Pentax Auto 110
Introduction
Pentax Auto 110 with 24mm standard lens mounted and 18mm, 50mm, AF130P flash, Autowinder, and filters.
The late 1970's was the hey day of sophisticated 110 cameras, and when Pentax launched it's Auto 110 system in 1978 it was at the top of the tree. It was the only 110 camera to offer a full system of lenses, filters, and other accessories. It is a very elegant little camera and a remarkable feat of miniturisation offering proper through-the-lens viewing and metering, just like a full size 35mm SLR. All this in a camera weighing just 172 grams!
(The only problem was that when you added the flash unit, autowinder and zoom lens the result was a rather ungainly 600 grams or so. Within 10 years of the Auto 110's introduction 35mm compact cameras offering all those features built-in and weighing less than half that were commonly available.)
But the despite its undoubted elegance and sophistication, it's very difficult to see just who the Auto 110 was aimed at. It was really a point and shoot camera with completely automatic programmed exposure. Yet the sort of user who wants such a camera is unlikely to want to faff around with changing lenses. And the sort of user who enjoys that sort of thing is likely to want some way of controlling the exposure settings.
Furthermore the inherent limitations of the 110 format meant this camera propbably never really produced the results its engineering (and price) suggested it was capable of. Today the Auto 110 is mainly interesting as a remarkable feat of miniturisation and an aesthically elegant design. 110 film is still available and you can still shoot with this camera, but due to all the problems discussed in the Minolta 110 SLR page, this is fraught with problems.
In order to keep the lens designs as simple as possible Pentax built all the lenses with no aperture diaphram. Instead there is a combined shutter/diaphram mechanism in the camera. This means that all the lenses have the same maximum aperture of F2.8. Of course this also means that the sutter has to remain open during viewing, but a light tight mirror box protect the film.
In 1983, towards the end of the Auto 110's production, the Auto 110 Super was introduced with a number of improvements, including a backlight compensation button, a slef-timer and a single stroke film advance (rather than double stroke advance on the original Auto 110. The original system consisted of 18mm, 24mm and 50mm lenses (approximately 35mm, 50mm and 100mm 35mm equivilents) AF130P and the smaller AF100P flash guns and the Autowinder. Fairly late in Auto 110 production a 70mm, 20-40mm zoom and 18mm fixed focus lenses were introduced along with an updated autowinder for the Super that included continuous film advance of 1.5 frames per second. Because the Super and the 3 later lenses were late introductions they are rare and sought after.
Technical details
| Type: | TTL metering 110 SLR camera with bayonet mount for intercahngable lenses. |
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| Film type: | Cartridge-loading 110 film. |
| Negative format: | 13mm x 17mm. |
| Lens: | Pentax-110 24mm f/2.8; 47 degree angle of view; 25.5mm filter thread. Focusing range: 0.35mm-infinty. |
| Viewfinder: | Eye-level pentaprism finder with quick-return mirror. |
| Focusing: | Central splt-iage focusing spot surrounded by matte field. |
| Viewfinder information: | Green LED indicates adequate shutter speed (minimum of 1/30 sec. at f/2.8); yellow LED indicates slow shutter speed (less than 1/30 sec.) requiring use of tripod or auto flash to avoid camera shake. Magnification: 0.75X showing 87% of the picture area. |
| Battery check: | Viewfinder LED fails to light on depressing shutter button when batteries are low. |
| Exposure meter: | Center-weighted, TTL metering at full aperture via SPD cell. EV range 3-17 (24mm f/2.8 lens; 100ASA). |
| Film speed setting: | Automatic set for available 110 films. |
| Shutter: | Programmed electronic behind-the-lens shutter. |
| Shutter-speed/aperture range: | 1/750 sec. at f/13.5 - 1 sec. at f/2.8. |
| Film advance: | Two 145 degree strokes of ilm advance lever advance film a single frame; 60 degree pre-advance setting. |
| Exposure counter: | Frame number appears in back cover winder. |
| Other features: | Sunc terminal for automatic flash sync with AF130P or AF10P auto flash unit at 1/40 sec. (f/2.8); tripod socket; lens relase button, wrist strap hook, battery holder tray, winder capability. |
| Power source: | Two 1.5v Alkaline (LR44) or Silver-oxide (G13) batteries. |
| Size: | With standard lens: 56mm x 99mm x 45mm Body without lens: 56mm x 99mm x 32mm |
| Weight: | With standard lens: 172 grams Body without lens: 159 grams |
My Pentax Auto 110 system
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Pentax Auto 110 with 24mm standard lens Condition: B/1 Serial no (camera): 1465132 Serial no (lens): 1429615 Additional items: Part of a boxed set complete with all as satnadard items; box, instructions, 3 front lens caps, two rear lens caps, camera case, flash case, 18mm lens, 50mm lens, Autowinder and AF130P flash. Also 30.5mm UV filter for 18mm lens and 37.5mm skylight filter for 50mm lens. Purchase date: April 2003 Purchased from: eBay |
 
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18mm wideangle lens Condition: B/1 Serial no: 1229828 Additional items: Original front and rear lens caps, UV filter Purchase date: April 2003 Purchased from: eBay |
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50mm telephoto lens Condition: B/1 Serial no: 1338291 Additional items: Original front and rear lens caps, skylight filter Purchase date: April 2003 Purchased from: eBay |
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Autowinder Condition: C/2 Serial no: 390568 Purchase date: April 2003 Purchased from: eBay |
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AF130P flash unit Condition: B/1 Additional items: Case Purchase date: April 2003 Purchased from: eBay |
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Links
Cameraquest.com Pentax Auto 110 profile
Photos
I recently got back my first film from the Pentax. It was 200ASA film, and even though the camera was exposing it as if it was 100ASA, the exposure latitude of modern print film meant all the expsures looked fine. Overall the results were a little graining and lacking in definitions, but what can you expect from such a small negative?
Below are some samples, all taken with the 18mm wideangle lens. The prints were scanned in (my film scanner only takes 35mm film) and the b&w ones have been converted in Photoshop for artistic effect.
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