[RKKS08]

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Just a question about a Pentax body offered on eBay.

Pentax MM-2 Camera Body / Prototype? Microscope / Astronomy? Based on P30 Body | eBay

Unfortunately I am a bit late, as the auction will end in about 21 hours.

It is a body obviously based on the P3/P30, and looks absolutely the same, except:

1) There is no name of the camera model on the body.
2) Instead of exposure speeds, the speed selector shows "MM-2" in big writing, and offers just the selection of 0.25 second and bulb.
3) Instead of the full row of "A" contacts at the bayonet, there seems only to be one of them.
4) The focus screen has a big convex part, the outside borders seem to be a circle.
5) In the viewfinder you see a circular image, the rest is black.

The S/N is 4020893.
The seller does not know the original source, and Pentax UK was not very helpful.
Is it from a small series, or is it a prototype? For which purpose, Astronomy, Microscope, Dental (probably not, as just 1/4 s)?

[Adam]

I've never heard of this camera, but based on the description, it seems like it would be less useful than even a homemade pinhole cam

[Na Horuk]

Man, I'm just really interested in what kind of lens was meant for it. Its shutter speeds are.. pretty much useless for regular everyday stuff, so it appears to be a specialty camera. Someone should get it and write a review lol

[THoog]

I'm going to guess that it was for a microscope. I had an A3/A3000 body that was once part of some sort of 'scope, but the modification was limited to a jack for 3V power instead of batteries and an extra wire from the shutter switch that would have connected to the <whatever>. This thing is clearly intended for a specific use - plain K-mount instead of KA, limited (slow) shutter speeds, custom focus screen, and it looks like there are no pins to detect DX-coded film cans.

[stevebrot]

Endoscopy camera. There is no focus screen. The user sees an aerial image in the viewfinder.


Steve