Pentax cable release

I am trying to find a cable release which is compatible with my Pentax P30. I have been looking on the net, but perhaps I have been looking in the wrong places. The manual suggests I use a Cable Release 50.

Can anyone help?

I THINK this is a standard mechanical shutter release cable, which will work on all cameras with a suitable screw hole in the shutter button. If your shutter button is threaded, then virtually any cable release you buy anywhere will work. You can often find them in the cheap bits bin in the local camera shop.

If the button is not threaded, then you will most likely need an electrical cable release from Pentax.

Whatever, your local shop will tell you if you take the camera in. If it's a mechanical release, don't pay more than £5.00.

Having had a look at the manual, I get the impression that this is a non-standard cable release becasue they say the CR30 won't work, and it plugs into the side of the camera, not the shutter button.

If it's just for a one-off occasion, I have in the past been able to do wonderful (well, workable) things with a standard release, a pencil (to act as a splint) and some selotape. Necessity is the mother of invention.

George,

Looking at the manual on page 33, the shutter release looks like the old mechanical type. It's not electronic

You may find there's a little screw thread where the release goes.
Doing a search on Altavista, yields this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005ABBC/avsearch-camasin-20/104-631621...

Described as a "standard mechanical release".
Looks like you need to go rummaging around the second hand shops. If you get really stuck, I have a shorter, metal braided one, that we might be able to arrange

Hope that helps!
Matt

I agree it looks like a standard manual release, but the book of words says the CR30 (which also looks like a standard manual release) won't work, so this raises doubts.
Best thing is take the camera to a shop. They'll have a standard release and can try it there and then.

The P30T takes a standard cable release, but it screws into the side of the mirror housing, not into the shutter release button. Have a look half way down the housing on the left side of the camera (the opposite side to the shutter release).

thanks for everyone's comments. much appreciated.

Here you are:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=706&item=297930...

The P50 works with a standard cable release. I think the cable release 50 refers to the length. It also works with the cable release A which is an electric switch contact. This gives you a much longer length which would be usefull for remote operation.
Kim

Not sure about the P30 but the P50 took a standerd mechanical cable release screwed into a hole Just below where the RAW button is on a K10D ( on the side just behind where the lens attaches on the or on the oposite side. Mine didn't work very well though.

The P30 - well mine at least has an electronic shutter release button that definitely has no screw thread. Never used a cable release with it, so couldn't say where it would plug into. Will have a look this evening if I remember!

The P30T certainly has a cable release socket, on the side of the mirror box.

All I recall seeing on the side of the P30's mirror box is the AE lock button. Just done a quick google search and saw a brief history that mentions a cable release socket added on the 1987 model, so perhaps before then it simply didn't have one???

Looks like that could be it.

Checked my P30 last night and no sign of a cable release port on it, looks like mine may have been a pre 1987 model if that site is correct.