> I'm about to help a friend buying his first SLR. A manual Pentax, ... > First, there is something I should be aware? (like sticky mirror, dials > which breaks etc.). I intend to check the camera (as I don't think Pentax > will service it) and I'll appreciate any advice (is the first time I'm > doing > this).
My P30t isn't too beat up, so I'm not sure what will break first. One thing to be aware of is that the shutter is entirely electronic, so it will not fire at all if the batteries are dead, and it doesn't give much warning about a low battery. So it's good to keep spares in the camera bag. One of the things I really like about it is that the shutter speed dial is set up so that you can turn it with your right index finger while the camera is up to your face. One of the things that I don't like about it is that the film speed is set entirely by the DX coding on the film cartridge. So you need to make sure that all the film you use is DX coded, and you can't override the coded speed easily, unless you like playing with X-acto knives and electrical tape. > Regarding flashes: afaik they works only in manual and auto; but are the > newer Pentax flashes compatible? How about third party, like Metz or > Sigma? The camera will not do TTL flash metering, but all of the auto functions on the flashes should work, including the feature with the AF280T and AF400T, where the aperture will be automatically set on the lens in "A" mode when one of the auto settings on the camera is selected. Remember that there's no PC socket on the camera, only the hot shoe, so if you want to use an off-camera flash, you'll need a cable to match the hot shoe, or a hot shoe to PC socket adapter. > I understand it uses LR44 alkaline, or SR44 batteries - they are easy to > find? If not, can I use other batteries? They're easy to find in the states at least, and all of my other MF pentaxen use the same batteries. > And, about the included lens (the A 50mm f/2); what do you think about it? This is the only one of the common Pentax MF 50mm lenses I don't own (1.4, 1.7, 2, A and M series), but if it's anything like the M 50mm f/2, it's a decent little lens. -Mat
