Back to basics

DavidJH · 03-10-2019, 09:00 AM - **4 Likes**

Today baiught a 'mint' P30n with 50mm f1.7 to get away from endless chimping,
cheaper DSLR lenses (the only ones l can afford) made of plastic and no distance scales, 'blinkies' and the endless hype around digital.

lt's a lovely camera and really excites and makes me want to go out and shoot film (black and white of course).

**Kevin B123** · 03-10-2019, 10:47 AM - **1 Like**

This slippery slope can only end in a K-1

.

Turbotak · 03-10-2019, 10:50 AM

Nice! I dusted off my old Minolta 7000 and have been shooting some rolls with it. No chimping, just taking time to pick the best shot. Where I am it's $10 a roll to develop so I try not to blow through film, even though the rolls themselves are pretty cheap. I love my recently acquired MX but having focus confirmation and auto-modes helps speed things up quite a bit.

Even when shooting digital I'll keep the fold out screen closed. Chimping adds up a lot over time

Swift1 · 03-10-2019, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by DavidJH

Today baiught a 'mint' P30n with 50mm f1.7 to get away from endless chimping,
cheaper DSLR lenses (the only ones l can afford) made of plastic and no distance scales, 'blinkies' and the endless hype around digital.

lt's a lovely camera and really excites and makes me want to go out and shoot film (black and white of course).

Welcome to the forum, and good luck in starting your journey into (back into?) the wonderful world of film.
The P3n (P30t) is a very underrated gem of a camera, and will be a very good way to get into film.
The Film SLR section here has some very knowledgeable photographers who are usually very helpful if you have any questions.

DavidJH · 03-10-2019, 11:05 AM

Thank you! l will use this pool of expertise

---------- Post added 03-10-19 at 11:09 AM ----------

Thank you! l will use this pool of expertise. l look forward to using the focus distance and depth of field scales on manual lenses. Sadly missing on many AF lenses and guessing DOF is not reliable.

aaacb · 03-10-2019, 11:17 AM

I like that about film as well, plus the "adventure" of developing and scanning black and white film at home.

When shooting digital I just have the lcd screen off and no preview to save battery life, and because I trust the meter for all but the most challenging light. In a way, with film you have to trust the meter (or your sunny 16 judgment) even more.

wrench.doozer · 03-10-2019, 04:29 PM - **1 Like**

I used my p30t quite a lot. Love seeing the p3n's labeled as NEd b/c that's my name. I like the look of this series with F lenses.

DavidJH · 03-11-2019, 02:23 AM

l bought the P30n because it is a Pentax and l really wanted to use manual lenses.
lt handles really well and from the reviews on utube l have a great buy.

I particularly liked Luke McGowan's short utube film.

Kenzie2k3 · 03-11-2019, 12:43 PM - **1 Like**

Sometimes they can be a bit picky about batteries. If mine (P30t) doesn't like them it won't fire. Put another set in and it works! I did pick up a P30 with the smc a 50 1.7 for £3 from a car boot sale, still in my long queue for shooting.

DavidJH · 03-12-2019, 01:59 AM

Mine seem to work ok. These film cameras are so cheap, thinking l might get the best, that l couldn't afford when they were new. Just need to figure out which one.

**TwoUptons** · 03-12-2019, 02:29 AM

I don't think the P30 was ever really considered 'the best' of its generation... though it depends on what you're after...

I prefer a more mechanical feel... like a KX, MX, or an LX...

But really, it depends on what you're after. Any of them will work for most things, especially B&W with old lenses

-Eric

**ryanM** · 03-12-2019, 04:22 AM - **1 Like**

I have two P30n's that I got off ebay for pretty cheap. They are pretty nice mechanical cameras and the only issue I can see is that the iso cannot be tweaked. It reads it off the film canister and there is no setting for Iso. No big deal if you aren't pushing and pulling film a lot.

Pretty good cameras with an easy to use shutter speed dial too.

DavidJH · 03-13-2019, 11:39 AM

As well as my Pentax P3n l have a Panasonic G2. The Pentax is a joy to use, simple, uncluttered, relaxing. The MFT by comparison has a complex menu system, seems over- tech and the vf is unpleasant to use in poor light. l'm sold on film. To me, film equals joy, MFT equals toy, or is that too controversial!

Astro-Baby · 03-17-2019, 04:10 AM

Hi from me too - another person trying to get away from the 'chimping' aspects of digital. - I'm sire you will have fun with a P30 - don't forget to wind it on

Turbotak · 03-17-2019, 03:35 PM - **1 Like**

Officially sent off the MX to Eric at Pentaxs! I have some Portra 800 I'm planning on using for a legitimate shoot, model approving of course.

03-10-2019, 09:00 AM - 4 Likes	#1
DavidJH New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 6	Back to basics Today baiught a 'mint' P30n with 50mm f1.7 to get away from endless chimping, cheaper DSLR lenses (the only ones l can afford) made of plastic and no distance scales, 'blinkies' and the endless hype around digital. lt's a lovely camera and really excites and makes me want to go out and shoot film (black and white of course).

03-10-2019, 10:47 AM - 1 Like	#2
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,187	This slippery slope can only end in a K-1.

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03-10-2019, 10:50 AM	#3
Turbotak Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Nice! I dusted off my old Minolta 7000 and have been shooting some rolls with it. No chimping, just taking time to pick the best shot. Where I am it's $10 a roll to develop so I try not to blow through film, even though the rolls themselves are pretty cheap. I love my recently acquired MX but having focus confirmation and auto-modes helps speed things up quite a bit. Even when shooting digital I'll keep the fold out screen closed. Chimping adds up a lot over time

03-10-2019, 11:04 AM	#4
Swift1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,079	Originally posted by DavidJH Today baiught a 'mint' P30n with 50mm f1.7 to get away from endless chimping, cheaper DSLR lenses (the only ones l can afford) made of plastic and no distance scales, 'blinkies' and the endless hype around digital. lt's a lovely camera and really excites and makes me want to go out and shoot film (black and white of course). Welcome to the forum, and good luck in starting your journey into (back into?) the wonderful world of film. The P3n (P30t) is a very underrated gem of a camera, and will be a very good way to get into film. The Film SLR section here has some very knowledgeable photographers who are usually very helpful if you have any questions.

03-10-2019, 11:05 AM	#5
DavidJH New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Thank you! l will use this pool of expertise ---------- Post added 03-10-19 at 11:09 AM ---------- Thank you! l will use this pool of expertise. l look forward to using the focus distance and depth of field scales on manual lenses. Sadly missing on many AF lenses and guessing DOF is not reliable.

03-10-2019, 11:17 AM	#6
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,726	I like that about film as well, plus the "adventure" of developing and scanning black and white film at home. When shooting digital I just have the lcd screen off and no preview to save battery life, and because I trust the meter for all but the most challenging light. In a way, with film you have to trust the meter (or your sunny 16 judgment) even more.

03-10-2019, 04:29 PM - 1 Like	#7
wrench.doozer Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: syracuse Posts: 42	I used my p30t quite a lot. Love seeing the p3n's labeled as NEd b/c that's my name. I like the look of this series with F lenses.

03-11-2019, 02:23 AM	#8
DavidJH New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 6 Original Poster	l bought the P30n because it is a Pentax and l really wanted to use manual lenses. lt handles really well and from the reviews on utube l have a great buy. I particularly liked Luke McGowan's short utube film.

03-11-2019, 12:43 PM - 1 Like	#9
Kenzie2k3 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 36	Sometimes they can be a bit picky about batteries. If mine (P30t) doesn't like them it won't fire. Put another set in and it works! I did pick up a P30 with the smc a 50 1.7 for £3 from a car boot sale, still in my long queue for shooting.

03-12-2019, 01:59 AM	#10
DavidJH New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Mine seem to work ok. These film cameras are so cheap, thinking l might get the best, that l couldn't afford when they were new. Just need to figure out which one.

03-12-2019, 02:29 AM	#11
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,225	I don't think the P30 was ever really considered 'the best' of its generation... though it depends on what you're after... I prefer a more mechanical feel... like a KX, MX, or an LX... But really, it depends on what you're after. Any of them will work for most things, especially B&W with old lenses -Eric

03-12-2019, 04:22 AM - 1 Like	#12
ryanM Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: KY Photos: Albums Posts: 79	I have two P30n's that I got off ebay for pretty cheap. They are pretty nice mechanical cameras and the only issue I can see is that the iso cannot be tweaked. It reads it off the film canister and there is no setting for Iso. No big deal if you aren't pushing and pulling film a lot. Pretty good cameras with an easy to use shutter speed dial too.

03-13-2019, 11:39 AM	#13
DavidJH New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 6 Original Poster	As well as my Pentax P3n l have a Panasonic G2. The Pentax is a joy to use, simple, uncluttered, relaxing. The MFT by comparison has a complex menu system, seems over- tech and the vf is unpleasant to use in poor light. l'm sold on film. To me, film equals joy, MFT equals toy, or is that too controversial!

03-17-2019, 04:10 AM	#14
Astro-Baby Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reigate, Surrey Posts: 764	Hi from me too - another person trying to get away from the 'chimping' aspects of digital. - I'm sire you will have fun with a P30 - don't forget to wind it on

03-17-2019, 03:35 PM - 1 Like	#15
Turbotak Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Officially sent off the MX to Eric at Pentaxs! I have some Portra 800 I'm planning on using for a legitimate shoot, model approving of course.