Difference between revisions of "Pentax Super A"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
(A few extra details from the manual; link to pdf manual)
(More details)
Line 12: Line 12:
 
[[Pentax]] introduced the Super A (or '''Super Program''' in North America) in 1983. It was accompanied by a new line of [[K mount lenses]] designated Pentax-A (K<sub>A</sub>) whose "A" lock on the aperture ring permitted the body to set the f/stop for programmed and [[shutter-priority]] autoexposure modes. The camera can also be used in [[aperture priority]] AE, and has two flash modes ([[TTL]] auto flash and a programmed mode for dedicated flashes).
 
[[Pentax]] introduced the Super A (or '''Super Program''' in North America) in 1983. It was accompanied by a new line of [[K mount lenses]] designated Pentax-A (K<sub>A</sub>) whose "A" lock on the aperture ring permitted the body to set the f/stop for programmed and [[shutter-priority]] autoexposure modes. The camera can also be used in [[aperture priority]] AE, and has two flash modes ([[TTL]] auto flash and a programmed mode for dedicated flashes).
  
The Super A offered a wide shutter speed range of 15 to 1/2000 seconds, and accepted an external winder. Shutter speeds were selected electronically by using rocker buttons on the top panel, a method adopted from the [[Pentax ME Super|ME Super]].
+
Exposure modes are selected using a dial arranged around the shutter release, together with the lens' aperture setting. The shutter dial has these positions:
 +
* L (locked)
 +
* AUTO
 +
* M (manual shutter-speed selection)
 +
* 125 (shutter speed fixed at 1/125 for [[flash sync]hronisation)
 +
* B ('B' shutter)
  
The Super A was followed in 1984 by the related [[Pentax Program A|Program A]]/Program Plus — a less expensive model, which omitted the Super A's top LCD and 1/2000 second shutter speed, and offers programmed AE but not conventional [[shutter priority]] AE.
+
In the Auto position, setting the aperture to 'A' on the lens gives programmed AE; any other aperture value gives aperture-priority AE.
 +
In the 'M' position on the dial, setting the aperture to 'A' gives shutter-priority AE; any other value gives metered manual exposure.
 +
Shutter-priority AE works normally if the shutter speed is set to 1/125 second using the '125' dial position.
 +
 
 +
The Super A offers a wide shutter speed range of 15 to 1/2000 seconds, and accepts an external winder (the finger-grip on the front of the body must be removed to accommodate the winder). Shutter speeds are selected electronically by using rocker buttons on the top panel, a method adopted from the [[Pentax ME Super|ME Super]]. The selected speed is displayed in an LCD next to the release, and another at the bottom of the viewfinder frame. Another LCD in the viewfinder shows the aperture value when in programmed or shutter-priority AE, but not in aperture-priority AE. In metered manual mode, the second viewfinder LCD shows the number of EV stops over- or under-exposure at current settings according to the centre-weighted average reading (showing for example '+2'), up to three stops (flashing ±3 for more); correct exposure shows '±0'. The meter can be offset by up to two EV stops using the exposure compensation dial (around the rewind crank).
 +
 
 +
The camera is compatible with a number of dedicated flashes. A flash-charging indicator appears iin the viewfinder. With dedicated flashes that support TTL metering, the camera automatically sets the appropriate lens aperture, when in programmed or shutter-priority AE, and the flash indicator in the viewfinder flickers after exposure, to verify correct exposure.
 +
 
 +
The viewfinder has split-prism rangefinder and microprism focusing aids.
 +
 
 +
The Super A was followed in 1984 by the related [[Pentax Program A|Program A]]/Program Plus — a less expensive model, which lacks the Super A's top LCD and 1/2000 second shutter speed, and offers programmed AE but not conventional [[shutter priority]] AE.
 +
 
 +
The camera requires two 1.5V LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver-oxide batteries, or an equivalent 3V lithium battery. The viewfinder LCDs alternate correct settings data and 'ooo' when the batteries are low.
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==

Revision as of 14:26, 25 May 2011

This article is a stub. You can help Camera-wiki.org by expanding it.

Pentax introduced the Super A (or Super Program in North America) in 1983. It was accompanied by a new line of K mount lenses designated Pentax-A (KA) whose "A" lock on the aperture ring permitted the body to set the f/stop for programmed and shutter-priority autoexposure modes. The camera can also be used in aperture priority AE, and has two flash modes (TTL auto flash and a programmed mode for dedicated flashes).

Exposure modes are selected using a dial arranged around the shutter release, together with the lens' aperture setting. The shutter dial has these positions:

  • L (locked)
  • AUTO
  • M (manual shutter-speed selection)
  • 125 (shutter speed fixed at 1/125 for [[flash sync]hronisation)
  • B ('B' shutter)

In the Auto position, setting the aperture to 'A' on the lens gives programmed AE; any other aperture value gives aperture-priority AE. In the 'M' position on the dial, setting the aperture to 'A' gives shutter-priority AE; any other value gives metered manual exposure. Shutter-priority AE works normally if the shutter speed is set to 1/125 second using the '125' dial position.

The Super A offers a wide shutter speed range of 15 to 1/2000 seconds, and accepts an external winder (the finger-grip on the front of the body must be removed to accommodate the winder). Shutter speeds are selected electronically by using rocker buttons on the top panel, a method adopted from the ME Super. The selected speed is displayed in an LCD next to the release, and another at the bottom of the viewfinder frame. Another LCD in the viewfinder shows the aperture value when in programmed or shutter-priority AE, but not in aperture-priority AE. In metered manual mode, the second viewfinder LCD shows the number of EV stops over- or under-exposure at current settings according to the centre-weighted average reading (showing for example '+2'), up to three stops (flashing ±3 for more); correct exposure shows '±0'. The meter can be offset by up to two EV stops using the exposure compensation dial (around the rewind crank).

The camera is compatible with a number of dedicated flashes. A flash-charging indicator appears iin the viewfinder. With dedicated flashes that support TTL metering, the camera automatically sets the appropriate lens aperture, when in programmed or shutter-priority AE, and the flash indicator in the viewfinder flickers after exposure, to verify correct exposure.

The viewfinder has split-prism rangefinder and microprism focusing aids.

The Super A was followed in 1984 by the related Program A/Program Plus — a less expensive model, which lacks the Super A's top LCD and 1/2000 second shutter speed, and offers programmed AE but not conventional shutter priority AE.

The camera requires two 1.5V LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver-oxide batteries, or an equivalent 3V lithium battery. The viewfinder LCDs alternate correct settings data and 'ooo' when the batteries are low.

Links