Experience with Super A/Program?
Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? I've once again got myself to the point that I have 20+ Pentax bodies and a number of lenses that need to get sold one way or the other. I've got 2 very nice Super A's and need a little help deciding whether they go or stay. I like the camera and it's features but have trouble 'trusting' it because of the electronics and rather jarring mirror return. These 2 are pretty enough that I don't want to put them in my kit and start scuffing them up just to find out later they aren't very reliable. TIA Don
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Don I have used Super A's for at least decade. IMO it's one of the best cameras Pentax ever made. The user philosophy/concept was later transfered to the PZ-1 (Hyper Modes) and later to the MZ-S. (Turn the aperture ring - you have Aperture Priotity. Turn the Time wheel to manual - you have Shutter Prority. Turn both you have Manual exposure). Put them both back in Auto - you have Program Mode. Simply brilliant - understandable and readable - at a glance. My first one had some slight /periodic problems with bad contacts - it was previously used by a pro-photog/angler in wet conditions (my daughter still uses it, though). My second one I bought new/unused. It's works perfectly in every respect. I prefere this camera to any other camera for travelling/hiking/hillwalking etc. And for Bellows! No "mode-selections". It has TTL AE-flash. A + T info in the veiwfinder as well as +/- indications in Manual and EF sign for dialed in exposure compensation. Optional MEII winder or Motor Drive A. Awarded European Canera of the year 1983. I'd prefere this to any other non AF camera. It's like the K1000 but with all three exposure modes. I shot hundreds of rolls with it. I love it. All my South Africa shots were made with a Super A: http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt/DreamHC/Side8.html All the best Jens Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: Don Sanderson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 26. januar 2005 17:27 Til: PDML Emne: Experience with Super A/Program? Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? I've once again got myself to the point that I have 20+ Pentax bodies and a number of lenses that need to get sold one way or the other. I've got 2 very nice Super A's and need a little help deciding whether they go or stay. I like the camera and it's features but have trouble 'trusting' it because of the electronics and rather jarring mirror return. These 2 are pretty enough that I don't want to put them in my kit and start scuffing them up just to find out later they aren't very reliable. TIA Don
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Thanks Jens, that what I 'wanted' to hear! ;-) Love the look and feel of it, even have a Motor A. I've just bought so many, and seen them on eekBay, that have "little" problems. Things like being intermittent, no readout, etc. These two seem perfect, guess I'll have to keep at least one of them. Don PS: I only seem to be getting about 50% of the list mail. (Haven't seen one of my own posts in several days.) If anyone else replies and I don't get back to you, would you please send directly to me? Thanks Lots! > -Original Message- > From: Jens Bladt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:08 PM > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: RE: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > Don > I have used Super A's for at least decade. > IMO it's one of the best cameras Pentax ever made. The user > philosophy/concept was later transfered to the PZ-1 (Hyper Modes) > and later > to the MZ-S. (Turn the aperture ring - you have Aperture > Priotity. Turn the > Time wheel to manual - you have Shutter Prority. Turn both you have Manual > exposure). Put them both back in Auto - you have Program Mode. Simply > brilliant - understandable and readable - at a glance. > > My first one had some slight /periodic problems with bad contacts - it was > previously used by a pro-photog/angler in wet conditions (my > daughter still > uses it, though). > My second one I bought new/unused. It's works perfectly in every > respect. I > prefere this camera to any other camera for travelling/hiking/hillwalking > etc. And for Bellows! No "mode-selections". > > It has TTL AE-flash. > A + T info in the veiwfinder as well as +/- indications in Manual and EF > sign for dialed in exposure compensation. > Optional MEII winder or Motor Drive A. > Awarded European Canera of the year 1983. > I'd prefere this to any other non AF camera. It's like the K1000 but with > all three exposure modes. > I shot hundreds of rolls with it. I love it. > > All my South Africa shots were made with a Super A: > http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt/DreamHC/Side8.html > > All the best > Jens > > > > Jens Bladt > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt > > > -Oprindelig meddelelse- > Fra: Don Sanderson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sendt: 26. januar 2005 17:27 > Til: PDML > Emne: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the > Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and > fairly consistent in it's performance? > > I've once again got myself to the point that I have 20+ > Pentax bodies and a number of lenses that need to > get sold one way or the other. > I've got 2 very nice Super A's and need a little help > deciding whether they go or stay. > I like the camera and it's features but have trouble > 'trusting' it because of the electronics and rather > jarring mirror return. > These 2 are pretty enough that I don't want to put > them in my kit and start scuffing them up just > to find out later they aren't very reliable. > > > TIA > Don > > >
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
And it has a very good handling with its attached MotorA :D I will add that although it is not very efficient, there is also an LCD illuminator so even in the dark, you can check shutter/aperture settings :) The only problem for me is that I do not own the little grip so it is quite difficult to handle without the MotorA. Thibouille
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
> Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? Hi, Don. (I'm actually replying to the reply by Jens - I didn't receive your original post.) I've owned quite a few different Pentax bodies over time. Most have gone on to other places. Basically, I have four different "active" models left in the arsenal here: I've got a couple of Program A's (a.k.a. Program Plus). These are "beaters" of a sort - they're my two "dedicated whale watch trip bodies", and get lots of salt spray and rain and condensation, etc. (Of course, I do try to shield them and the lenses as much as possible, but, well, you know how well that will work on a boat - .) Since the Program A is the "little brother" of the Super A (a.k.a. Super Program), this is relevant to mention, since (I assume) the electronics must be similar to that of the Super A. (Yes, I know that the electronics must be a bit "simplified, due to fewer modes, but otherwise must be pretty similar.) These guys have been very reliable over a long period of often harsh conditions (one of which is sometimes being stored for too long in my whale watch bag before being wiped off). I suspect that the Super A should also be pretty reliable (as far as moisture goes), within reason, of course. My Super A's (which are my number 1 walking-around bodies, due to their compactness, their light weight, and their full-featured specs) (TTL flash is great for the lazy - ), and since I fortunately usually don't use flash at church (thanks to fast lenses, fast film, and a monopod) (and, once I got hooked on TTL flash, I'll never go back to old-fashioned flash - ). However, back in the 1980's, I had two ME Super's that were my "dedicated whale watch trip bodies" for a number of years, and neither one of 'em ever failed to work for me, and that's under the same harsh conditions I described above. I point this out to show that, at least some of the time, an electronic body ~can~ give faithful service under pretty marginal (due to moisture) conditions. My LX's are the fourth model bodies that I use regularly, and are, in fact, the ones I like using the most. However, the Super A's are a lot lighter and somewhat quieter, and have TTL flash, too, so I do end up using them when a lot of portability is a requirement. Well, that's my 2 cents worth. (YMMV) Fred
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
A few years ago, I tried a couple of Super Programs, but I think both had been used fairly heavily and were a bit loose in feel and one had begun to develop shutter problems. After venturing into SF1n/PZ-1/PZ-1p territory for a while, I took a chance on another Super Program offered for sale on the list about a year and a half ago and it was a much nicer body than my previous examples, with obviously low mileage. I liked using it so much that I ended up using it at times instead of the PZ-1p I had, and eventually I sold most of my autofocus equipment and picked up a few more A lenses, including the wonderful 35mm f/2 (a perfect standard lens for this camera, along with the A 50/1.4) and the 35-105 A zoom. I also have the 24mm f/2.8 A lens, which is another wonderful combination with the Super Program without grip. I more recently picked up a Super A (this camera is even better in black) and a Motor Drive A for better handling with the 35-105. I think it was using the Super Program and Super A more that also just led me to purchase a like-new MZ-S, part of an overall return to small, wonderfully engineered Pentax bodies that may be happiest with small primes for a compact package. (And all of this with an eye toward the future -- what film bodies do I want to settle on, assuming I may not buy any more film models after this?) Joe Thanks Jens, that what I 'wanted' to hear! ;-) Love the look and feel of it, even have a Motor A. I've just bought so many, and seen them on eekBay, that have "little" problems. Things like being intermittent, no readout, etc. These two seem perfect, guess I'll have to keep at least one of them. Don PS: I only seem to be getting about 50% of the list mail. (Haven't seen one of my own posts in several days.) If anyone else replies and I don't get back to you, would you please send directly to me? Thanks Lots! -Original Message- From: Jens Bladt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:08 PM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Experience with Super A/Program? Don I have used Super A's for at least decade. IMO it's one of the best cameras Pentax ever made. The user philosophy/concept was later transfered to the PZ-1 (Hyper Modes) and later to the MZ-S. (Turn the aperture ring - you have Aperture Priotity. Turn the Time wheel to manual - you have Shutter Prority. Turn both you have Manual exposure). Put them both back in Auto - you have Program Mode. Simply brilliant - understandable and readable - at a glance. My first one had some slight /periodic problems with bad contacts - it was previously used by a pro-photog/angler in wet conditions (my daughter still uses it, though). My second one I bought new/unused. It's works perfectly in every respect. I prefere this camera to any other camera for travelling/hiking/hillwalking etc. And for Bellows! No "mode-selections". It has TTL AE-flash. A + T info in the veiwfinder as well as +/- indications in Manual and EF sign for dialed in exposure compensation. Optional MEII winder or Motor Drive A. Awarded European Canera of the year 1983. I'd prefere this to any other non AF camera. It's like the K1000 but with all three exposure modes. I shot hundreds of rolls with it. I love it. All my South Africa shots were made with a Super A: http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt/DreamHC/Side8.html All the best Jens Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: Don Sanderson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 26. januar 2005 17:27 Til: PDML Emne: Experience with Super A/Program? Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? I've once again got myself to the point that I have 20+ Pentax bodies and a number of lenses that need to > get sold one way or the other. I've got 2 very nice Super A's and need a little help deciding whether they go or stay. I like the camera and it's features but have trouble 'trusting' it because of the electronics and rather jarring mirror return. These 2 are pretty enough that I don't want to put them in my kit and start scuffing them up just to find out later they aren't very reliable. TIA Don
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, but I think I can live with that. -Mat On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it > > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance?
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
I've had four in total, three are totally reliable and I still own them, one had an electrical fault that was traced to a bad data back, other than that they've never given me any trouble. Great cameras. John -- Original Message --- From: "Don Sanderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PDML" Sent: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 10:27:13 -0600 Subject: Experience with Super A/Program? > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the > Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and > fairly consistent in it's performance? > > I've once again got myself to the point that I have 20+ > Pentax bodies and a number of lenses that need to > get sold one way or the other. > I've got 2 very nice Super A's and need a little help > deciding whether they go or stay. > I like the camera and it's features but have trouble > 'trusting' it because of the electronics and rather > jarring mirror return. > These 2 are pretty enough that I don't want to put > them in my kit and start scuffing them up just > to find out later they aren't very reliable. > > TIA > Don --- End of Original Message ---
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Thanks to all who replied, Jens, Mat, Thibouille, Fred and Joe. Now I just have to decide which one (or both?) to keep. It was good to hear that they'll take some abuse and still keep going. I plan to put together a small kit to keep in the car at all times, I've missed too many shots lately. That means, hot, cold, damp and all the rest. Tried it with an MX, it didn't like the cold very much. (To be fair it was only 3 Deg F!) Don > -Original Message- > From: Mat Maessen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:12 PM > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. > Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It > does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, but I > think I can live with that. > > -Mat > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it > > > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? >
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Don, Read what sounds like a handy tip to protect photo equip. while stored in a car. Use a styrofoam cooler (inside padded with a towel, for example). Hot/cold temp. limits will be greatly impaired and the container shouldn't be as attractive to the would-be thief. I use a DC cooler (plugged into car power outlet) for film and plan to add another ambient cooler on next photo drive. Jack --- Don Sanderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks to all who replied, Jens, Mat, Thibouille, > Fred > and Joe. > Now I just have to decide which one (or both?) to > keep. > It was good to hear that they'll take some abuse and > still keep going. > I plan to put together a small kit to keep in the > car > at all times, I've missed too many shots lately. > That means, hot, cold, damp and all the rest. > Tried it with an MX, it didn't like the cold very > much. (To be fair it was only 3 Deg F!) > > Don > > > -Original Message- > > From: Mat Maessen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:12 PM > > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > > Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > > > > My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything > but dead reliable. > > Been thinking about buying a second one as a > backup body for it. It > > does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my > other cameras, but I > > think I can live with that. > > > > -Mat > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the > Super A/Program, has it > > > > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in > it's performance? > > > > __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
Hi. I agree with the positive reliability and handling comments with two exceptions, those being problems with electrical contacts both in the shutter release and on the ring in the lens mount that transmits aperture information from the lens to the body. I've had two Super Programs since the mid '80s, and both have had the same problems. The shutter release problem was failure of partial depression of the shutter release to switch on the meter. Full depression has alwoays worked fine. The other problem was wide variations of exposure readings, with the meter reading sometime bouncing up and down wildly at a light touch to the aperture setting ring. I tracked both problems to dirty contacts; CLAs provided fixes that that lasted for a year or two; I went through several of those on each body. Several years ago I decided it was no longer worth spending money on those bodies and experimented with using electronic contact cleaners on the problem areas. Regular contact cleaners (mostly isopropyl alcohol, I think) were moderately effective. A Radio Shack contact cleaner/lubricant worked very well indeed and the cameras have worked perfectly ever since. Just be careful to use the contact cleaners very carefully so they don't get spread around the body too much. I tend to spray small amounts on Q-tips and squeeze sparingly into the appropriate locations. There is a risk of clouding the LCD panels in the viewfinder if you get too much of the cleaner running around in the body, as I have discovered from personal experience... Note that the contacts may not be a common problem. I've have given the cameras a pretty rough life. A lot of time in the bush and on very rough, dusty roads, often in extreme cold. Hope that helps. John Poirier Yellowknife,NWT,Canada - Original Message - From: Mat Maessen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:12 pm Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. > Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It > does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, > but I > think I can live with that. > > -Mat > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super > A/Program, has it > > > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? > >
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Great idea, thanks! I have a little 12v "cooler, warmer", never use it for soda or food because it doesn't get hot or cold enough. Might be the ticket for film/gear though. Don > -Original Message- > From: Jack Davis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 2:18 PM > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: RE: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > Don, > Read what sounds like a handy tip to protect photo > equip. while stored in a car. Use a styrofoam cooler > (inside padded with a towel, for example). Hot/cold > temp. limits will be greatly impaired and the > container shouldn't be as attractive to the would-be > thief. > I use a DC cooler (plugged into car power outlet) for > film and plan to add another ambient cooler on next > photo drive. > > Jack > --- Don Sanderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Thanks to all who replied, Jens, Mat, Thibouille, > > Fred > > and Joe. > > Now I just have to decide which one (or both?) to > > keep. > > It was good to hear that they'll take some abuse and > > still keep going. > > I plan to put together a small kit to keep in the > > car > > at all times, I've missed too many shots lately. > > That means, hot, cold, damp and all the rest. > > Tried it with an MX, it didn't like the cold very > > much. (To be fair it was only 3 Deg F!) > > > > Don > > > > > -Original Message- > > > From: Mat Maessen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:12 PM > > > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > > > Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > > > > > > > My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything > > but dead reliable. > > > Been thinking about buying a second one as a > > backup body for it. It > > > does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my > > other cameras, but I > > > think I can live with that. > > > > > > -Mat > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the > > Super A/Program, has it > > > > > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in > > it's performance? > > > > > > > > > > __ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:38:31 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi. I've have given the cameras a pretty rough life. A lot of time in the bush and on very rough, dusty roads, often in extreme cold. > > Hope that helps. > > John Poirier > Yellowknife,NWT,Canada Hi, John, I don't believe that we've met. As a matter of fact, I'm sure we haven't, as I'd have recalled a member from Yellowknife. For any members who don't know, Canada's NorthWest Territories are about as far north as it gets. I have to know. What's the temp up there right now. What's the low for tonight? How about the high for the day? Down here in the deep south (Toronto), we're all whining because it's going down to -25C tonight. BTW, welcome aboard. cheers, frank "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Thanks John, good to know. Don > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 3:39 PM > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > Hi. > > I agree with the positive reliability and handling comments with > two exceptions, those being problems with electrical contacts > both in the shutter release and on the ring in the lens mount > that transmits aperture information from the lens to the body. > > I've had two Super Programs since the mid '80s, and both have had > the same problems. The shutter release problem was failure of > partial depression of the shutter release to switch on the meter. > Full depression has alwoays worked fine. > > The other problem was wide variations of exposure readings, with > the meter reading sometime bouncing up and down wildly at a light > touch to the aperture setting ring. > > I tracked both problems to dirty contacts; CLAs provided fixes > that that lasted for a year or two; I went through several of > those on each body. > > Several years ago I decided it was no longer worth spending money > on those bodies and experimented with using electronic contact > cleaners on the problem areas. Regular contact cleaners (mostly > isopropyl alcohol, I think) were moderately effective. A Radio > Shack contact cleaner/lubricant worked very well indeed and the > cameras have worked perfectly ever since. Just be careful to use > the contact cleaners very carefully so they don't get spread > around the body too much. I tend to spray small amounts on Q-tips > and squeeze sparingly into the appropriate locations. There is a > risk of clouding the LCD panels in the viewfinder if you get too > much of the cleaner running around in the body, as I have > discovered from personal experience... > > Note that the contacts may not be a common problem. I've have > given the cameras a pretty rough life. A lot of time in the bush > and on very rough, dusty roads, often in extreme cold. > > Hope that helps. > > John Poirier > Yellowknife,NWT,Canada > > > - Original Message - > From: Mat Maessen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:12 pm > Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > > > My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. > > Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It > > does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, > > but I > > think I can live with that. > > > > -Mat > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super > > A/Program, has it > > > > proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? > > > > >
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
Hi, Frank and all. You folks in Toronto are really tough. It's only -16 in Yellowknife right now. Of course, that's probably the warmest it's been since October. And we are just coming out of over a month of -30s and 40s. Kept shooting, though. Put half a dozen rolls through a Super Program, a Spotmatic and an LX. Next week I'm heading for the real Arctic. My job is taking me to Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk and Fort MacPherson, shooting 4x5 (or 6x7 if it's too cold) for some large photomurals. If there isn't a blizzard in Tuk I'll be heading out by skidoo (with a local guide) to shoot a big pingo in the Mackenzie Delta and ice pressure ridges on the Beaufort Sea. In Fort MacPherson I expect to hit the Mackenzie Mountains and perhaps some river valleys. Don't know yet whether it will be by skidoo or truck. Around Inuvik I'll be shooting the northern fringe of the boreal forest where trees are quite stunted and widely separated. I'm taking my -50 clothing for the gig. Odds are high that I'll at least hit some extreme wind chills along the way. I'm actually a long-time lurker on the PUG. Seldom have time to participate, but being this isolated it's nice to be able to keep in touch a bit. John - Original Message - From: frank theriault <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 2:51 PM Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:38:31 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi. > I've have given the cameras a pretty rough life. A lot of > time in the bush and on very rough, dusty roads, often in extreme > cold. > > > > Hope that helps. > > > > John Poirier > > Yellowknife,NWT,Canada > > Hi, John, > > I don't believe that we've met. As a matter of fact, I'm sure we > haven't, as I'd have recalled a member from Yellowknife. > > For any members who don't know, Canada's NorthWest Territories are > about as far north as it gets. > > I have to know. What's the temp up there right now. What's the low > for tonight? How about the high for the day? > > Down here in the deep south (Toronto), we're all whining because it's > going down to -25C tonight. > > BTW, welcome aboard. > > cheers, > frank > > "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson >
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:43:33 -0700, John Poirier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi, Frank and all. > > You folks in Toronto are really tough. It's only -16 in Yellowknife right > now. > > Of course, that's probably the warmest it's been since October. And we are > just coming out of over a month of -30s and 40s. Kept shooting, though. > Put half a dozen rolls through a Super Program, a Spotmatic and an LX. > > Next week I'm heading for the real Arctic. My job is taking me to Inuvik, > Tuktoyaktuk and Fort MacPherson, shooting 4x5 (or 6x7 if it's too cold) for > some large photomurals. If there isn't a blizzard in Tuk I'll be heading > out by skidoo (with a local guide) to shoot a big pingo in the Mackenzie > Delta and ice pressure ridges on the Beaufort Sea. In Fort MacPherson I > expect to hit the Mackenzie Mountains and perhaps some river valleys. Don't > know yet whether it will be by skidoo or truck. Around Inuvik I'll be > shooting the northern fringe of the boreal forest where trees are quite > stunted and widely separated. I'm taking my -50 clothing for the gig. Odds > are high that I'll at least hit some extreme wind chills along the way. > > I'm actually a long-time lurker on the PUG. Seldom have time to > participate, but being this isolated it's nice to be able to keep in touch a > bit. > > John Well, we Torontonians are still (rightly so) living down Mayor Mel's decision to call in the army during that blizzard about 5 or 6 years ago. I mean, yeah, it was a blizzard, but hell, this is Canada, right? (I mean, eh?) Okay, I have to know: What's a "pingo"? Thanks. cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
I should think that the Super A would like the cold at 3° F even less than the MX. I'd expect the available battery power to be close to zero. Don Sanderson wrote: Thanks to all who replied, Jens, Mat, Thibouille, Fred and Joe. Now I just have to decide which one (or both?) to keep. It was good to hear that they'll take some abuse and still keep going. I plan to put together a small kit to keep in the car at all times, I've missed too many shots lately. That means, hot, cold, damp and all the rest. Tried it with an MX, it didn't like the cold very much. (To be fair it was only 3 Deg F!) Don -Original Message- From: Mat Maessen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:12 PM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, but I think I can live with that. -Mat On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
Batteries never work very well in cold conditions. This doesn't change with the camera used. What changes is the camera's ability to operate (mechanically, electonics) in the cold. I used a Nikon FE once. It didn't work at all below -2 degrees Celsius! The shutter locked. Cameras should give us the option to store the battery in the pocket or where ever it's warm. 20-30 years ago someone made a battery compartment adapter, which allowed the user to keep the battery in the pocket, connected to the camera with a power cord. I haven't seen these in a long time. Have you? How does a CCD aor CMOS perform act if it (the CCD/CMOS) is -10 or -20 degerees? PS: I'll give the Super A a try in -2 to -5 degrees today (the current weather i Denmark)! Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: Peter J. Alling [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 27. januar 2005 08:08 Til: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Emne: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? I should think that the Super A would like the cold at 3° F even less than the MX. I'd expect the available battery power to be close to zero. Don Sanderson wrote: >Thanks to all who replied, Jens, Mat, Thibouille, Fred >and Joe. >Now I just have to decide which one (or both?) to keep. >It was good to hear that they'll take some abuse and >still keep going. >I plan to put together a small kit to keep in the car >at all times, I've missed too many shots lately. >That means, hot, cold, damp and all the rest. >Tried it with an MX, it didn't like the cold very >much. (To be fair it was only 3 Deg F!) > >Don > > > >>-Original Message- >>From: Mat Maessen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:12 PM >>To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net >>Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? >> >> >>My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. >>Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It >>does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, but I >>think I can live with that. >> >>-Mat >> >> >>On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> >>>>Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it >>>>proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? >>>> >>>> > > > > -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
RE: Experience with Super A/Program?
On 27 Jan 2005 at 8:32, Jens Bladt wrote: > How does a CCD aor CMOS perform act if it (the CCD/CMOS) is -10 or -20 > degerees? Probably OK, that is if the batteries were still functioning. LCD read-outs would likely not be working either even with good power. Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications/ Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
On the Super Program, Get a remote battery pack, a small thing on the end of a cable. In real cold weather the LCD's start to fade. Then it's time to slip the camera back into your jacket to warm-up. Regards, Bob S. On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 02:07:46 -0500, Peter J. Alling <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I should think that the Super A would like the cold at 3° F even less > than the MX. I'd > expect the available battery power to be close to zero. > > Don Sanderson wrote: > > >Thanks to all who replied, Jens, Mat, Thibouille, Fred > >and Joe. > >Now I just have to decide which one (or both?) to keep. > >It was good to hear that they'll take some abuse and > >still keep going. > >I plan to put together a small kit to keep in the car > >at all times, I've missed too many shots lately. > >That means, hot, cold, damp and all the rest. > >Tried it with an MX, it didn't like the cold very > >much. (To be fair it was only 3 Deg F!) > > > >Don > > > > > > > >>-Original Message- > >>From: Mat Maessen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:12 PM > >>To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > >>Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > >> > >> > >>My SuperProgram (SuperA) has never been anything but dead reliable. > >>Been thinking about buying a second one as a backup body for it. It > >>does seem to eat batteries faster than any of my other cameras, but I > >>think I can live with that. > >> > >>-Mat > >> > >> > >>On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:54:31 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> > >>>>Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it > >>>>proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? > >>>> > >>>> > > > > > > > > > > > -- > I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. > During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings > and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during > peacetime. >--P.J. O'Rourke > >
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
Don, The Super Program is my introduction to 35mm and Pentax photography. I still have the camera - over 20 years - though I must admit to not using it in quite a while. I mainly reach for an LX. The Super Program has seen a lot of action. It has been through wind, sand, rain, and snow storms. I even had a finger go through the shutter in Yosemite - popped it back in place that night. It finally had to go in for a CLA after much use and abuse. It has had a tough life. I will have to go back to see just when I needed to send it in. People who have seen it comment on its used look. It has plenty of rust and corrosion showing - yet it still keeps on working. I did get another Super Program at one point, but ended up selling it to a friend who wanted to get into 35mm photography. I was sidetracked with LXen along the way so I only have the one Super Program - with five LXen ;-) I would not hesitate to rely on a Super Program, César Panama City, Florida Don Sanderson wrote: Who's had a fair amount of experience with the Super A/Program, has it proven trustworthy and fairly consistent in it's performance? I've once again got myself to the point that I have 20+ Pentax bodies and a number of lenses that need to get sold one way or the other. I've got 2 very nice Super A's and need a little help deciding whether they go or stay. I like the camera and it's features but have trouble 'trusting' it because of the electronics and rather jarring mirror return. These 2 are pretty enough that I don't want to put them in my kit and start scuffing them up just to find out later they aren't very reliable. TIA Don
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
> On the Super Program, > Get a remote battery pack, a small thing on the end of a cable. > In real cold weather the LCD's start to fade. > Then it's time to slip the camera back into your jacket to warm-up. [Hi, Bob.] I'd just add to this that it's worth slipping the camera first into a plastic bag and then slipping it into your coat to warm up. A cold camera under a body-warmed and "body-humidified" coat is asking for a lot of condensation to settle on that cold camera body - . Fred
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
> 20-30 years ago someone made a battery compartment adapter, which allowed > the user to keep the battery in the pocket, connected to the camera with > a power cord. I haven't seen these in a long time. Have you? Here's the Pentax one for the LX - http://www.cetussoft.com/pentax/lxrmtcrd.jpg Fred
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
(Hi Fred.) Pentax used to list one for the Super Program/Super A too! I may have one somewhere... Bob S. On Wed, 9 Feb 2005 23:05:24 -0500, Fred <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 20-30 years ago someone made a battery compartment adapter, which allowed > > the user to keep the battery in the pocket, connected to the camera with > > a power cord. I haven't seen these in a long time. Have you? > > Here's the Pentax one for the LX - > http://www.cetussoft.com/pentax/lxrmtcrd.jpg > > Fred > >
