Pentax P3n with 28mm F2.8 Lense

The Pentax P3 (US), P30 elsewhere, is a 35mm film SLR released by Pentax in 1985. The plastic body was a departure of the lineage that produced the ME and SuperA; with a more amateurish camera. The P3 was a departure of the P5/50 as it returned to a speed dial instead of buttons.

It uses the KA-mount bayonet to convey aperture information and have P mode (Av when M or K series lenses are used) and can use any manual focus lens up to the FA series.

• Viewfinder covers 92% of image with 0.82x magnification. Split-image matte focusing screen (horizontal)
• The P3/30 uses a classic manual film advance lever with 130° throw.
• It has program, manual, X and B exposure modes on a dial with speeds of 1 to 1/1000 sec. However on P mode exposures up to 8s have been observed. The X mode provides automation with some Pentax flashes. No exposure compensation is available, but the camera has an Exposure Lock button.
• The meter is a center-weighted type with a range of 1 to 18 EV. A scale of speeds is shown in the viewfinder and LEDs show the selected and recommended (blinking) speeds.
• Film speeds can’t be set manually, the P3/30 uses DX Encoding film with a ISO range of 25 to 1600. There is a plastic window in the film door.
• Self timer is in the main power switch for ~12s.
• DOF Preview lever is located above the bayonet lock.
• It uses two 1.5v SR44 or LR44 button batteries.
• The US version is all black, while in the rest of the world it was dark gray