In 1982 Pentax launched its first autofocus compact camera in the shape of the Pentax PC35AF. It had a 35mm f/2.8 lens and manual film wind and a chunky, boxy styling softened with curves which looks distinctly 1980s. Competing AF compacts at the time were the Canon AF35ML and Nikon L35 AF which arguably had a more conventional appearance but shared the same trendy black with red highlights look.
At the beginning of that decade Pentax designers in Japan took inspiration from the latest styling developments seen in other consumer electronics including car design. For example, you can see some similarities with the early to mid 1980s concept cars, the Nissan NX-21 and the interior dash of the Honda HP-X.
There was a motorised film winding attachment available, but compact buyers only needed to wait a year or two for an updated version to come along which included a built-in auto-wind. The larger and heavier Pentax PC35AF-M I’ve used here has the same five element 35mm f/2.8 lens, same infrared autofocusing system which covers 0.7m to infinity and shutter speeds from 1/8 to 1/430. It uses two AA batteries and has a flash unit you can pop up if you want, but thankfully this is one of those cameras that allow shots in low light without the flash automatically activating. It will warn you with a penetrating high pitched sound signalling the flash is required but there is a hack to disable it.
The original PC35AF was designed before automated DX code reading became available and its film speed selector switch shows 25,50,100, 200?and 400. This later version has 100, 200, 400 and 1000 positions should you use a film without DX coding (or have covered it), but otherwise automatically reads the DX code up to 1600 and will ignore the manual setting.
The remaining switches are the self-timer slider by the shutter button which has an accompanying red light on the front which starts flashing with a beep in the last few seconds before exposure, a handy + 1.5 back light option on the top plate, the pop-up flash release on the side, the aforementioned film speed selector on the bottom with a film rewind switch with button arrangement, and the film door release on the back which has a film canister window to show what you’ve got loaded, plus a flickering film transport indicator window. Of course there’s an exposure counter window too. So, comprehensive enough for a compact from this time.
Using the camera is quite a loud experience. Motors small enough and powerful enough to wind film that would fit into compacts were innovations in the early 1980s and it took a while refine them, so the auto-wind on the PCAF35-M is audible at some distance. Possibly useful to know but it won’t wind on until you release the shutter button after taking a photo.
The AF system is quite clunky but it works. When you look through the viewfinder you’re presented with an albada AF centre spot, a picture area frame and an inner parallax correction frame for shorter distances. As you half press the shutter button a needle shoots across the bottom of the frame with a screech to the appropriate zone focus symbol, so you can tell if the camera has the right focus zone for your subject before you fully press the shutter. There’s a green lamp above the frame which lights up when there’s enough light for handheld shots without flash. A red light fires up when the pop-up flash is required along with the high pitched signal so you can’t fail to know, but you can ignore it and take the shot anyway without flash.
What I found was that it’s a great camera for street photography. The frames I shot with a roll of Ilford HP5 on a sunny September day in Oxford were all sharp, in focus, and exposures were well assessed even in the more difficult and contrasty situations. I could easily use it one-handed and take a shot from closed down in less than a couple of seconds. Shooting right handed you can pull the red lens cover release switch with one finger and it instantly springs away from the lens activating the camera, then the index finger presses the red shutter button and there’s virtually no pause. As it has auto-wind you’re ready for another exposure. Loaded with old film I did a stopwatch test and managed to take three shots within five seconds from lens cover closed.
So would I recommend this camera? Well, bear in mind they are now around 40 years old, but it’s got a quality lens and my example worked perfectly throughout a 36 exposures film and, despite the operating noises, was a pleasure to shoot with. I think the retro eighties styling is actually quite cool. A quick check of recently sold prices on ebay are interesting, they fluctuate from around £50 to nearer £100 (approx $65 to $130) so maybe the Pentax PC35AF-M is becoming increasingly sought after.
Share this post:
Comments
No comments found