Pentax MV-1 User manual

IMPORTANT
SMC Pentax lenses and Pentax
accessories are engineered and
produced meticulously to
precise Asahi Pentax
specifications. Lenses and
accessories from other
manufacturers are not produced
to these precise specifications
and, therefore, may cause
difficulties with — or actual
damage to — a Pentax camera.
Asahi Pentax cannot assume
any responsibility or liability
for difficulties resulting from
the use of any other brand of
lenses or accessories with an
Asahi Pentax camera.

CONTENTS
Description of parts.
Specifications .*.
Lens mounting..*.
Inserting batteries . —.
Basic operating instructions -...
Film loading and winding .
Setting ASA film speed/Memo holder .
Aperture setting .*.
Shooting on AUTO .
The "100X" and "B" settings .•.
Focusing and composing ...
Holding the camera .*.
Unloading film ...
Auto flash photography (AF 200S) .
Other flash units ..
Shooting pointers .
• Optimum apertures .
• Stopping the action .
• Depth of field control .
• Maximum depth of field .
• Exposure compensation .
• Backlit subjects .
• Spotlighted subjects ...
• Exposure-compensation-indicator dial
Depth-of-field scale .
Depth-of-field table .
Self-timer/Multiple exposure .
Infrared photography .
Using screw-mount Takumar lenses .
Open aperture and stop-down metering lenses
Resistance to temperature extremes and changes
Camera maintenance .
Warranty policy .
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DESCRIPTION OF PARTS
O Neck strap ring
© Exposure counter
© Shutter release button
O Exposure mode dial
© Rapid-wind lever
O Exposure modes
© Hot shoe
© Auto flash contact
© ASA film speed ring
® Exposure-compensation-
indicator dial
© Film rewind crank *
© Film rewind knob/back
cover release
© Lens release lever
© Self-timer lever
© Lens alignment node
© Focusing ring
2 ^

<D Depth-of*fie!d scale
© Aperture/distance index
© Aperture ring
© Viewfinder eyepiece
© Guide pin channel
© Winder direct contact
© Film chamber
© Battery chamber
© Winder/Tripod receptacle
© Film guide rail
© Film rail
© Shutter blades
© Film rewind button
© Film transport coupler
© Sprocket wheel
© Film take-up spool
© Back cover
© Film pressure plate

SPECIFICATIONS
Type:
Mount:
Standard lenses:
Shutter:
Self-timer
Exposure metering:
Auto flash synch:
Manual flash synch:
35mm full-frame SLR camera with aperture-preferred automatic
exposure, auto flash synch (with AF 200S Auto Flash)
Pentax Bayonet Mount
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/2,
SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7
SMC Pentax-M 40mm f/2.8
Seiko MFC vertical-run metal focal-plane shutter; shutter speeds
automatically varied between 1 sec. and 1/1000 sec.; mechanical
settings of 100X” and "B" provided (operates without batteries
at manual settings).
Delays shutter release 4~10 seconds.
Open aperture, center-weighted through-the-lens light metering
via SPD cell. Exposure range from EV 3 (ASA 100 1/4 sec at
f/1.4, 1 sec. at f/2.8) to EV 19 (ASA 100, 1/1000 sec at f/22)
Film Speed Range: ASA 25 to ASA 1600 (Exposure
Compensation via ASA film speed dial. LED “Stop/Go"
exposure readout in finder.)
Synchronizes automatically for AF 200S Auto Flash Unit at
1/100 sec. via hotshoe with shutter dial set to Auto - hotshoe
contact also provided for flash ready indicator in viewfinder
At "100X" (1/100 sec.) flash-iynch setting of exposure mode
dial (hotshoe synch only).

Viewfinder:
Viewfinder indications:
Mirror and diaphragm:
Film wind and rewind:
Automatic winder
Film loading:
Exposure counter:
Battery:
Back cover:
Body size:
Body weight:
Aluminum-coated pentaprism finder with split-image/
microprism focusing screen; shows 92% of the picture area,
0.85X magnification with 50mm lens; -1.0 diopter eyepiece.
Three LED Stop/Go indicator system. Red: overexposure;
Green: Adequate exposure for handheld shooting (1/1000 —
1/30 sec ) Yellow: Slow Exposure Warning (below 1 /30 sec.,
inadequate for handheld shooting) "X": AF 200S flash ready
indicator.
Instant-return mirror and automatic diaphragm.
Single-stroke rapid wind lever; plastic tipped for winding .
comfort, 135° advance with 30° rest setting. Rapid rewind crank
for speedy film rewind. , . . , „ .
MV 1 camera body accepts Winder ME with both single-frame and
consecutive automatic film winding capability; winding speed:
1.5 frames-per-sec. in consecutive mode.
Magic-needle quick/sure loading.
Automatic reset, additive type.
Two 1.5V Alkaline (LR44) or Silver-oxide <G13) batteries; LEDs
double as battery check lamp.
Standard back with memo holder, interchangeable with Dial
Data ME for data recording on film.
132mm x 84mm x 49.5mm
425 grams (15 ozs.)
• 5

LENS MOUNTING
Remove the rear lens and
body mount covers
7 Match the red dot O on the
camera body with the red dot
© on the lens. Insert the lens
into the body and turn it
clockwise until the lens
locks with a click.
* n the dark, when the red
dots are difficult to see, align
the raised white node © on
the lens barrel with the lens
release lever © by touch. Then
turn and lock as above,
4 To detach, hold the camera
with your left hand. Depress
the lens release lever ® while
turning the lens counter¬
clockwise with your right hand.
If you have to put the lens
down without the rear lem
cap, place it only front-element-
down, never front-element-up.
When changing lenses outdoors
with film in the camera, avoid
direct sunlight.
6 *

INSERTING BATTERIES
Two Alkaline batteries are
packed separately. Be sure to
insert them into the battery
chamber before operating
the camera.
CAUTION i
The battery is like
a phonograph record. It can be
damaged by skin acids. Handle
by the edges with a dry cloth
before insertion into the camera.
Also be especially sure to wipe
off the batteries with a cloth
when they are salted.
The battery is not rechargeable.
Do not throw a dead battery
into a fire, as it may explode.
Also, keep it beyond the reach
of small children.
Insertion Open the battery
chamber cover with a coin.
Insert the two batteries into the
battery chamber of the camera
as shown above, each with plus
mark (+) facing down. For
replacement, use Eveready S76E
or Mallory MS76H or equivalent.
Check If batteries are active,
one of the LED indicators will
light when you depress the
shutter button partway with
the exposure mode dial set to
AUTO. When batteries are
dead or inserted improperly,
the LEDs will not light.
• 7

BASIC OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Load the film into your
camera and advance it to the
first exposure. (Page 10)
2. Set the ASA film speed.
(Page 11)
3 Preselect the aperture.
(Page 13)
4. Set the exposure mode dial
to AUTO. (Page 14).
5. Focus and compose the
picture by turning the focusing
ring while sighting through the
viewfinder. {Page 17).
8*

6. Slightly depress the shutter
button. One of the three LED
indicators will light in the left
side of the viewfinder. If the
green LED lights: go ahead and
shoot. If the red LED lights:
Set the aperture ring to a
smaller aperture by turning it
clockwise until the green light
comes on {i.e., f/8 to f/11, f/16,
etc. See Page 14). If the yellow
LED comes on: O use a wider
lens aperture (f/4 to f/2.8, etc.).
If the LED still does not change
to green, © mount the camera
on a tripod etc., or © switch to
flash photography (Page 20—21),
• When you depress the
shutter button completely on
AUTO, the shutter speed will
be selected automatically in
relation to lighting conditions
and the aperture in use.

FILM LOADING AND WINDING
Avoid direct light when loading your film.
1 Before loading and winding the film, set the exposure mode dial
to 100X. Leave it at this setting until after the film has been wound
to the first exposure.
Note: You may also advance the film to the first exposure with the
exposure mode dial set to AUTO. But, in this case, after closing the
back cover, you must remove the lens cap and point the camera
toward the light. If film advance is performed on AUTO without
removing the lens cap, inor¬
dinately long exposures will
result, hindering film advance.
2 Open the camera back by
pulling up the film rewind knob
until the back opens.
3. Place the film cartridge in
the film chamber, and push
down the rewind knob. Insert
the film leader between any
of the white pins surrounding
the film take-up spool.
Advance the film by
alternately advancing the rapid-
wind lever and depressing the
shutter button until both top
and bottom sprockets engage
the film perforations Q .
Close the back by pressing it
firmly.
> Advance the rapid-wind
lever and confirm that the film
rewind knob 0 turns
counterclockwise, indicating
10 *

SETTING ASA FILM SPEED/MEMO HOLDER
that the film is properly
loaded and is moving from the
cartridge to the take-up spool.
Then, trip the shutter and
advance the film alternately
until the exposure counter
turns to "1", indicating that
the first picture is ready to be
taken. Reset the shutter dial
to AUTO.
ASA Film Speed Range
The ASA film speed rating of
all 35mm films is given in the
data sheet packed with each
roll of film. The higher the ASA
number, the more sensitive the
film is to light. To set the index,
lift up the ASA dial Q and
turn it until the ASA number
of your film is opposite the
orange index mark.
1250 1000 640 500 320 250
1600
800
400
200
100 64
32
MEMO HOLDER
As a reminder of the type of film
in your camera, tear off the top
of film box and insert it into the
Memo Holder on the back cover
of the camera.
• 11

*1
12 •

APERTURE SETTING
Keep the exposure mode dial set at AUTO. Rotate the aperture ring
of the lens and preselect the lens aperture (also called f-number) in
accordance with shooting conditions as follows.
Fine weather.
Cloudy weather
Indoors.
. f/8 ~ f/11
.. f/4 ~ f/5.6
f/1.2 - f/2.8
The above is a rough guide that is highly useful for most shooting
situations such as for snapshots and scenery. These apertures will give
satisfactory exposure as long as the green LED in the viewfinder
lights. If other LEDs should light, reset the aperture in accordance
with the instructions given on the following page.
Although the above is all you need to know to obtain better results
than you have perhaps ever obtained before with most of your
photographs, as you gain more experience you may want to vary the
lens aperture for special effects, such as highlighting your
subject by throwing the background and foreground out of focus
by using wider apertures, etc. If you are interested in learning these
special aperture control techniques, refer to the section entitled
"Shooting Pointers/' (page 22).

SHOOTING ON AUTO
Your Pentax MV 1 is designed for used on AUTO. After the film
is loaded and the exposure mode dial is set to AUTO it need not
be taken off, even for flash photography if the accessory AF 200S
Auto Flash is used. The only occasions when you would use the
other settings are for flash synch at "100X" for flash units other
than the AF 200S, and for long exposures at the "B" (Bulb) setting.
The 100X setting may also be used for battery failure and film
wind on. Otherwise, keep the shutter dial set to AUTO.
Exposure Check: After you have set the ASA film speed, preset the
aperture and focused, you are ready to check the exposure. Simply,
press the shutter button slightly until one of three LEDs in the
viewfinder lights. If the green LED lights, go ahead and shoot
Overexposure Warning: If the red LED indicator lights on pressing
the shutter button partway, the photo will be overexposed. To
prevent this, you will have to reset the aperture ring to a smaller
aperture by turning it clockwise until the green LED comes on (for
example, f/8 to f/11 or f/16,etc.).
Slow Exposure/Camera Shake Warning: If the Yellow LED lights,
it indicates that the camera has selected a shutter speed below
1/30 sec. in relation to your preset aperture. This does not necessarily
indicate that the photo will be underexposed, but there is a tendency
for the picture to blur with such slow exposures. Usually, however,
blur also can be prevented by resetting the aperture ring. Only, in this
14 *

instance, you set the aperture ring to a wider aperture (smaller f-
number value) by turning it counterclockwise until the green LED
lights. For example, if it is set at f/5.6, turn it to f/4, f/2, etc. If the
green LED does not come on, even after you have set the lens to the
widest aperture, do either of the following.
Use a tripod - Page 35 Switch to flash photography - Page 20, 21
Because the MV 1 auto exposure system selects the shutter speed
for you steplessly between 1 /1000 and 1 sec. in relation to the
aperture setting, the above is all you need to know about exposure
control for satisfactory results with most subjects. However, for
better results in difficult lighting, shooting against the light, with
fast moving subjects, etc., refer to the section "Shooting Pointers"
(Page 22) when you feel you are ready to master special techniques
to use in such situations.
--—CAUTION—-
If you should happen to press the shutter button while the
shutter dial is set on AUTO with the lens cap on, or in very
poor lighting conditions, the mirror may lock up, resulting
in abnormally long exposure. To correct this, the shutter
can be quickly closed by turning the shutter dial to 100X.
After closing the shutter, be sure to reset the shutter dial
to AUTO.
If you use a tripod or make
an exposure at any time
without your eye to the
viewfinder eyepiece, cover
the eyepiece with the
accessory Finder Cap;
otherwise light entering
from the rear of the camera
may adversely affect the
exposure.
• 15

THE "100X" AND "B" SETTINGS
While the MV 1 is designed almost totally for use on AUTO, two
other settings are provided on the exposure mode dial for special
shooting situations.
100X : This manual shutter speed setting really need not be used
at all if you use the Pentax AF 200S Auto Flash and keep spare
batteries on hand. It is provided for manual flash synchronization
with flash units other than the AF 200S (see page 21). In addition
it may also be used in emergencies when batteries fail and you do *
not have spare batteries on hand. For emergency exposures without
batteries, merely set the exposure mode dial to "100X" and select
the aperture according to the brightness of your subject (refer to>
the exposure guidelines accompanying the film). The 100X settmq is
also convenient for film wind on (Page 10).
B (Bulb): This setting is used when desiring to make "Time”
exposures longer than 1 second. To use, first mount the camera on
a tripod, then, attach a cable release to the camera's shutter release
button. The shutter will open when the plunger of the cable release
is depressed and remain open as long as pressure is maintained. For
ultra long exposures such as several minutes or hours, use a cable
release with a locking device. Also, cover the viewfinder eyepiece
with the accessory eyepiece cover to prevent excess light from
entering through the rear of the camera.
16 •

FOCUSING AND COMPOSING
The focusing screen inside the viewfinder of your
MV 1 is a split-image type surrounded by
a microprism collar. For precise focus, turn the
focusing ring of the lens until the two images in
the split-image circle at the center align as one.
If you find focusing with the split-image circle
difficult, focus with the microprism collar by
turning the focusing ring until the glitter
disappears from inside the collar. In addition, the
field surrounding the center spots may also be used
for quick focusing: merely turning the ring until
the image comes in clear in the overall viewfinder
field. The surrounding field also gives bettter
results than the center spot when using telephoto
lenses having a small maximum aperture.

HOLDING THE CAMERA
As a general rule, your camera can be held more firmly in the left hand, which does not release the
shutter. If you hold your camera with the right hand - the hand that releases the shutter - this may
cause camera movement. Often, blurred pictures are due to camera movement
Horizontal position A.
Hold the camera firmly with
your left hand, and draw your
arms close to your body.
Vertical position B.
Hold your camera tightly to
your forehead with your left
hand, and draw your right
arm close to your body.
Vertical position C.
Hold your camera tightly to you
forehead with your left hand,
raise your right arm and draw
your left arm to your body.
18 •