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Pentax P5 (9340)
Released 1986. AKA Pentax P50. Most advanced P-series model. First Pentax to replace all the dials on the camera body with buttons, first with 2 progam modes, and a large LCD on top. Any used camera I get can be a dead stinker, but I have more faith in cameras like this one. Less plastic gearing (a Pentax specialty as they started to sink) with manual feed. No motors to fail. Less electronics. This one is very clean, but missing the strap, which isn't a good sign. It does come with a body cap. The LCD has spots, and may be completely dead. I can use it like that. The other cameras I have from the same era work OK.Metering: Center weighted.
Shutter: Electronic, vertical metal, 1 second to 1/1000th and bulb. Mechanical cable release, 12 seconds self-timer.
Focus: DOF preview,
Viewfinder: LED shutter speed indication, easier to see by day.
Exposure modes: Program (high speed or depth), shutter priority, and metered manual. Exposure lock.
Flash: Sync speed 1/100th. Pentax AF-200SA is suggested dedicated flash. I have AF-200T and AF-280T to try with it.
Film transport: Manual, or winders below. Manual rewind.
Batteries: 2 x LR44 (alkaline) or SR44 (silver).
Lenses: Pentax KA mount. Manual focus. Think this can use any older K-mount lens with more limited capabilities.
Accessories: Motor drive A, for A-series cameras OR ME II winder.
Limitations: No built-in flash, interchangable focus screens, aperture indication, mechanical shutter speeds, or manual ASA / ISO control. No TTL flash support.
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1-10-25: Finally developed film, Kentmere ASA 100. Used Caffenol-C for 13 minutes. Images un-edited. Used a Sears 50mm F:2 (5402) in stop-down mode for test pattern and flash test. Used a Pentax 28-80mm AF (4937) in program or aperture priority mode for the rest. By the 22nd exposure the batteries quit in the cold, and the shutter wouldn't fire anymore. The flash was a Pentax AF-280 in auto mode, which set the aperture in program mode and sync speed. One picture (not shown) had a lot of lens flare. Happy with the rest. This roll was shared with the Cosina CT-7 just received.
