Tom Caldwell
New Member
Years ago when I was still a wee laddie, or simply "younger". I bought a Pentax Auto 110 "kit". In reality a great idea, an experience that I have not regretted, but it was not really that great a camera. Simply the smallest slr with interchangeable lenses and slr technology for focusing. The film was simply too small a format imho.
I had it all except the filters, and the three "extra" lenses - the 70mm f2.8, the 20-40mm f2.8 zoom and the 18mm "PF" fixed focus. The latter lens seems to have disappeared without trace, no one seems to have one for sale and even if they did they might not recognise it as different as the size/weight/etc statistics seem identical to the 18mm f2.8 focusing version - 2g heavier and no focus ring? However I have treated the Auto 110 as a museum piece and looked after it for nothing more than it's museum value.
Since I have been experimenting with the Pentax Q I thought it a reasonable idea to try out the Auto 110 lenses with one of the adapters now available. I have some testing to do yet, but have also picked up some more Pentax Auto 110 camera bodies for the sole object of acquiring some spare lenses. Along the way I have found a "70mm" and a "20-40 zoom" (as well as filters and hoods, I might be said to now have the "complete" set except for that mysterious elusive 18mm PF version.
The principal lenses 18/24/50 are made of plastic but seem to have "good glass" - they are all f2.8 and the aperture was built into the Auto 110 shutter mechanism on camera - therefore they have no aperture control when adapted. On the Q you have to play with the EV setting to get better results. The 70mm and the 20-40 zoom seem to have been ring-ins from the Pentax parts bin, they are larger and have metal construction (perhaps the 18mm PF lens also). It i a pity that these extra lenses do not have aperture control as the 70mm in particular is a very nicely built lens.
These lenses are all of failry simple construction. Some of mine need cleaning and I have already pulled a 50mm apart, cleaned the lens successfully and adjusted infinity focus.
I make a separate posting for my 20-40 zoom exercise.
Tom
I had it all except the filters, and the three "extra" lenses - the 70mm f2.8, the 20-40mm f2.8 zoom and the 18mm "PF" fixed focus. The latter lens seems to have disappeared without trace, no one seems to have one for sale and even if they did they might not recognise it as different as the size/weight/etc statistics seem identical to the 18mm f2.8 focusing version - 2g heavier and no focus ring? However I have treated the Auto 110 as a museum piece and looked after it for nothing more than it's museum value.
Since I have been experimenting with the Pentax Q I thought it a reasonable idea to try out the Auto 110 lenses with one of the adapters now available. I have some testing to do yet, but have also picked up some more Pentax Auto 110 camera bodies for the sole object of acquiring some spare lenses. Along the way I have found a "70mm" and a "20-40 zoom" (as well as filters and hoods, I might be said to now have the "complete" set except for that mysterious elusive 18mm PF version.
The principal lenses 18/24/50 are made of plastic but seem to have "good glass" - they are all f2.8 and the aperture was built into the Auto 110 shutter mechanism on camera - therefore they have no aperture control when adapted. On the Q you have to play with the EV setting to get better results. The 70mm and the 20-40 zoom seem to have been ring-ins from the Pentax parts bin, they are larger and have metal construction (perhaps the 18mm PF lens also). It i a pity that these extra lenses do not have aperture control as the 70mm in particular is a very nicely built lens.
These lenses are all of failry simple construction. Some of mine need cleaning and I have already pulled a 50mm apart, cleaned the lens successfully and adjusted infinity focus.
I make a separate posting for my 20-40 zoom exercise.
Tom