I've got a Super-A with an intermittent battery contact problem. Beautiful cameras which I have a soft spot for as one was my first Pentax, I sold it and then bought another for a lot more.

I'm using either Super-Tak or SMC-Tak lenses with the lens switch in 'Auto'. I usually focus before (or after) metering. You can push the meter switch back down as the body will stop the lens down automatically when taking the shot. I'm not sure if this works on Auto-tak lenses?

Hi Oso,

In the end I went for an SP1000, since added to with an SPII (bought because it came with a SMC-Tak 50mm f/1.4 lens) & SP (bought because it came with a Super-Tak 35mm f/3.5).

An un-scientific film test with an AG3 battery in the SP has shown the metering with this battery to be accurate enough for my working methods (usually metering off a mid-tone). As the cameras was new to me I checked the reading against my Sekonic L408B - slightly under, first, then went out shooting using only the camera. None of the resulting shots were badly exposed.

Photo sets from these and other recent 'first rolls' are here: link

I've acquired a K2 in which the meter is showing the correct speed in auto and looks correct in manual, but the shutter isn't firing at the correct speeds - at least 1/30th and below (I suspect it's firing at the sync speed of 1/125th). The battery check LED looks OK and B is working fine.

Any ideas?

The best book I've read was 'The Image' by Michael Freeman, mostly about the design of images (although I think his Photographer's Eye may cover similar material). For documentary you could check out the latest copy of World Press Photo (annual press photo competition/book). The British Journal of Photography (monthly magazine) prints a lot of interesting work.

I bought some kit off them at focus this year, they seemed clued up and very busy. I may also have bought used kit off them at the past. Whilst I hope they survive, I feel that photo shops on the high street are going through a very tough time. Several are in trouble and hopefully they'll all survive.

When they fall into trouble, their only concern is being as profitable as they can be, sadly that might mean they have to drop some brands and concentrate on the ones they think they can make the most profit with.

They always said that a rangefinder has a longer base than an SLR split-image focusing aid and therefore is more accurate, however it relies on absolute accuracy in the way everything is aligned/positioned.

The only AF camera I have with a split-image screen is my MEF, seeing it drive the focus to a 'dead-on' alignment in the split-image is quite something.

How does the depth of field for 50mm f/1.2 compare to 85mm f/1.8?

I think that SLRs (whether they be for film or digital) are intended as general purpose cameras and should be capable of handling any situation. If you start to limit the intended market you start to reduce the sales which will push the costs up (much like the FA ltd lenses are much higher priced than other lenses in the lineup). I don't think it's in Pentax's interest to do that right now.

Having in-body SR is a big advantage for Pentax, partly because it works with all lenses but also avoids the need for Pentax to make IS/VR type lenses.

I ony have a K-5, my favourite obviously but because it is the quivilent of my Z-1 but built like my LX. My favourite film SLR is the Super-A (either on it's own or with the Motordrive-A).

You need to watch you're metering too. In theory (if not using masks) you should under exposue each shot by a stop for two shots etc, but if there's a significant difference in densities, this doesn't always work.