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vinni · 01-01-2020, 03:57 PM

One of my good resolutions for 2020 is to go out and try film again. Before switching to digital I used to shoot with my dad's old Spotmatic ... and if I was lucky I could do some shots with his 'fancy' P50. Mostly reversal film. At 18 y/o I left the house and some years after I got myself a Pentax *ist DS to get back into (D)SLR photography. It somehow always haunted me that I only shot film for 2 years or so with an SLR.

I ordered some film online and today my dad delivered me the good old P50. It might not be a jewel in the Pentax legacy ... but I'm back in love with that camera. It's just so clean looking, quite compact and nice to to hold. If Darth Vader would design a camera then I'm sure the P50 would come very close. The viewfinder is quite nice although the information inside is very limited (only showing the shutter speed). I shoot Av-mode and the P50 seems to be developed for just that. Even though the camera is mostly made from plastics, it still feels very sturdy. It also has a nice brassing on the bottom plate. It aged well. The shutter is extremely noise though

The last decade I've collected a nice set of A-series primes ranging 20mm - 200mm. They just feel right on this camera. I can't wait for the film to arrive and give it a try. And since I never updated after getting my K5 ... this is my return to FF as well. I'll keep you guys posted on my experiences.

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-01-2020, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by vinni

If Darth Vader would design a camera then I'm sure the P50 would come very close. The viewfinder is quite nice although the information inside is very limited (only showing the shutter speed)..

Congrats and have fun, I had to chuckle on the Darth Vader design idea, but I've heard the white cameras referred to as "Storm Trooper White" many times, so why no!

**ismaelg** · 01-01-2020, 06:44 PM

Welcome to the dark side!

**gofour3** · 01-01-2020, 08:28 PM

Originally posted by vinni

Pentax P50 back to life

The P5/50 is a nice camera. Just remember that it does not have an ISO override, so your film needs to be DX coded or the ISO will revert to 100.

Phil.

**pentaxus** · 01-02-2020, 01:26 PM

The P50 chassis is pretty much a ME metal chassis with plastic covers.

vinni · 01-02-2020, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by ismaelg

Welcome to the dark side!

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

I had to chuckle on the Darth Vader design idea,

Your comments inspired me to do a quick 'n dirty photoshop :-)

---------- Post added 01-02-20 at 10:08 PM ----------

Originally posted by gofour3

Just remember that it does not have an ISO override, so your film needs to be DX coded or the ISO will revert to 100.

I was aware - but a good warning nonetheless. There is a little hack for the ISO override -> use the +/-3 EV exposure compensation. That should allow you to use 800 ISO without DX code.

Originally posted by pentaxus

The P50 chassis is pretty much a ME metal chassis with plastic covers.

I wasn't aware - cool to know, thanks.

01-01-2020, 03:57 PM	#1
vinni Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 235	Pentax P50 back to life One of my good resolutions for 2020 is to go out and try film again. Before switching to digital I used to shoot with my dad's old Spotmatic ... and if I was lucky I could do some shots with his 'fancy' P50. Mostly reversal film. At 18 y/o I left the house and some years after I got myself a Pentax *ist DS to get back into (D)SLR photography. It somehow always haunted me that I only shot film for 2 years or so with an SLR. I ordered some film online and today my dad delivered me the good old P50. It might not be a jewel in the Pentax legacy ... but I'm back in love with that camera. It's just so clean looking, quite compact and nice to to hold. If Darth Vader would design a camera then I'm sure the P50 would come very close. The viewfinder is quite nice although the information inside is very limited (only showing the shutter speed). I shoot Av-mode and the P50 seems to be developed for just that. Even though the camera is mostly made from plastics, it still feels very sturdy. It also has a nice brassing on the bottom plate. It aged well. The shutter is extremely noise though The last decade I've collected a nice set of A-series primes ranging 20mm - 200mm. They just feel right on this camera. I can't wait for the film to arrive and give it a try. And since I never updated after getting my K5 ... this is my return to FF as well. I'll keep you guys posted on my experiences.

01-02-2020, 02:01 PM	#6
vinni Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 235 Original Poster	Originally posted by ismaelg Welcome to the dark side! Originally posted by ramseybuckeye I had to chuckle on the Darth Vader design idea, Your comments inspired me to do a quick 'n dirty photoshop :-) ---------- Post added 01-02-20 at 10:08 PM ---------- Originally posted by gofour3 Just remember that it does not have an ISO override, so your film needs to be DX coded or the ISO will revert to 100. I was aware - but a good warning nonetheless. There is a little hack for the ISO override -> use the +/-3 EV exposure compensation. That should allow you to use 800 ISO without DX code. Originally posted by pentaxus The P50 chassis is pretty much a ME metal chassis with plastic covers. I wasn't aware - cool to know, thanks. Last edited by vinni; 01-02-2020 at 02:16 PM.

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01-01-2020, 04:43 PM	#2
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,296	Originally posted by vinni If Darth Vader would design a camera then I'm sure the P50 would come very close. The viewfinder is quite nice although the information inside is very limited (only showing the shutter speed).. Congrats and have fun, I had to chuckle on the Darth Vader design idea, but I've heard the white cameras referred to as "Storm Trooper White" many times, so why no!

01-01-2020, 06:44 PM	#3
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	Welcome to the dark side!

01-01-2020, 08:28 PM	#4
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,093	Originally posted by vinni Pentax P50 back to life The P5/50 is a nice camera. Just remember that it does not have an ISO override, so your film needs to be DX coded or the ISO will revert to 100. Phil.

01-02-2020, 01:26 PM	#5
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,320	The P50 chassis is pretty much a ME metal chassis with plastic covers.