pull the film leader up to a red line under the new rubberized film spool and also make sure the film is on the sprocket teeth. Closing the film door will secure the film to the rubber roll and you advance the film as usual until a “0” is indicated in the film counter window. The film type is displayed in a little cutout window on the back of the body, so you will never forget what film is loaded. This is a nice feature and one no longer needs to tear off the film box top any longer.

- DX Coding was invented by Kodak in 1983 for their Point & Shoot cameras and was first introduced by Pentax on the “A” Series A3000 body. In my option DX Coding is completely unnecessary on any SLR, as if you can’t remember to adjust the ISO then you should be using a P&S camera and not a SLR. However if DX Coding is used on a SLR then at least have a manual override, so you can push/pull any film or use non DX Coded film. Pentax did have a manual ISO override on the A3000, but for some reason decided to drop it on the “P” Series, so you are completely at the mercy of the DX coding system. If you use non DX Coded film then the P50 reverts to a default 100 ISO. This may not have been a big issue back in the mid 1980’s, as most people used DX Coded Kodak or Fuji film, but today there are many smaller film manufactures that don’t use DX Coding. Adox & CineStill Film are two manufactures that don’t, so if the film is not 100 ISO then you can’t shoot it on the P50. Pentax did reintroduce the Manual ISO override on most of the next generation SF Auto Focus film bodies. Having no ISO Manual override is a huge negative with the P50 and the DX Coded ISO range is only 25 to 1600.

- The P50 also has only one flash mode, “Programmed Auto Flash”. There is no TTL flash support on the P50. A recommended flash for the P50 is the Pentax AF-200SA.

- The P50 is slightly bigger than the Super A & Program A, so I find it easier to hold. The P50 also has a small removable grip on the right side of the body. The finish on the P50 is different as well, so you would assume more plastic has been added, but the P50 weighs 35 grams more than the Super A & Program A. Never the less the P50 is a nice handling film body.

- Other features on the P50 are shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/1000, exposure compensation of +/-3EV, a DOF preview switch and self timer. The smaller shutter speed range is worse than any “A” Series body. There is no MLU however.

- The cable release socket has now been moved to the front of the camera, near the lens mount.

- For continuous shooting the P50 uses the Motor Drive A and the ME II Winder.

Summary:
The P50 is a nice looking well handling “Program” film body with a lot of useful features, but is no match for the much better Super A. The P50 also has a few unnecessary & negative features, so this knocks this body down on my rating list.

Here is how I rank the P50 in my Pentax K-mount manual focus body collection:

1) LX, 2) K2DMD, 3) KX, 4) SUPER A, 5) K2, 6) MX, 7) P50, 8) KM, 9) K1000SE, 10) K1000


Price:
I paid £28.98 for my P50 and it’s in EXC+ condition.
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2013
Posts: 14

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 30, 2014 Recommended | Price: $15.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: very correct light metering at P, excellent vewfinder
Cons: lack of aperture indication

++ the advantage - compared with ME super - are the pins for automatic aperture regulation at P-program.
++ the viewfinder is excellent, better than this of spotmatic, similar to ME Super, but a few better.
(batteries needed, naturally for this and LCD outside)
++ my experiences with it are excellent.(The SFX has no aperture indication in viewfinder, too).
++ LCD indicator is very fine and clear visible
++ excellent lenses for it.
++ excellent pictures with it in P-program

When buying this camera, you must know that for ISO 100 and 2m distance you need an aperture f 8 for a manual flash with f 16 power (1m distance).ok? Let us not punish a camera, if we are weak in math's. I've got a job as teacher for digital photography and each profi knows this calculation method .that's why it is a manual focus single lens with only automatic day light exposure, without TTL flash and without TTL hot shoe.
Hands off - if you don't know manual flash shootings! (my tip:Z-20P or MZ-50 or MZ-5!)

- lack of aperture information in P (like Spotmatic, ME Super or MG, none of them have neither it, nor P)
- lack of shutter function without batteries 1/100 sec.(MG or MV have it!) But none of usual customer DSLR has this here often asked option, too - none!!!
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 9,830

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 14, 2010 Recommended | Price: $24.00 | Rating: 5 

 
Pros: Dirt cheap, nice feel, Can use any lens
Cons: No aperture information on A setting, No TTL flash

Pros Dirt cheap, nice feel, Can use any lens
Cons No aperture information on A setting, No TTL flash
Rating 5
Price (U.S. Dollars) 24
Years Owned Less than 1

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
Good looking and nice feel. Not cheap and plasticky as some claim about the P series. Compact size, though not the smallest manual.

LED shutter speed display in finder. Nice top LCD display. Power switch is also a welcome addition.

Takes the same MEII winder as the Superprogram.

Price is amazingly low.

Camera Review
Ole has really listed the pros and cons thoroughly, and there is no need to go over that again.

For $24 in mint condition, I can't complain. That's disposable camera territory. My copy works well and handles well. I'm not too hung up about the DX coding issue.

However, two issues when used with newer lenses and equipment will keep this camera from being a favorite:

1) Lack of any aperture information in the finder regardless of lens setting and lack of any aperture information anywhere when the "A" setting on the lens is used. It is hard to understand why Pentax omitted this information. This makes this camera of much less use as a serious film body for the newer lenses that have no aperture ring. I've gotten excellent results with the DA40 on this body, but it is strictly program point and shoot exposure.

2) Flash operation is awkward. TTL was also removed from the set of features when this body succeeded the SuperProgram. However, most recent Pentax flashes default to some form of TTL. On this body, such a flash may just fire at 100% unless the setting is changed to auto. On the positive side, you can use some flashes in the "auto" mode to set the aperture even on a lens lacks an apertur ring. It is the only way to control the aperture on such a lens.

My guess is that if it weren't for these two issues, you'd see this body fetching the same price as the Superprogram as a backup for a DSLR. I do like its finder better, and film loading is a breeze.
   
Administrator

Registered: September, 2006
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 4,407

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 8, 2010 Recommended | Price: $47.00 | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Compact, solid build. Av, P and M modes. Good viewfinder
Cons: Push buttons in lieu of dials. TTL flash not supported

Pros Compact, solid build. Av, P and M modes. Good viewfinder
Cons Push buttons in lieu of dials. TTL flash not supported
Rating 6
Price US $ 47 (2010, near mint)
Years Owned 1 month

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
This is a solidly built camera, almost like a little sister to the LX. It feels more sturdy than the P3 although they weigh about the same.

It is even easier to load than the M family. The multi-slotted take-up spool has been replaced by one with a rubberized surface. You basically just drop in the film and off you go.

There is no information of the aperture selected by the camera in the program mode. Program mode is thus just for snapshots. If you want to know what aperture you're shooting at you'll have to use Av or Manual exposure modes and set the aperture yourself.

The camera is great value today where it is available second hand for very little money. It seems to be less popular than its older sisters, the ME/ME Super and Super A/Super Program, hence the price is lower. Compared to the Super A/Super Program the P5 is slightly lower spec'ed (top speed 1/1000, no TTL flash support and no aperture indication in viewfinder).

ISO is set by the DX coding on the film canister. There is no manual setting of ISO. If you load film into canisters yourself you need to take this into account.

Camera Review
What I like:
- Compact size, solid feel
- The shutter speeds are shown in the viewfinder as numerals
- EV compensation warning and exposure mode shown in viewfinder
- Top deck LCD showing EV compensation, shutter speed and exposure mode
- Av exposure mode (my preference) in addition to Manual and Program
- Two program modes: Action and depth of field
- Depth of Field preview
- Even easier to load than the ME Super
- Motor drive can be attached
- Cable release socket (for the old all-mechanical type)


What I care less about:
- No information about the aperture selected by the camera in program mode (bummer - this drops my rating from 7 to 6)
- No dials, a push button interface instead. I prefer a classic interface like the ZX-5N (but I prefer the viewfinder and build of the P5!)
- The placement of the up/down buttons takes some getting used to if you come from a ME Super or Super A/Super program
- Flash synch speed is a slow 1/100 sec
- No of TTL flash support
- Some might miss Tv exposure mode. I don't
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