is the SF1 obsolete?

mcvegan · 02-10-2023, 02:44 PM

I was told it worked and paid $20 at a neighbor's yard sale. yeah right it just needed that 2CR5 battery and nothing happened to make me wonder if it's worth going to the trouble of learning to repair it. plus the flash-pop-up button is broken off, I wish I noticed. what a mess. what does anyone think if I should do.
it's a 35mm SLR with TTL auto flash
it has a hotshoe so the pop-up may not matter if I can fix it

MarkJerling · 02-10-2023, 03:36 PM - **2 Likes**

I have 4 or 5, including a brand new one. If you were closer, I'd send you one.

The nice thing with the SF1 (also called the SFX) is that they are relatively plentiful and not much loved. See if you can get your hands on an SFXn (also called an SF1n), as it has an illuminating LCD screen.
Oh, and you can find AA battery grips for the SFX/SFXn/SF1/SF1n cameras. The replacement AA grip will work on either camera.

steephill · 02-10-2023, 03:49 PM

Well it is about 36 years old so obsolete would be a good description. I assume it came with a lens fitted, maybe the smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:3.5-4.5 35-70 mm - that would probably be worth the $20 anyway.

MarkJerling · 02-10-2023, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by steephill

....I assume it came with a lens fitted, maybe the smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:3.5-4.5 35-70 mm - that would probably be worth the $20 anyway.

Great lens. Often referred to as a "bunch of primes". Remains one of my all time favorite compact walk-around lenses.

steephill · 02-10-2023, 05:08 PM

Mine came on a dead SF10 along with an smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:4-5.6 70-210mm, another good lens.

**boriscleto** · 02-10-2023, 05:23 PM

You can also often find them with the F 50/1.7 attached.

mcvegan · 02-10-2023, 06:55 PM

No lens included 😕 I already have two 35-80 "kit" lenses from other cameras. My neighbor came over "Deb quick there's a camera" and I ran with my tail wagging- I have been a Pentaxian since 1979 it's gonna be hard to give up on this

eddaytona · 02-10-2023, 10:11 PM - **1 Like**

I loved that camera! One of the first autofocus cameras on the market. Autofocus was spot on.

Came with 35-70 macro. Great lens. Still use it today. Also the 70-210. Meh but ok. Pop up flash that was perfect for outdoor fill flash. Basic center autofocus and metering. Always right on.

Simple program lines that I wish were still in use in today's crazy digital program lines.
Still break it out every so often to shoot film. I have a couple of batteries hoarded away. I bought another for $20 only because the viewfinder eye cup had fallen apart and I wanted to put it on my original camera.

My biggest complaint was it's incredibly loud. Built like a tank.

**mlag** · 02-11-2023, 10:45 AM

Most likely paying another 20$ for a working one is the easier/cheaper repair.... it’s what I did out of nostalgia:
The sfx was my first camera, used it till it suddenly gave black pictures (shutter?)...I switched to the k10D.. so it lasted about two decades!

02-10-2023, 02:44 PM	#1
mcvegan New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	is the SF1 obsolete? I was told it worked and paid $20 at a neighbor's yard sale. yeah right it just needed that 2CR5 battery and nothing happened to make me wonder if it's worth going to the trouble of learning to repair it. plus the flash-pop-up button is broken off, I wish I noticed. what a mess. what does anyone think if I should do. it's a 35mm SLR with TTL auto flash it has a hotshoe so the pop-up may not matter if I can fix it

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02-10-2023, 03:36 PM - 2 Likes	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	I have 4 or 5, including a brand new one. If you were closer, I'd send you one. The nice thing with the SF1 (also called the SFX) is that they are relatively plentiful and not much loved. See if you can get your hands on an SFXn (also called an SF1n), as it has an illuminating LCD screen. Oh, and you can find AA battery grips for the SFX/SFXn/SF1/SF1n cameras. The replacement AA grip will work on either camera.

02-10-2023, 03:49 PM	#3
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 585	Well it is about 36 years old so obsolete would be a good description. I assume it came with a lens fitted, maybe the smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:3.5-4.5 35-70 mm - that would probably be worth the $20 anyway.

02-10-2023, 04:08 PM	#4
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Originally posted by steephill ....I assume it came with a lens fitted, maybe the smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:3.5-4.5 35-70 mm - that would probably be worth the $20 anyway. Great lens. Often referred to as a "bunch of primes". Remains one of my all time favorite compact walk-around lenses.

02-10-2023, 05:08 PM	#5
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 585	Mine came on a dead SF10 along with an smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 1:4-5.6 70-210mm, another good lens.

02-10-2023, 05:23 PM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	You can also often find them with the F 50/1.7 attached.

02-10-2023, 06:55 PM	#7
mcvegan New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Oregon Posts: 6 Original Poster	No lens included 😕 I already have two 35-80 "kit" lenses from other cameras. My neighbor came over "Deb quick there's a camera" and I ran with my tail wagging- I have been a Pentaxian since 1979 it's gonna be hard to give up on this

02-10-2023, 10:11 PM - 1 Like	#8
eddaytona Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Black Rock City, NV Photos: Albums Posts: 175	I loved that camera! One of the first autofocus cameras on the market. Autofocus was spot on. Came with 35-70 macro. Great lens. Still use it today. Also the 70-210. Meh but ok. Pop up flash that was perfect for outdoor fill flash. Basic center autofocus and metering. Always right on. Simple program lines that I wish were still in use in today's crazy digital program lines. Still break it out every so often to shoot film. I have a couple of batteries hoarded away. I bought another for $20 only because the viewfinder eye cup had fallen apart and I wanted to put it on my original camera. My biggest complaint was it's incredibly loud. Built like a tank.

02-11-2023, 10:45 AM	#9
mlag Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Zuiderkempen - Grote Netewoud - Belgium Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,399	Most likely paying another 20$ for a working one is the easier/cheaper repair.... it’s what I did out of nostalgia: The sfx was my first camera, used it till it suddenly gave black pictures (shutter?)...I switched to the k10D.. so it lasted about two decades!