Any interest in a Pentax Auto 110?

[Archiver]

Return of the living thread!


So I've got an opportunity to buy a Pentax Auto 110 with three lenses, flash and motor winder for a reasonable price. I've only ever seen these on the internet until now, and I was blown away by how small it was, but also by how well made the lenses feel. The only 110 film I can easily get is Lomography 110, and I know that my local lab can process 110 cassettes. Does anyone still use the Auto 110? Is this a worthwhile buy in 2019 from a shooting perspective? Or am I just going to spend money on a new toy for fondling, and adapt the lenses to my m43 cameras? (That last point might just answer my question, haha)

 

[randy stewart]

Adapting lenses???

Adapting lenses???

In the Pentax 110 system, the lenses have no aperture. The shutter is in the body behind the lens. The system is auto exposure only. When a photo is taken, the shutter also acts as the aperture, opening as far as required to pass the amount of light designated by the metering system. Someone said all of the lens (wide open with no aperture) are f2.8. That's logical so the metering system does not need a mechanism to cope with lenses of different aperture. Adapting these lenses to physically mount to another camera would require some sort of aperture to adjust light passage or that you shoot wide open at 2.8 at all time. Neither of these options seem practical.

 

[seany65]

I've seen a few photos taken by auto 110's on the web (when I was researching 110 cameras just before deciding to buy my minolta 110 zoom slr mk2), and they look pretty good, certainly worth getting if you like tiny cameras and treat it like an up-market "point-n-shoot".

 

[raid]

It is a great camera for hiking. Hardly any weight.

 

[Pál_K]

Mine backfocuses a bit - at least it did with one cartridge. I think the film needs to be shimmed closer to the lens, as objects closer to my subject were actually more in focus.

Anyway, I've got the 18, 25, 50, and 75. I could've bought the zoom cheaply last year, but I don't want it because it's too bulky a lens.

 

[raid]

Is the view the equivalent of a m 4/3 camera? Is the 25mm lens a normal lens?

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Pentax Auto 110

Pentax Auto 110

When they were new my brother bought one for his then-wife.
The 4x6" prints she produced were remarkable; near-35mm SLR quality.
If 110 film was easier to obtain today I wouldn't hesitate to try one.

Chris

 

[Archiver]

Is the view the equivalent of a m 4/3 camera? Is the 25mm lens a normal lens?

From what I've been reading, approximately yes. 110 film is 15x17, m43 sensor is 13.5x18. So the 25mm Pentax Auto lens would be just like any other 25mm m43 lens, and is equivalent to a slightly tighter 50 on the Pentax. It's funny how what was considered a lower end format for film has now become something of a standard in digital photography.


As for adapting lenses, I have no qualms about shooting at f2.8 all the time on a m43 camera. The cameras I use like the GM1, GH4, GX85 have electronic shutters that go up to 1/16000 of a second. So in effect, buying the kit will give me a fun film camera with deep nostalgia/retro value, plus lenses to use on my m43 cameras. Sounds like a win. I'll check back in when I've got the kit, assuming it is still available.

 

[Schuter]

I was given one with a couple of lenses, 24mm and 50mm. I have not shot any film through it. On a whim, I 3d printed a Sony adapter and tested the lenses on my a6000. Images made with the 24mm had severe distortion, but the 50mm f2.8 was surprisingly good. It gave full coverage on the APS-C sensor, albeit with some vignetting. Sharpness in the middle was better than I expected. There is no aperture adjustment in the lens. It is 2.8, period. I didn't expect it to perform like a Micro-Nikkor. It is what it is: a redheaded step-child. I will probably buy an inexpensive commercially-made adapter just for the fun of it.


An example with the 50mm 2.8, Sony a6000: