picking up Pentax 110 Auto: tips on what to check to see if it's working?

TheToadMen · Jul 28, 2015

I'm going to pick up a Pentax Auto 110 set tomorrow. It looks like a small but fine camera and I never used one before.

Any tips on what to check to see if it's working?

For instance: will the shutter work without a film inside the camera? I know some cameras won't fire without film.
And I haven't got the time to get me a 110 film upfront.

BTW: I'll bring new batteries for the camera and the motorwind.

vdonovan · Jul 28, 2015

Those cameras are a LOT of fun, and take great pictures. I really like the lomography B&W Orca film.

I seem to recall that both the motor winder and the flash had problematic connections to the body, so make sure you try both. That said, I almost never used the motor base or the flash.

I don't remember if the camera needs film in it to release the shutter.

TheToadMen · Jul 28, 2015

Thanks, Vince.
And B&W will be the film I'll use, although I'll try a colour film too.

paul ewins · Jul 28, 2015

With fresh batteries you should see the meter LED in the viewfinder when you press the shutter button halfway. It will fire without a cartridge - two strokes of the advance lever should cock the shutter but one more will uncock it. You should feel the movement when it becomes cocked. I use mine with 16mm film rerolled into used cartridges. You get fewer frames and bigger gaps but it works OK.

tih · Jul 29, 2015

It's a great little camera!

Be very careful with the battery covers for the flash and, especially, the winder. Check that both are OK, with no broken off bits. (And check the insides for battery leak damage, of course.)

You would do well to download and read the manual before going to inspect the Auto 110: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/pentax/pentax_auto_110/pentax_auto_110.htm

removed account4 · Jul 29, 2015

i have one, not a full kit like yours
great camera, awe inspriring optics !

the camera takes 2 batteries from what i remember
make sure to bring a few of them, the winder takes
AA ( i think, its been a while ) ... the cover on the winder
is usually the first thing to break ...
the shutter is a variable speed shutter, so it will meter the scene
and fire accordingly, i think it goes from a long exposure ( several seconds )
to 1/500th second.
if your kit comes with the pan focus it is a beautiful little focus-free lens.
( i always wished i had one ! )

have fun !
john

TheToadMen · Jul 29, 2015

I picked it up and the set is as new! I loaded the batteries and the camera works. Also the flash and the motorwind. It's a complete set in the original box. And what a neat camera it is - and tiny. The view finder is perfect for focussing.

I even got a free film with it so I'll be having fun this weekend.

vdonovan · Jul 29, 2015

Enjoy! Here's one of my favorite shots with that camera, using Lomo Orca film:

picking up Pentax 110 Auto: tips on what to check to see if it's working?

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