Pentax p30t shutter speed dial

Hello people,

I have I been on the search for a while. I really really love the shutter speed dial on the leica m5 since you don't have to leave the viewfinder to change the shutter speed or take your hands off the grip. I don't like rangefinders, strange I know but I was always looking for a camera with that feature.

Cameras where I have found this feature present are the "Canon EF", Minolta XD7 (I think all XD models have that feature) and the "Pentax p30t" (some other models have it too p30 I think)

I never liked the xd series and the canon glass wasn't my first choice so I'm happy that I found this one. Going to shoot a roll tomorrow can't wait. The wheel is a bit stiff on the p30t, maybe because the camera wasn't used much feels pretty new. Just wanted to share this.

The Pentax P cameras are interesting because they have AE lock, one of the very few Pentax cameras w/ that. So they're good in that respect. But the shutters are pretty loud, more of a "thunk".

If you shoot an AE camera w/ AE Lock, you can get an accurately metered shot off quite a bit faster. I set my aperture where I want it, let the camera choose the shutter speed (you can do this the other way around too of course), and lock the exposure w/ my thumb. A motorized film advance is advantageous too. I know you mentioned you weren't looking for Canon glass, but the Canon FD lenses are terrific, very good image quality, especially the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 lenses.

The P30 is underrated. Most AF bodies with full information viewfinders and command wheels or toggle switches such as the Minolta 9000 allow the user to change shutter speed or aperture without taking his/her eye off the subject or changing primary grip. Pentax SF 1 does not have a full information viewfinder but does show the shutter speed. The Chinon CP7 shows shutter speed in the viewfinder and if in manual mode easy to change the shutter speed without taking his/her eye off the viewfinder or changing grip. On the other hand while in aperture preferred mode need to look at the aperture ring to see what my f stop is.

I really liked my P30T, I actually preferred it to my LX for the one feature the LX did not have - the AE lock.
The shutter speed readout in the VF is also easier to see on the P30T.

The joy didn't last long i had my Pentax KM with some color left in it out today and my pentax p30t with bw. Roll was finished on the P30T decided to get the other camera out of my bag laid them both on a bench, the P30T fell down directly on the lens bending it.......sigh.......Focus ring is now really stiff at some point when rotating it, i do have the same lens on my Pentax KM but still i'm kind of annoyed. Anybody knows how to bend it back or is it done for the parts section? The lens weighs more then the pentax P30T body so kind of expected it will fall down lens first...

there are filter ring straighter, called a vise, I have one works ok, has salvaged a few lens with dented filter rings.

Forgot to add the image of one.

vv

Paul Howell said:

there are filter ring straighter, called a vise, I have one works ok, has salvaged a few lens with dented filter rings.

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Thanks will buy one!!!!!

you could sell it on ebay using the Japanese sale description of Excellent +++++/Mint -.

Paul Howell said:

Forgot to add the image of one.

vv

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I got one of those. I found it tedious to use because you can’t really see how well the expanding piece is fitting into the filter ring. It is also way overbuilt for the pressures it will take - filter rings aren’t made of hardened steel.

Stan

StanMac said:

I got one of those. I found it tedious to use because you can’t really see how well the expanding piece is fitting into the filter ring. It is also way overbuilt for the pressures it will take - filter rings aren’t made of hardened steel.

Stan

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But isn’t it the only game in town?