Difference between revisions of "Pentax Program A"
m |
(A few basics taken from the manual; added link to manual) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
+ | <div class="floatright plainlinks" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 20px;"> | ||
{{Flickr_image | {{Flickr_image | ||
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rugrln/4306316873/in/pool-camerawiki | |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rugrln/4306316873/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4306316873_df82d07763.jpg | |image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4306316873_df82d07763.jpg | ||
|image_align= right | |image_align= right | ||
− | |image_text= Pentax Program A | + | |image_text= Pentax Program A with Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 standard lens. The panel on<br/>the front of the prism is a window to illuminate the viewfinder displays. |
|image_by= RUGRLN | |image_by= RUGRLN | ||
|image_rights= with permission | |image_rights= with permission | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | + | </div> | |
+ | [[Pentax]] introduced the '''Program A''' (or '''Program Plus''' in North America) in 1984. It is a manual-focus 35 mm [[SLR]] camera. | ||
− | + | It has four exposure modes, selected using a dial around the shutter release and the lens' aperture ring: | |
− | + | * Programmed automatic exposure (K<sub>A</sub> lenses only): lens aperture set to 'A', shutter dial set to 'Auto' | |
+ | * [[Aperture-priority]] AE (K, K<sub>f</sub> or K<sub>A</sub> lenses): lens aperture set to a value, shutter dial set to 'Auto' | ||
+ | * Metered manual exposure: Lens aperture set to a value, shutter dial set to 'Man'. Even 42 mm ''screw-mount'' lenses can be used for manual exposure, with a screw-to-K-mount adapter ('Mount Adapter K'). With screw-mount lenses, stopped-down metering is used. | ||
+ | * Programmed flash: lens aperture set to 'Auto' for programmed flash with a K<sub>A</sub> lens, or to a value for normal auto flash with any other lens. Shutter dial set to 'Auto' with dedicated flashes, or '100' for others. | ||
− | *[http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-manual-focus-film-slr-camera-reviews/61250-pentax-program-program-plus.html Program A / Program Plus user reviews] at [http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/ Pentax Forums] | + | The shutter dial also has 'Lock', 1/100 (for [[flash synchronisation]] with non-dedicated flashes) and 'B' positions. In manual exposure, the shutter speed is adjusted using 'up' and 'down' buttons next to the shutter dial. The shutter is a vertical-travel focal plane shutter with metal blinds, and has speeds from 15 sceonds to 1/1000 seconds, plus 'B'. The shutter speed in use is displayed in an LCD display in the viewfinder. There is also a display for the aperture. In programmed and aperture-priority modes this shows the aperture to be used. In metered manual it shows, for example, '+2' when the meter reading indicates that the current shutter speed and aperture settings will overexpose by two stops, and '±0' when the set values agree with the meter reading. |
+ | The viewfinder also shows over- and under-exposure warnings, a low-battery warning, and a flash-charged indicator when a dedicated flash is used. The camera is compatible with several Pentax dedicated flashes, but cannot support the through-the-lens metering capability of some of them. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The viewfinder has normal split-prism rangefinder and microprism focusing aids. The camera has a depth-of-field preview lever by the lens mount, and a self-timer. It has a [[hot shoe]] and a [[PC socket]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The camera has a finger grip attached to the front of the body on the right-hand side; this must be removed if a winder is fitted. The camera requires two 1.5V LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver oxide batteries, or an equivalent lithium battery. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Links=== | ||
+ | * [http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/ProgramPlus.pdf User's manual] at [http://www.pentaximaging.com/ Pentax Imaging] | ||
+ | * [http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-manual-focus-film-slr-camera-reviews/61250-pentax-program-program-plus.html Program A / Program Plus user reviews] at [http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/ Pentax Forums] | ||
[[Category:Japanese 35mm SLR]] [[Category:Pentax]] [[Category:K mount]] [[Category:P]] | [[Category:Japanese 35mm SLR]] [[Category:Pentax]] [[Category:K mount]] [[Category:P]] |
Revision as of 22:41, 22 May 2011
Pentax Program A with Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 standard lens. The panel on the front of the prism is a window to illuminate the viewfinder displays. image by RUGRLN (Image rights) |
Pentax introduced the Program A (or Program Plus in North America) in 1984. It is a manual-focus 35 mm SLR camera.
It has four exposure modes, selected using a dial around the shutter release and the lens' aperture ring:
- Programmed automatic exposure (KA lenses only): lens aperture set to 'A', shutter dial set to 'Auto'
- Aperture-priority AE (K, Kf or KA lenses): lens aperture set to a value, shutter dial set to 'Auto'
- Metered manual exposure: Lens aperture set to a value, shutter dial set to 'Man'. Even 42 mm screw-mount lenses can be used for manual exposure, with a screw-to-K-mount adapter ('Mount Adapter K'). With screw-mount lenses, stopped-down metering is used.
- Programmed flash: lens aperture set to 'Auto' for programmed flash with a KA lens, or to a value for normal auto flash with any other lens. Shutter dial set to 'Auto' with dedicated flashes, or '100' for others.
The shutter dial also has 'Lock', 1/100 (for flash synchronisation with non-dedicated flashes) and 'B' positions. In manual exposure, the shutter speed is adjusted using 'up' and 'down' buttons next to the shutter dial. The shutter is a vertical-travel focal plane shutter with metal blinds, and has speeds from 15 sceonds to 1/1000 seconds, plus 'B'. The shutter speed in use is displayed in an LCD display in the viewfinder. There is also a display for the aperture. In programmed and aperture-priority modes this shows the aperture to be used. In metered manual it shows, for example, '+2' when the meter reading indicates that the current shutter speed and aperture settings will overexpose by two stops, and '±0' when the set values agree with the meter reading. The viewfinder also shows over- and under-exposure warnings, a low-battery warning, and a flash-charged indicator when a dedicated flash is used. The camera is compatible with several Pentax dedicated flashes, but cannot support the through-the-lens metering capability of some of them.
The viewfinder has normal split-prism rangefinder and microprism focusing aids. The camera has a depth-of-field preview lever by the lens mount, and a self-timer. It has a hot shoe and a PC socket.
The camera has a finger grip attached to the front of the body on the right-hand side; this must be removed if a winder is fitted. The camera requires two 1.5V LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver oxide batteries, or an equivalent lithium battery.