AF lenses of this era were pretty good optically, but the autofocus was lousy. Much better in manual mode. The AF-7 doesn't appear to have exposure compensation, which is the usual way to override DX coding in consumer SLRs.
It has AE-L ( ML memory lock) exposure lock that works with a big spot, so in aperture priority in most cases you don't need exp. comp, AE-L is faster, more accurate and with much more range then any exp. comp. Having that big spot is practicaly better then SF1/SFX/SF1n/SFXn that have AE-L without spot, and when not using AE-L it has pseudomatrix using that spot. And it also has full manual mode and Program mode beside Av mode. It has DX coding from 25 to 5000 iso, more then enough for a camera that is not the top model. If you like 12 iso or push 3200 to 6400, you can have another model for that.
Those CR5 batteries cost £15 in Jessops in the early 1990s. To put it in context you could buy Fujichrome process paid slide film for £5 a roll if you bought them in multiple, in the same era. If you used the built in flash AF SLRs often came with, you could burn through a CR5 battery in two rolls of film! Powering autofocus cameras was an expensive business before rechargeable batteries became standard.
Hello! I've been using the SF-7 and when i had my flim developed, the roll was all blank. Could this be because of the batteries? My batteries are old..
If you were using ILFORD Pan-F film and not had it processed for a long time it suffers from 'Latent Image Regression' OR it could be that the film had NOT GONE THROUGH the Camera -- there is a 'Warning' in the LCD Display if the film has not taken up correctly.
@@theoldfilmbloke I've been using the kodak ultramax 400 and i had it developed after a month. Do drained batteries affect the performance of the camera?
Thank you for your review. I've owned the SF7 since 1991 with the F 35-70 3.5-4.5 and only upgraded to the K70 in 2022. I love the feel of this camera but honestly have never outgrown it & now that I'm into bird photography, I feel I'm at a disadvantage. Not In color science or image quality, but frames per second. I guess I'm a Pentaxian?
Peter, are you sure you are using F series lenses in the clip as they should have a completely different appearance. The ones you're using here seem to have power zooms which featured on the FA series lenses for the Z series cameras!
Pete how exactly do you extend a film leader...... a video would be good... Know it's a basic thing but presume that there is a good way and a not so good way to do it...?? Thanks in advance....
I am using my SF 7 camera with silver pentax lens from Vietnam a 35-80 FA Do you know how I can get f stops to read on the lcd screen please.... Peter....
Hello Peter, I have a question for you: I have a Pentax SF-7 / SF-10 camera with a Tokina A1 35-70mm lens. I would like to purchase a 50mm primary lens. Which lens can you recommend me. It's not easy to find a lens that fits on an SMC Pentax F mount. Of course, I prefer to buy a used lens if one would be available and fits on a Pentax SF-7. Or can I use an K mount adopter to fit a 50 mm lens, if this would be available somewhere. What would be the best option to go ? I would love to hear from you. Thank you in advance, Robert Steiginga from the Netherlands
NO -- Your model is different and more advanced with a different battery and DX over-ride -- see the instruction book here : www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_sf1.pdf
The ISO is set by the metal contacts on the Film Cassette -- the 'DX' coding -- there is no separate ISO dial so that makes it difficult to downrate outdated films as I have found.
Hi Pete! I am having some trouble. The camera is not taking pictures but is turning on properly and not showing anything wrong in the view finder or the top screen. Do you know if taking the batteries will rewind the film? I’ve already taken 16 pictures on the film so I don’t want to lose it.
Merry Christmas and a COVID-FREE New Year ! The SF-7 has 'Manual Rewind' -- so when it comes to end of film it just stops and you have to look underneath and push a button and slide the little thing across to start rewind into cassette so NO your exposed frames will be safe ! Keep Snapping -- I just loaded MY SF-7 again for use !
@@theoldfilmbloke Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for your quick response. I was hoping to avoid rewinding the film as I have only use 16 out of the 36 shots left in my film. Do you have any suggestions or is the only way to fix this this issue is to rewind the film, lose the 10 shots I have left, and place a new film in the camera. Thank you again for your quick response!
@@melanievelasquez4777 Melanie -- if camera is not 'taking Pictures' ie -- shutter not working, it may be a shutter Fault which means a Professional Service -- cannot help you any more -- sorry
Hey Pete, How do I make sure the flash goes off, recently I have been trying to take photos in low light and the flash hasn't been going. Please help, love the videos
Hi Blake -- I have been using the SF-7 recently and used it in 'Low Light' and flash worked OK. If you have Camera set to 'TV' and a shutter speed faster than 1/100th then flash will not go off as maximum flash synch is at 1/100th. I use 'Program + Flash' and camera sets shutter speed according to the light then the aperture according to the ASA set and light coming in to camera meter.
There is no way you can 'change the ISO / ASA as it is set by the DX Code on the film cassette -- that is one of the main things I dislike about it when I want to 'Downrate Film' to give more exposure for outdated films. You CAN stick paper over the DX code and it will default to 100 ASA .
I love your videos, as I am collecting film cameras yours give me a great overview, some good info and a giggle! Many thanks, Brett
Another educative video from Pete, interesting as always.
Got an SF7 coming with body cap but got various lenses just need a battery...
Thank you fir video Peter Elgar......
Hello Peter seen some of your mono work on Flikr with this camera and your home brew developers..
Really excellent... Well done mate.....
This is before the Pentax Z-1?
Not sure on the 'Time-Line' but YES I think so
Nice to see you rolling out videos again Peter. Ok camera, great video!
AF lenses of this era were pretty good optically, but the autofocus was lousy. Much better in manual mode. The AF-7 doesn't appear to have exposure compensation, which is the usual way to override DX coding in consumer SLRs.
It has AE-L ( ML memory lock) exposure lock that works with a big spot, so in aperture priority in most cases you don't need exp. comp, AE-L is faster, more accurate and with much more range then any exp. comp. Having that big spot is practicaly better then SF1/SFX/SF1n/SFXn that have AE-L without spot, and when not using AE-L it has pseudomatrix using that spot. And it also has full manual mode and Program mode beside Av mode. It has DX coding from 25 to 5000 iso, more then enough for a camera that is not the top model. If you like 12 iso or push 3200 to 6400, you can have another model for that.
Those CR5 batteries cost £15 in Jessops in the early 1990s. To put it in context you could buy Fujichrome process paid slide film for £5 a roll if you bought them in multiple, in the same era. If you used the built in flash AF SLRs often came with, you could burn through a CR5 battery in two rolls of film! Powering autofocus cameras was an expensive business before rechargeable batteries became standard.
Thanks for the introduction video , it’s really helping me out . Just bought SF7 .
Hello! I've been using the SF-7 and when i had my flim developed, the roll was all blank. Could this be because of the batteries? My batteries are old..
If you were using ILFORD Pan-F film and not had it processed for a long time it suffers from 'Latent Image Regression' OR it could be that the film had NOT GONE THROUGH the Camera -- there is a 'Warning' in the LCD Display if the film has not taken up correctly.
@@theoldfilmbloke I've been using the kodak ultramax 400 and i had it developed after a month. Do drained batteries affect the performance of the camera?
Thank you for your review. I've owned the SF7 since 1991 with the F 35-70 3.5-4.5 and only upgraded to the K70 in 2022. I love the feel of this camera but honestly have never outgrown it & now that I'm into bird photography, I feel I'm at a disadvantage. Not In color science or image quality, but frames per second. I guess I'm a Pentaxian?
Peter, are you sure you are using F series lenses in the clip as they should have a completely different appearance. The ones you're using here seem to have power zooms which featured on the FA series lenses for the Z series cameras!
Paul -- YES they are 'F' series lenses -- it is marked on the lens mount and they do NOT have the 'power-zoom' feature -- Thanks for viewing.
Pete how exactly do you extend a film leader......
a video would be good...
Know it's a basic thing but presume that there is a good way and a not so good way to do it...??
Thanks in advance....
Seen one for sale they say it hunts too in AF?
I am using my SF 7 camera with silver pentax lens from Vietnam a 35-80 FA
Do you know how I can get f stops to read on the lcd screen please.... Peter....
I have now SOLD that SF7 and also just come out of Hospital hence delay in Reply -- Sorry but that lens may not have the correct 'Contacts'
thanks for sharing this with us great video!
Hello Peter, I have a question for you:
I have a Pentax SF-7 / SF-10 camera with a Tokina A1 35-70mm lens. I would like to purchase a 50mm primary lens. Which lens can you recommend me. It's not easy to find a lens that fits on an SMC Pentax F mount. Of course, I prefer to buy a used lens if one would be available and fits on a Pentax SF-7. Or can I use an K mount adopter to fit a 50 mm lens, if this would be available somewhere. What would be the best option to go ? I would love to hear from you.
Thank you in advance,
Robert Steiginga from the Netherlands
To use the 'Auto -Focus' of the SF-7 you need a --#F--' type lens -- I am NO EXPERT on equipment so cannot really help . Sorry
i have a Pentax SF1 is it the same way?
NO -- Your model is different and more advanced with a different battery and DX over-ride -- see the instruction book here : www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_sf1.pdf
maybe i missed something, but is the ISO changeable? i have the sf10
The ISO is set by the metal contacts on the Film Cassette -- the 'DX' coding -- there is no separate ISO dial so that makes it difficult to downrate outdated films as I have found.
I really need help, the film won’t wind
Sorry -- I have never had that trouble -- have you made sure the battery is fresh and in the correct way ?
Hi Pete! I am having some trouble. The camera is not taking pictures but is turning on properly and not showing anything wrong in the view finder or the top screen. Do you know if taking the batteries will rewind the film? I’ve already taken 16 pictures on the film so I don’t want to lose it.
Merry Christmas and a COVID-FREE New Year ! The SF-7 has 'Manual Rewind' -- so when it comes to end of film it just stops and you have to look underneath and push a button and slide the little thing across to start rewind into cassette so NO your exposed frames will be safe ! Keep Snapping -- I just loaded MY SF-7 again for use !
@@theoldfilmbloke Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for your quick response. I was hoping to avoid rewinding the film as I have only use 16 out of the 36 shots left in my film. Do you have any suggestions or is the only way to fix this this issue is to rewind the film, lose the 10 shots I have left, and place a new film in the camera. Thank you again for your quick response!
@@melanievelasquez4777 Melanie -- if camera is not 'taking Pictures' ie -- shutter not working, it may be a shutter Fault which means a Professional Service -- cannot help you any more -- sorry
Hello! Do u know what the yellowish button is for? The one on the left side of the Pentax name. Thanks.
YES -- that is the 'Flash UP' release button . Thanks for viewing.
pops up the flash
Hey Pete, How do I make sure the flash goes off, recently I have been trying to take photos in low light and the flash hasn't been going. Please help, love the videos
Hi Blake -- I have been using the SF-7 recently and used it in 'Low Light' and flash worked OK. If you have Camera set to 'TV' and a shutter speed faster than 1/100th then flash will not go off as maximum flash synch is at 1/100th. I use 'Program + Flash' and camera sets shutter speed according to the light then the aperture according to the ASA set and light coming in to camera meter.
How can I change iso on this camera?
There is no way you can 'change the ISO / ASA as it is set by the DX Code on the film cassette -- that is one of the main things I dislike about it when I want to 'Downrate Film' to give more exposure for outdated films. You CAN stick paper over the DX code and it will default to 100 ASA .
You can't because of DX coding contacts.. only thing like Pete says cover coding on film with white label and defaults to 100 asa....
1988 was year Peter....
The SF7.... Is also known as SF 10 in America.... Same model..... FYI.....
does this camera come with a split screen focus screen ?
Not that I can see as it is really designed for 'Auto-Focus'
THX
thanks for video
i love you
I recently got a Pentax SF10. Currently shooting my first roll.