Pentax MG 35mm SLR w/ 50mm lens + manual (serial 7433978) | film🎞tested

The Pentax MG is one of the smallest, lightest, and easiest-to-use manual focus 35mm SLRs ever made. This camera, released in 1981, is closely related to the earlier Pentax ME. It's also comparable to the Nikon EM and Olympus OM-10 in terms of size and features. 

We film-tested this camera (with the included SMC Pentax 55mm f2 lens) and found it very comfortable and we were pleased with its results (see the included scans). We used Kodak Tri-X 400 and home processed and scanned the film.

Like the other cameras mentioned above, the Pentax MG is primarily an aperture-priority camera. This means you set the F-stop on the lens and the camera's light-meter automatically chooses the shutter speed. This aperture-priority style of autoexposure lets you focus on composition (your choice of F-stop determines the depth-to-field; see page 32 of the manual). 

For unusual lighting situations, the film speed selector does double duty as a exposure compensation dial (there's a little calculator under the rewind knob; see page 23 of the manual). We don't love this feature (we wish that Pentax retained the dedicated exposure compensation dial of the ME) but it's a minor annoyance for an otherwise well-designed camera. There's also a dedicated 1/100 shutter speed (for flash photography but can also serve as a limited manual exposure mode) and a B (bulb) mode which holds the shutter open as long as you hold shutter button down (for low light photography and creative effects (see page 25 of the manual). The camera also permits double/multiple exposures by using the rewind button (explained on page 24).

Overall, the MG is a very easy-to-use and capable Pentax K-mount 35mm camera for people who do not require full manual controls. Due to its unusually light weight, we recommend following these handling instructions from the manual to reduce the chances of blur at slower shutter speeds:

Condition notes

The camera and lens (SMC Pentax 1:2 55mm) were tested with film and performed very well. We also verified the camera's performance on test equipment. The camera and lens are in good cosmetic condition. 

Battery and film information

This camera requires two 357/SR44 batteries (available as an option). It can also use alkaline LR44 types. Pentax estimated one year of life for a set of batteries in normal use. 

This camera uses 35mm film. Its metering supports film speeds from ASA/ISO 25-1600. 

Manual

A user manual in English is included but you can also download the manual in multiple languages here.

Specifications

• Type: Full-frame 35mm single lens reflex camera with aperture-preferred automatic exposure.
• Lens mount: Pentax K-Mount with fully automatic diaphragm lens coupling accepts SMC
  Pentax lenses, thread-mount lenses with Mount Adaptor K.
• Standard lenses: SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2, SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4, SMC Pentax-M 50mm
  f/1.7, SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/2, SMC Pentax-M 40mm f/2.8
• Shutter: Seiko MFC-E vertical-run focal plane shutter; automatic shutter speeds electronically controlled and steplessly varied from 1/1000th to 1 second; plus "100X" and "B" settings.
• Dedicated auto flash: Synchronizes automatically for flash with AF 200S, AF160 and other Pentax dedicated flash units via hotshoe at 1/100th second with dial set to "AUTO." LED flash synch/ready indication inside viewfinder.
• Flash synchronization: X-synchronization via hotshoe with shutter dial at "1/100X"
• Self timer: Mechanically run with 4 - 10 second delay.
• Exposure control: Open-aperture, center-weighted, through-the-lens light metering by GPD cells.
• Exposure range from EV-2 to EV-19 (ASA 100, f/1.4); meter activated by light pressure on shutter button, 25 ~ 40 second shutter speed display with automatic shutoff.
• ASA range: ASA 25 - 1600.
• Exposure compensation: Via ASA film speed dial exposure compensation guides to +/-2EV provided beneath film rewind crank.
• Viewfinder: Pentaprism viewfinder with split-image microprism focusing screen; shows 92% of picture area, 0.87 magnification (50mm 1.4 lens), -1.1 diopter eye-piece. Green shutter speed LEDs indicate handholdable shutter speeds from 1/1000th second to 1/60th second, yellow LED camera "shake" warning (1/30th - 1 sec.); red over/under exposure warning; flash synch/ready indicators.
• Power source: Two 1.5-volt silver-oxide batteries, (S-76 or equivalent) or alkaline batteries power shutter and auto exposure systems; LEDs flicker inside viewfinder as low-battery warning.
• Film transport: Pentax Magic Needle Loading System; single-stroke rapid wind lever with 135° throw and 30° standoff angle; built-in shutter cocked indicator; accepts Winder ME-Il and Winder ME for automatic film advance.
• Film rewind: Crank-type. Film rewind button doubles as multiple exposure button to disengage film advance mechanism.
• Mirror:Swing-back, instant return type.
• Camera back: Standard back; interchangeable with cordless dial data unit to be marketed; Dial Data ME also usable with hotshoe adaptor.
• Other features: Tripod socket, strap hooks; accepts wide range of Pentax lenses and system accessories including close-up copy and special-purpose adaptors.
• Size: 132mm x 85mm x 49.5mm
• Weight: 423g (without batteries).