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02-17-2012, 06:01 PM   #1
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FIlm SLR recommendation

I was looking at film Pentax SLRs on e-bay earlier today and saw that there are quite a few out there that can be had for anywhere between $15-$50. Does anyone have any recommendations for a film SLR? It doesn't have to be too fancy. I have a K-r already that I'll be using primarily, I just want a film one to mess around with on occasion. Also, can my kit lenses be used on a film SLR? I have the 18-55 and 55-300 lenses.

02-17-2012, 06:10 PM   #2
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For the DA lenses, make sure the film lens supports the A series lenses. My Super ME doesn't support A and so my DA lenses stop down to F22 at all times.
02-17-2012, 06:10 PM   #3
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I always recommend the Super Program- it's a very flexible camera!

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02-17-2012, 06:51 PM   #4
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I found a ME Super, a ZX-M, Spotmatic F, and an A3000. Any opinions on these?

02-17-2012, 07:01 PM   #5
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Your kit lenses will vignette at the widest settings, but otherwise will work. Adam's suggestion of the SuperProgram is excellent, as it has Tv mode, so you will have a way of controlling exposure on a DA lens (which doesn't have an aperture ring). Some of the MZ series, e.g. MZ7, and all of the PZ series (e.g. PZ20) have the ability to set the aperture directly from the body as well.. And they're all AF too!

I have a PZ70, it's basically like a DSLR that shoots film. Has an LCD on top and a DSLR style viewfinder display etc. I also have a SuperProgram, which is more of a classic film camera.

The choices you mention are nice cameras (the A3000 is a bit ugly though!) but none offer control of DA lenses... The Spotmatic is also a screwmount camera, and won't take K-mount lenses.

I'd hold out for an MZ6 or 7 or a PZ series camera if I were you. They come up very cheap sometimes.

Last edited by ihasa; 02-17-2012 at 07:16 PM.
02-17-2012, 08:47 PM   #6
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I would direct you to Dimitrov's K-mount Page. He has descriptions of all Pentax K-mount bodies. The A3000 will support your DA lenses in Program mode only. Be prepared too for significant vignette and fall-off of optical performance at the margins of the frame. Most of the DA lenses have an image circle that is inadequate for the larger frame size of 35mm film.

As noted, your best bet for cross-compatibility between your digital and film is with A-series or newer bodies that support program and/or shutter-priority exposure automation. This is particularly true if you buy lenses that were originally made for film or are compatible with the 35mm format (Pentax D-FA, for example).

That being said, if you are primarily interested in the "film experience", your best bets may be with K-mount cameras from the mid-1970s into the mid-1980s. That is considered to be the golden age of SLR cameras.


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02-17-2012, 09:37 PM   #7
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I have a super-Tak 55/1.8. Is that compatible on all film bodies without severe vignetteing? And what kind of lenses other than the A series would be? Fully manual ones like the M series? Like I said, I have absolutely no experience with film.

02-17-2012, 09:45 PM   #8
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I have a P30t that will handle all but the DA lenses (no app ring) the stay wide open. I got a ZX-7 that will handle all my lenses and can be used fully auto to fully manual or anything in between. It pretty much a film version of my DL
02-17-2012, 09:50 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by jbuck92 Quote
I have a super-Tak 55/1.8. Is that compatible on all film bodies without severe vignetteing? And what kind of lenses other than the A series would be? Fully manual ones like the M series? Like I said, I have absolutely no experience with film.
Is that Tak 55/1.8 a screwmount lens? That will fit on a screwmount body like a Spotmatic, or else use an adapter to fit it to a k-mount body (K1000, ME Super, ZX-M, etc)
02-17-2012, 10:00 PM   #10
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Yes it is screw mount. I have the k mount adapter as well. So basically your basic film camera will take any lens other than DA series without vignetteing?
02-17-2012, 10:00 PM   #11
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K mount lenses I mean. Or lenses with proper mounts/adapters
02-17-2012, 10:18 PM   #12
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I'm not an expert, but I think you can mount the full-frame lenses (K, M, A, F, FA, etc) without problems on a film body. The DA's I believe, were designed for digital crop sensors, so they will cause vignetting.
02-17-2012, 10:44 PM   #13
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the good Pentax bodies usually cost more than $15-$50. you might want to look at K mount bodies from other brands like Ricoh or Vivitar, those are usually of good value, unless you have to have AF or automatic aperture control.
02-17-2012, 10:49 PM   #14
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alternately, you can get a good screwmount body for not much $$
02-17-2012, 10:54 PM   #15
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Those aren't a necessity for me Pablom. I just saw a Ricoh KR-10. How's that body?
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