Pentax Auto 110

[hinman]

I have been busy trimming down my gear. Just want to show you the Pentax Auto

110 camera that I purchased few months ago. I actually contacted Rose and ask

if she would like to take it off from my gear. I would try again after the 3

months challenge end. Here is the debut of my CBA evident, the shame, the

glory, and fun with camera collection. Pictures are taken from K10D with Tokina

28-70 f/2.8-4.3 shooting wide open, I can't sell my Tokina, the product shots

are as good as those from my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 except on the colors.

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<p align="center">

Pentax Auto 110 meets my K100D<br>

My smallest camera<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2451612318_5608280fae.jpg">

<br><br>

Pentax SuperProgram and Pentax Auto 100<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2450785817_8ab3d0b01a.jpg">

<br><br>

SuperProgram with Winder and Pentax M 28mm f/2.8<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2061/2451611182_a501e043bc.jpg">

<br><br>

Complete set with 18mm, 24mm and 50mm, winder, filters, etc. <br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/2450787073_bc04bd703b.jpg">

</p>

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Do any members have Pentax Auto 110? Please share your thoughts on these

discontinued small medium format cameras. More information on here

<br>

<a

href="http://www.cameraquest.com/pentx110.htm">http://www.cameraquest.com/pentx110.htm</a>

<br><br>

[mc2imaging]

Actually, I JUST lost an eBay auction for a 110 Auto MINUTES ago...

 

You have a very nice looking rig, Hin. Any idea if it works?

 

Shoot me a private e-mail and let me know what you need for it. MARIA signed me up for

the LBA challenge, so it doesn't count against ME if I buy it!

[rick_gerbehy1]

PENTAX led the league in the 110 format. It was a case of poor timing as 35mm films were improved and cameras like the Pentax Super lost bulk. If my memory serves me well Minolta also made a 110 SLR. Anyway, soon after the 110 SLR's met their demise I remember a few camera stores on 33rd street in NYC selling the PENTAX 110 with 2 additional lenses in a nice velvet lined box package for about $180. They were in the several store windows for over 2 years with few takers.

[hinman]

It is so good to hear that I am not the only one who are interested on these cute camera, it is the darn cutest thing when I see it. When I got it delivered to my home, my sons have a strong interest in this 110 cameras because their size are made for their hands' size. And it is perhaps the smallest SLR that I have seen?

<br><br>

Matthew, I paid $120 + shipping and I tempted Rose for $100 + shipping but she would not budge. I am proud of her and I did give her my Praktica Super TL1000 as a gift. I would like to take time to play with my 110 to decide if I want it or not in my <a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/04/hins-camera-gear.html#to_be_sold">to-be-sold trimming items</a>. Unless Rose comes back with interest, you will be the next person I ping. I rather have my good friends have these rare but cool pentax history, I would test out the three lens that I got with 18mm, 24mm, and 50mm. According to my seller, the items are all functional, I will report back with scanned image.

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I manage to find 110 films in Walgreen and I saw it once even in Walmart, my other forum buddy actually have no problems in buying and developing in Walgreen. I will report back the experience. The camera lens seem very simple that it only has focusing ring on the lens. The diaphragm is actually in the camera body. And the viewfinder is tiny but it uses split screen similar to 35mm.

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[miserere_mei]

That's the spirit, Matt; find the loopholes! :-D LOL

[trw]

I've got an Auto 110 with 24mm and 70mm lenses and a flash that I might be persuaded to

part with.

[stemked]

Now Y'all, as much as I hate to say it, Photo.net rules are pretty specific about no selling of equipment on the user forums.

[hinman]

Douglas, I apologize as I don't mean to break the rules. We got your point and we will discuss the subject on the cameras and not any selling.

 

I wonder if pbase and other places have scanned pictures from the 110 cameras, I will look and report back. And Trent, where do you get your 110 films and where you go for processing, what do you not like about those 110 cameras?

[a few images]

I think Hin beat my bid on that 110 kit a ways back! Good one Hin!

[hinman]

Just find a few in pbase with sample images taken by auto 110

 

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/pentax/auto_110

[shots worth sharing]

I have an Auto 110--it was my first (and only film) SLR.

 

I took it on our first trip to China in 1984 and bought a telephoto lens for it in Hong Kong before entering the PROC. It was the perfect camera for me & that excursion. I actually got some pretty nice photos from the 75 rolls I shot. (I say "actually," not because of any shortcomings of the camera but because I was a total novice.)

 

One of my projects for this year is to get some of the good ones digitized. It seems to be impossible to get digital images created from negatives (NOTE: my wife may just now have turned up some options!) The alternative is to have the prints scanned but they've yellowed with age and will probably need some skilled pp restoration (beyond my limited ability.)

 

I retired the camera in the early 90's when it developed issues (the nature of which I can't recall) and I was unable to get it serviced and 110 film became harder and harder to find. I still have it. From what I've seen, selling a somewhat neglected and perhaps functionally-challenged Auto 110 on eBay seems more trouble than it's worth. I'd be happy to pass it and the lenses on to whoever would be willing to pay the shipping.

[hinman]

Dave, thanks for comment.

 

I just found a place with pointers for 110 films purchase and processing:

 

1. http://www.frugalphotographer.com/catPhotoLab.htm

 

This lists several vendors with films and processing for 110 films

 

2. http://www.frugalphotographer.com/info-110.htm

 

Info on 110 films

 

3. http://www.frugalphotographer.com/

 

This is a cool site with interesting topics on scanner and some pointers on film photography

[hinman]

I find this information very intriguing from someone who obviously loves cameras and he has a page dedicated to Pentax auto 110

 

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-116.html

 

Rose, be warned about going to this person's camera reviews, it is all in old cameras

 

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-18.html

[shots worth sharing]

Thanks, Hin--you've refreshed my determination to salvage the '84 China photos and opened up new possibilities in that quest! I could even dream of getting that kit back in shape but realistically, that's unlikely to happen and the big question is the continuing availability of film and processing service.

[hinman]

I will try out two rolls with Kadak 110 films and develop it in Walgreen/Walmart or some place that take them and report back my experience. A member in pbase did quite nicely in one of the links that I mention

 

http://www.pbase.com/nickinnagoya/pentax_auto_110&page=all

 

And Dave, this link has a no-so-famous brand with Solaris 110 film for $6.95 and it is 3 rolls in a package,

 

http://www.frugalphotographer.com/info-110.htm

 

not bad to me at all. But development is another big question, especially without a film scanner, the person in pbase above did it with electrical tape on a flat scanner and I think he does it quite well. His auto 110 pictures are quite good to view

[gerry_orkin]

Off topic, I realise, but that Minolta 110 was an awesome camera. I lost mine in a stream

*sob*.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_110_Zoom_SLR

[rose_duclos]

Hin, I am staying strong and NOT shopping for cameras/lenses. I looked at the first developing links you gave, and I'm really psyched to see that there are places that still develop 120/220 film reasonably priced. I've been stressing over how much it will cost me to develop the pics from my first MF camera - an old RB67 that I bought a few weeks prior to the start of our hiatus. (I feel I have to state when I bought things now - since Miserere notices whenever I mention a 'new' peice of equipment... )

 

:D I am impressed by the look of the auto 110 - it's CUTE - seriously - if you have seen the cameras in my collection - the last one weighs in about 8 lbs. - I don't know what I'd do with such a tiny camera. :) <I mean - it's absolutely pocket sized>

 

I'm glad that the hiatus does not include accessory equipment - if anyone knows of a good backpack that will carry my pentax , an extra lens, the rb67, and tripod - ... that's what's on my shopping list these days.

 

MATT - loopholes or not - I'm ashamed that you're wimping out of the hiatus with an excuse like that.

 

Maria - I hope you will find him a suitable punishment...

[paul_noble]

I've got an Auto 110, with an AF130 flash and the 24mm and 50mm lenses. Its great. If 110 film were easier to find and have processed, I'd probably use it more. Actually, I'm surprised that anyone still makes it. AFAIK, Kodak still makes it and Walgreen's house brand (Ferrania?) is still available. Not sure about Fuji.

 

The camera takes a pretty decent picture. 110 film got a bad reputation as a lousy format. In reality, it was the lousy cameras that did it in. There were very few "quality" cameras, such as the Pentax and Minolta SLR's. Almost none of the 110 cameras had light meters or were capable of using electronic flash. In later years, some of them had built in electronic flash, but those that did not, were stuck with flash cubes or flash bars.

 

Then too, 35mm point and shoot cameras brought 35mm to the masses. 35mm was perceived as "professional" quality film. The P & S cameras soon featured auto-loading, light meters and built in electronic flash. Some had zoom lenses. They weren't much bigger than the 110 cameras and were generally of much higher build quality and image quality.

 

The Minolta 110 SLR had a zoom lens that was not interchangeable. The Pentax has always been billed as the smallest interchangeable lens SLR ever made.

 

Paul Noble

[trw]

I've always thought the 70mm would be really nice for portraits, but never tried it. I'm

heading for a couple of really good camera shops in Victoria BC this saturday; maybe I'll

pick up a couple of rolls and try it.

 

I mainly bought it as part of my collection of interesting cameras. I actively use my K10D,

Canon FDs, and Mamiya C220, and very rarely my press camera. I've also got a couple of

fixed lens 35mm rangefinders and scale-focus viewfinders, a Mockba 5 6x9 folding range

finder, and a kaligar SLR (very early 6x6 interchangeable SLR, but sadly with a bad shutter

timer).

[glenn_holden]

Hin

 

Like yourself, I have many pentax cameras of various vintage starting when I was a teenager, and now I am in my 60's. I could never bring myself around to selling any of them. However, yours look in much better shape then mine.

 

I have a set just like yours, and I've used it lots of times. It used to be my vacation/snapshot camera. Yes, you can still get the print film here in Canada at some of the local drug stores, and they will process it, but it takes forever to get your film back.

 

How is your motor drive holding up? Mine has the little tabs that hold the end of the winder on broken, so it has some ugly black tape around the battery end of the winder. From the picture,it looks like you had the same probem.

 

I also like the little zoom lens that Pentax came out with later, but I've never been able to find one on *bay at a price I could afford. I did, however, manage to get an aftermarket teleconverter.

 

LGH

[miserere_mei]

Rose wrote: "(I feel I have to state when I bought things now - since Miserere notices whenever I mention a 'new' peice of equipment... )"

 

Sheesh, you'd think I'm the LBA police or something...

[michaelraso]

<p><a title="Pentax Auto 110 Camera Test - Woodland Lake, Pequannock NJ by Michael's Film Pix, on Flickr" href=" title="Pentax Auto 110 Camera Test - Woodland Lake, Pequannock NJ by Michael's Film Pix, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3790450075_e717820302.jpg" alt="Pentax Auto 110 Camera Test - Woodland Lake, Pequannock NJ" width="500" height="400" /> </a><br>

Shot from my first test roll using my newly acquired Pentax Auto 110 Camera (w/ 18mm lens). Kodak 110 Film (iso 400) was processed and printed by Clark Color Labs. The print received was a bit on the muddy side. I also noticed that there is no real focus in the entire frame. Print scanned using the Canon LIDE 90. Used Photoshop 7.0 to boost chroma 25%, sharpen and fix black levels. Overall, a bit disappointed with the image quality. Lens defect?? Perhaps I am expecting too much from this small format?? Image: Woodland Lake, Pequannock, New Jersey 7/18/2009</p>