Newbie

I was given a old camera set from a relative. I was going to sell the lot but after seeing this site I am looking forward to learn how to use the camera. If any body can provide links or basic advice were to start all comments are welcome. I will list the items given to me so you have an idea of set I have. I will of course go through all postings. Look forward to speaking to you all!

Pentax KM Camera
SMC 1.8/55
SMC 3.5/135
tokina 5.6 / 100-300
tamron 2.8 f28mm
sunpak auto124 flash

Thats the lot

Hi camry

go to this site to download a manual http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/mf/mfmanuals.htm

Hi camry, welcome to the forum.

When you download the manual from the site in Peter's post you'll need a password - this password is "Pentax" (and yes, it is case sensitive).

Your 1.8/55 lens is very highly thought of so you should be able to take some cracking shots. My one piece of advice would be to use good quality film - there are a lot of cheap ones out there and you really do get what you pay for! I've personally fallen in love with Fuji Reala 100 but I'm sure others will have different recommendations.

Good luck and if you have any questions just ask.

Thank you for the manual link, as I did not have one. I was given a couple of boxes of film Fujicolor 800 36x20. Only problem the film is out of date
reads nov 2006. I will try one as nothing to lose. The 1.8/55 lens was on the camera so I suppose this was the one used quite a lot but they all look
very clean quite new in fact. They all have skylight filters on. Do you use the lens with these on or take off prior to taking pics.

Thank you

i would ditch the film and buy new.

The 55mm 1.8 is a lovely lens. The skylight can stay on all the time, its main purpose is to reduce the slight bluish cast that film photography in daylight can produce.

It's less then 2 years out of date - there's a good chance it's perfectly Ok. I wouldn't chuck it till I'd tried at least one roll out of each box. On something non-critical, of course.

I had some exposed films kicking about in a cupboard not all that long ago that were almost four years out of date, and when I got them developed they were fine.

The photos were still mostly rubbish though.

keep the film, but set it aside for now.
If you need to learn some photography, learn with good film (a couple rolls of slide will tell you lots while learning, but even a few rolls of good print film would do). One less variable to troubleshoot if your photos don't turn out quite right.

have fun.

Don't throw the film! I use outdated all the time but keep it in a 'fridge-I was given a load of the same film as you have frpom a local newspaper- I rate it lower at 500 ASA and it comes out fine-I have used 400ASA Fuji Superia print film in Morocco on holiday dated 2002, rated it at 200ASA and results were fine---- here are a couple from the 400
[IMG]http://host.photogalaxy.net/thumbs/43759_Morocco_Street.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://host.photogalaxy.net/thumbs/63882_Morocco-Beggar-woman.jpg[/IMG]
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