Anything about Pentax cameras?
A couple days ago, I found an old Pentax camera in the attic my parents used to have. I THINK the lens cap said something about it being a 140? I have no idea anything about it; I've only seen it that once. Can you tell me anything about Pentaxs? Being 14, I know nothing about them, but I'm really into photography. Do you think it would still work; I mean, if it's even that old in the first place? There was some film in it's bag, but I didn't want to try it out. I don't even know where it's supposed to go. It's definitely nothing like my P&S Nikon…
No of course it's not like a P&S digital - it's a film camera.
I'd advise taking it to a camera shop, have it looked over and then run a roll of film through it, have it processed and see what happens.
Pentax made pretty good 35mm film cameras.
In 1952, the Asahiflex was marketed by Asahi Optical - the first Japanese 35mm SLR.
Later the Asahiflex II was changed to a 42mm screw mount (from the original 40mm) and introduced the first successful instant return mirror.
It's successor the PENTAprism refleX (or PENTAprism contaX -depends who you ask) set out what would be virtually the standard layout for SLR controls until the advent of autofocus, the original Pentax.
It wasn't until the '80s that Pentax branched out into 35mm compacts as they'd always built SLRs.
Yours could probably be the IQ zoom 140, an unremarkable but effective pocket camera with a 38-140mm zoom lens. It takes 35mm film but won't work without batteries, so if you want to try it out, I'd suggest replacing both.
It's not that different from a modern point-and-shoot, as long as you remember that you have to set the ISO according to the film you load and you have to use the optical viewfinder because there's no screen. If you don't have a manual, you could probably find a pdf.version online.
Pentax made some very good quality film cameras. They were late getting into digital but they continue to make very good cameras and lenses.
Compact cameras normally need batteries so look for a battery compartment. If the battery can't be obtained now, well, that's life.
The camera can be tested fairly easily if it's an SLR. Or if it works without batteries.
Open the back. You'll see a clip for it at one side or just lift the rewind knob.
Now hold the camera up to the light with the lens cap off and wind the wind-on lever. If it won't wind, press the shutter button.
You should see light coming through it.
Now look at the shutter dial and set some different speeds if it has a shutter speed dial.
If it looks like it's faster or less light comes through the faster the speed you set, that's fine.125 means 1/125th 30 means 1/30th and so on.
Look on the camera body for a number or letters like Spotmatic, K1000, MX, ME 140 Zoom, etc
That's the model number.
Put that in the search box with the word Pentax and 'manual' or 'instruction book'
You can get free downloads for hundreds of camera manuals.
Clean it up being very careful with the lens so you don't scratch it and put a film in the camera. You need 35mm film.
Then go and have fun.
Here's how to do it at a basic level, enough to get started
http://www.ehow.com/...nners.html
Take the film to a film processing shop and pick it up same day or next day to see the prints.
That's a start… Loads to learn from there.
Best of luck.
Pentax… Lovely
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Pentax
The marking 140 on the lens cap has little, if anything,
to do with the model of the camera.
Look elsewhere for such information.
In the absence of any other reliable method, a good camera shop
would help you to identify the model and approximate age of the camera.
I bought my first SLR, a Pentax ME Super, on Feb. 02, 1981.
Although it now has a problem that I can't afford to have repaired,
it was originally a very good camera.
I have two functioning Super Program bodies and a few lenses
that I've picked up on the cheap here and there.
I like 'em.