Pentax P30 - need info & help

I hope someone can help I recently took a chance a bought a large camera case, form a charity shop, in which there is a well used Pentax P30, several lenses including a zoom lense, filters, Flash unit, cables and a small table tripod (least ways I think that is what it is) + other bits. I have always wanted a really good camera and was assured it was in working order. However, despite replacing the batteries and (hopefully) putting the film in the right way I cannot get it to work. There are no books with it unfortunately, except for the flash unit, and although my sister who has an Olympus has explained much she could not get it too work either. We are not even sure that we have put the film in properly!! I know that sounds daft but never having had a Pentax before I cannot be sure - just put it in the best way it fitted. The arm that clicks the film on seems to be working but does not click and turn anything and the button on the top which I would assume activates the camera depresses but nothing happens. On the front right by the lense there is a small lever that makes a sort of whirr noise which I am assuming tightens up the film? After all that waffle my question is - can anyone help me?
Unfortunately I have no idea who owned the camera before but I bet it could tell a story or two and I would dearly love it to work again so any help would be appreciated.

As a start, the manual can be downloaded from here:

http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/manuals_literature/show_manual

It's going to be manual film loading - none of this automatic stuff Best thing is to read the manual first and go from there.
The thing on the front is the self timer

Hope that helps a little
Matt

Thank you Matt. That is very kind of you to go to this trouble. I will download the file and read that for a start - it does help to know what is what! Interestingly someone else was looking at the camera and bits before me and commented to the shop manager that it was a good camera. I just hope there is nothing drastically wrong with it.

Hi Corrinna,
The manuals on the Pentax site are not of the best quality and somtimes the pictures are unclear. If you try my site at www.pentax-manuals.com you should be able to get a beter one in full colour.

Regards
Kim

That is even kinder. I could not download the other one anyway. Thank you.

Apologies Kim for not recommending your excellent site

My mistake - it's not a self timer on the front, but the depth of field preview. Haven't seen a P30 in a while

Matt

Thank you to both of you for your help. I got the manual printed out and realised that the batteries were in the wrong way up for a start! Turned them over and managed to get a sort of faint whirring sound when the camera was switched on but no LED lights with information coming up on the left hand side of the viewfinder - nothing there at all, and could not depress the shutter button any further than enough to make a slight whirring sound. I went over the whole manual again just to make sure I had not missed something. I then checked the film loading as well but ended up inadvertently rewinding the film right back into its case so that it now needs to be thrown away. Oi vay! Unless either of you or anyone else has any ideas (other than the suggestion in the manual that the batteries are flat - they are brand new ones) as to why the lighted info is not appearing on the left hand side when I look thro' the viewfinder and partially depress the shutter activation button, as well as the button not being able to depress fully, I think I will have to try and find a good camera shop in Worthing where I can go for advice and for the camera to be looked at.
Many thanks
Corinna

Corinna,
You'll probably find the batteries are flat - putting them in the wrong way round usually shorts them out
The film can be recovered too A good camera shop, or processing shop will have a little gadget to hook out the film strip... just ask
(You can even buy them - http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1_103_10305&produ... )
Hope you can get it sorted!
Matt

This is amazing - you guys being so helpful. Thank you sooooooooo much. Corinna

Hi Corinna,
By all means try your local shop. Some are very good but many these days don't understand the older cameras but can tell you every feature of the latest digital. I normally end up giving lessons to the guys in the local Jessops every time I look at a mechanical camera! If you get no joy there, you could try MXV in Uckfield http://www.rcomputers.co.uk/mxv/contact.html or Park Cameras in Burgess Hill http://www.parkcameras.com/

Regards
Kim

Thanks Kim.
This just gets better and better. I am sure you are right about the camera shops. There are a few in Worthing that are listed under the Pentax banner but finding out which one is best will be the thing I guess and I am reeeeeeeeally eager to find out if the camera is in working order (fingers crossed), get it fixed if it is able to be fixed (fingers crossed again), how to work it properly, and get started taking pics. Whilst I am sure it is great to have a digital camera there is something totally fascinating and satisfying in using a really good manual camera.
Looking on e-Bay it seems that this model dates from around 1985. Would that be correct? Any idea how long such a camera would be good for?
Thanks once again to all concerned....
bye for now
Corinna

Corinna,
This is the site for general info on Pentax cameras and lenses: http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/index.html

Should it become necessary to repair, then give these guys a ring: http://www.asahiphoto.net/
They are very helpful. I believe there are other Pentax repair specialists around too.

If you can get into Brighton, then www.clocktowercameras.co.uk often have some older Pentax gear, as well as all the other "mechanical" cameras and the like A "real" camera shop! As Kim says, Park Cameras and MXV are both excellent companies with good second hand stocks.

Have fun!
Matt

Thanks again Matt

Just thought I would update you after all your help. I got a proper film shop in Shoreham to extract my film so that I could use it again and I bought new long use batteries and voila! the next thing I was in the churchyard, using the zoom lense and taking pics and it all seems to be working. I shall click away merrily and get the film developed to see if it is OK and will then start experimenting with my camera - still wish it could tell me it's history!
Thanks once again for all the advice - I am sure I will be back for more!
bye for now
Corinna

Thanks for letting us know the result
Have fun with your "new" camera
Matt