Recent news about decline of choices in consumer film market – Agfa Vista discontinuation, triggered me to revisit my own favorite stock of consumer grade film – Fujifilm Superia 200. I bought 5 pack of stuff and at present I’m burning trough third roll.
5 frames that I share with you came from second roll and were shot with Pentax SuperA camera equipped with SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7 Lens.
What can I say… amazing combination; SuperA was named as European camera of the year in 1983 and this fact says a lot about it. My 5 cents would be that it is very capable and versatile machine, with good viewfinder and comfortable body. Only drawback is annoying locking main control ring / mode dial. But no camera is perfect. Taking into account all aspects that’s my favorite manual focus Pentax film camera body.
While 50mm SMC-A F1.7 lens is flimsy in its build, It posses very unique signature when shot wide open, hope you’ll be able to see what I mean in this set of pictures. This surreal look if further enhanced with Superia 200 films properties: vivid colors, glow in highlights and pronounced but not intruding grain.
All set is shot in Warsaw; beautiful city that I had opportunity to visit and explore.
Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Aivaras
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Comments
Ashley Carr on 5 frames with Pentax SuperA – By Aivaras
Comment posted: 13/04/2018
I shoot at least 10 rolls of 35mm a per week consistently (not including the 120 film I shoot as well) so these old cameras took a lot of use, probably more in my ownership than they had in the 20 years previous. The Super A just kept on going!
I favoured the earlier ‘K’ 55mm f/1.8 over the 50mm f/1.7 as I think it performed better, especially wide open, than the 1.7. That being said I’ve always felt Pentax glass to be underrated, especially alongside Nikkor glass.
I enjoyed your photos they definitely show that unique Pentax look.
Comment posted: 13/04/2018
Oliver Clarke on 5 frames with Pentax SuperA – By Aivaras
Comment posted: 13/04/2018
Comment posted: 13/04/2018
Frank Lehnen on 5 frames with Pentax SuperA – By Aivaras
Comment posted: 19/04/2018
But I have juts one question: I see you have that Pentax-A 50mm 1.7 too! How do you feel about it? Is the aperture ring quite stiff and plasticky too, with a nasty ratcheting sound? The optical quality is great but mechnically no match for Pentax' Takumar lenses.
But that might be my copy that's crappy.....
Comment posted: 19/04/2018
John Grzinich on 5 frames with Pentax SuperA – By Aivaras
Comment posted: 22/04/2018
Peter Boorman on 5 frames with Pentax SuperA – By Aivaras
Comment posted: 03/05/2018
Jens on 5 frames with Pentax SuperA – By Aivaras
Comment posted: 11/02/2023
My favourites are the red bike lying on the ground and the red box near the river.
Use my SMC-M 50mm f1.7 on Program A, P30 and on ME/MEsuper, until now i avoided to shoot at full aperture, mostly shooting apertures between f2.8 and f5.6.
But i will try it especially at F1.7 too.
Comment posted: 11/02/2023