Dumb features on cameras

Marcus Rowland · 09-10-2021, 03:56 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Lord Lucan

Was it dumb for Pentax to have put an FP flash PC socket on the LX? Was anyone still using FP bulbs in 1980?

Yes - they were still used quite a bit for outdoor press photography; really powerful electronic flashes were still very expensive and heavy, the biggest FP flashes and bulbs had the edge on price and weight at that point, IIRC.

later - I see someone else has already replied to that one, my bad.

**luftfluss** · 09-10-2021, 04:11 PM - **6 Likes**

The dumbest "feature" of most cameras involve what is directly behind the VF.

35mmfilmfan · 09-14-2021, 06:24 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

The dumbest "feature" of most cameras involve what is directly behind the VF.

Like the most dangerous part of a motor vehicle is the nut behind the wheel.

ZombieArmy · 09-15-2021, 01:54 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

The dumbest "feature" of most cameras involve what is directly behind the VF.

I think Ansel Adam's had a quote on this:

“The single dumbest component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!”

Or something like that anyways, I can't quite remember.

Marcus Rowland · 09-24-2021, 11:18 AM

Minolta's Power Zoom lenses - they were power zoom only, no manual zoom, and power focus only - even the manual focus was by the camera's motor, not just manually turning the ring - a real PITA if you wanted to be quiet!

The sliding switch and button zoom speed control on Pentax power zoom lenses is also an incredibly crap design - I've never seen one that wasn't damaged, revealing the metal contacts underneath.

Marcus Rowland · 10-04-2021, 12:19 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Marcus Rowland

Minolta's Power Zoom lenses - they were power zoom only, no manual zoom, and power focus only - even the manual focus was by the camera's motor, not just manually turning the ring - a real PITA if you wanted to be quiet!

The sliding switch and button zoom speed control on Pentax power zoom lenses is also an incredibly crap design - I've never seen one that wasn't damaged, revealing the metal contacts underneath.

And another power-focus only bit of stupidity - Nikon's AF-P lenses, which are power focus only, while using the same bayonet etc. as all Nikons back to the F2. The electronics are unfortunately completely different, and they don't work at all on any Nikon body prior to 2016.

09-24-2021, 11:18 AM	#80
Marcus Rowland Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Minolta's Power Zoom lenses - they were power zoom only, no manual zoom, and power focus only - even the manual focus was by the camera's motor, not just manually turning the ring - a real PITA if you wanted to be quiet! The sliding switch and button zoom speed control on Pentax power zoom lenses is also an incredibly crap design - I've never seen one that wasn't damaged, revealing the metal contacts underneath. Last edited by Marcus Rowland; 09-24-2021 at 11:23 AM.

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09-10-2021, 03:56 PM - 1 Like	#76
Marcus Rowland Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Originally posted by Lord Lucan Was it dumb for Pentax to have put an FP flash PC socket on the LX? Was anyone still using FP bulbs in 1980? Yes - they were still used quite a bit for outdoor press photography; really powerful electronic flashes were still very expensive and heavy, the biggest FP flashes and bulbs had the edge on price and weight at that point, IIRC. later - I see someone else has already replied to that one, my bad.

09-10-2021, 04:11 PM - 6 Likes	#77
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	The dumbest "feature" of most cameras involve what is directly behind the VF.

09-14-2021, 06:24 AM - 1 Like	#78
35mmfilmfan Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 4,329	Originally posted by luftfluss The dumbest "feature" of most cameras involve what is directly behind the VF. Like the most dangerous part of a motor vehicle is the nut behind the wheel.

09-15-2021, 01:54 AM	#79
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Originally posted by luftfluss The dumbest "feature" of most cameras involve what is directly behind the VF. I think Ansel Adam's had a quote on this: “The single dumbest component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” Or something like that anyways, I can't quite remember.

10-04-2021, 12:19 PM - 1 Like	#81
Marcus Rowland Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Originally posted by Marcus Rowland Minolta's Power Zoom lenses - they were power zoom only, no manual zoom, and power focus only - even the manual focus was by the camera's motor, not just manually turning the ring - a real PITA if you wanted to be quiet! The sliding switch and button zoom speed control on Pentax power zoom lenses is also an incredibly crap design - I've never seen one that wasn't damaged, revealing the metal contacts underneath. And another power-focus only bit of stupidity - Nikon's AF-P lenses, which are power focus only, while using the same bayonet etc. as all Nikons back to the F2. The electronics are unfortunately completely different, and they don't work at all on any Nikon body prior to 2016.