It was my grandfather’s favorite brand when the mater concerned about cameras. Even my father likes it. As for myself, I am really fond of it; I am speaking about – Pentax. An international brand of high performing imaging and optical products and services, this company has beautifully managed to impress its customers, generation after generation. The range of the products, their designs and color patterns, the hoard of features and related facilities altogether make its products highly priced possessions and the owners feel proud about them. Over the years it has nicely diversified its business and currently going strong in different avenues.

In the year 1952, the first SLR camera in Japan was released by this company. That was really a path-breaking innovation that established it as a premier brand in the field of photography and paved its way into more complex models with added features.

Pentax has got clear vision when targeting the different sections of the consumers. It has got two broad bases of customers that it always aims to maintain and continuously expand. The first one constitutes professional photographers and the second one constitutes amateurish and novice photographers. The cameras with heavy features and complex settings are mainly for the professional photographers who generally shoot commercial and public offices. The cameras with less features but good styles and convenience, tailor made to be used casually are for those photographers who are amateur and simply want to nurture this wonderful activity. Due to obvious reasons, the price of the cameras for the professional photographers is more, and that for the novices is less.

The company has full-fledged existence in three continents – Asia, Europe and North America. The business expands in different nations in these continents and the consumers are happy with the quality of services and products provided by it.

Like any other cameras, the cameras from the house of Pentax too need good care and careful handling in order to maintain their quality and high performance. Casual handling, using it in dusty surrounding and not cleaning it on a regular basis, and going for routine servicing of the set are few major factors that make the camera under- perform.

You must always go the reputed shops that deal in genuine photography devices in order to purchase these cameras. Don’t forget to test every possible feature of the set. In that way, you ensure yourself of not being foxed by being sold poor quality material. The Pentax cameras have the capacity to take absolutely stunning photographs of any subject at any given angle and in any environmental condition.

More information on Pentax cameras can be found on my website at http://pentaxdigitalcameras.org. I strongly suggest that you check it out if you are looking for Pentax digital cameras.

Pentax Camera FAQ:

Question: Where can I get the battery changed for my asahi pentax k1000 camera…ie the light meter?
The light meter isn’t working and I can’t find a place to change it for me. I know it needs a LR44 battery but ritz camera and radio shack were no help.

Answer: LR44 is very common. Check hardware shops, photo shops, drugstores and watch repair shops. You can change it yourself. All you need is a small coin to open the hatch at the bottom of the camera. Take note of the battery orientation before you pull the old ones out.

Question: Does anyone know if some one made a conversion kit for a Pentax film SLR to a digital camera?
I hate to abandon my Pentax film camera, it’s a Super program SLR. I wandered if a replacement CCD back kit to convert it to the digital age.

Answer: No. Leica tried that about four years ago. The back cost more than a DSLR camera, so after a couple of years, Leica dropped that product.

Just buy a good Pentax DSLR and use the lenses you have on both. I still have 3, 35 mm SLR’s which I use from time to time.

Question: How do you set the aperture on a pentax 35mm film camera when using a Tamron lens?
It’s a Pentax ZX-M and the lens is a Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6. I don’t know how to set the aperture. I’m trying to do shallow DOF and great DOF, but when I set the aperture and move the zoom, the aperture changes.

Answer: Your question should actually be “how do you MAINTAIN the aperture you have set”. The answer is you can’t. Look at the specs on your lens. When an aperture is stated as 3.5 – 5.6, that means it is not a constant aperture lens. Those specs mean the minimum aperture will change to those values as you zoom the lens. At it’s widest angle, the aperture can be set to 3.5, but if you zoom it out, it WILL by design change to 5.6. You can, however, set an aperture of any number higher than 5.6, and it will maintain it throughout the zoom range.

A zoom lens that does NOT change aperture is known as a CONSTANT APERTURE lens. It would state an aperture spec of for instance 2.8, and if you set it there, it will maintain it throughout the range. These lenses are MUCH larger, MUCH heavier, and MUCH more expensive.

There is nothing wrong with your camera, lens, or you, it is simply the normal design of the lens.

Question: Which is the best Pentax camera?
I’m looking to get a good Pentax DSLR camera. I go camping alot so I need one that is durable and since I don’t have a power source it needs to be able to use AA batteries. I want fast shutter speed and pretty good picture quality. If there is any other type of camera list that as well.

Answer: I would recommend the Pentax K-x for around $550. Its shutter speed can go up to 1/6000 seconds and it uses four AA batteries. I know someone who’s had this camera and I can tell they’re really pleased with it. Also, it’s weather sealed and you can use any K-mount lens made since 1975 on it. Of course there will be some limitations with the older manual focus lenses but you can use them. Please understand that weather sealed does not mean you can take the K-x swimming. Plus, you can get it in Red, White or Black.

Question: On a pentax 35mm film camera, when you set your aperture is it supposed to show the correct aperture when you go to check the light meter?
I have a ZX-M model.

Answer: It’s on the right when you look through the viewfinder, second set of numbers from the top (if not, change your batteries). You can look it up on page eight in the manual.

Question: What is a good value of money Pentax Wide Angle lens?
Just looking for a good lens for my new pentax camera, preferably a wide angle lens, but I’m not really sure where to start looking as there are so many options!

Answer: Look on ebay for an older K mount lens, or a WA lens that has a m42 screw mount, as m42-k mount adaptors are cheap.

Question: I have a pentax mz50 slr film camera. Is there any way to transfer my photos onto my pc?
It’s a great camera and I have taken some pictures that I wish to load onto my PC. The camera is one of the old school cameras that uses film. Is there a way to transfer copies of some of my pics to my pc so that I can send them friends. Some advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: You’ll need to use a scanner to scan your pictures. If you have one (and you have a Windows PC) you can scan them with the built in Paint program. (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint) Open Paint and click ‘File’ and choose, ‘Camera or Scanner’ for each of your photos. After Scanning, choose: ‘File’ then select ‘Save’ (Choose a Name for your photo) and save it to your: ‘Pictures’ folder.

All of your pictures will be saved as a .jpeg file. You can then share them as you like. A scanner for just photos can be purchased or you can purchase an all in one printer.

Question: Does anyone know anything about old Pentax cameras?
I have an old Pentax camera, given to me by my mother. It’s around 20 years old. I’m looking to getting into photography, but my mother said I should find out if I really like photography by using an old camera before she’ll help me out buying a new one. So I’m stuck with this old one… It’s a Pentax IQZoom 900. I tried googling it, but found nothing. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, but it’d be great if someone could help me out. I don’t know much about cameras, which is why my mother gave me this old one. Does anyone know anything about old Pentax cameras or how to use them?

Answer: This is the 35 mm version of a P&S camera which do not allow the user any real control over the exposure.

If you really want to get “into” photography, look into buying a nice used 35 mm SLR and standard lens, about $150 on craigslist in a city near you.

That said, you can learn how to compose using this camera, so when you do buy a 35 mm SLR camera later, you will be able to concentrate on learning how to produce perfect exposures every time you press the shutter release.