advice for new zealand drivers, written by linda

Pentax Asahi Sv

The SV body has a solid business like feel to it. You can expect it to survive the rigors of the pro travelling shooter. This is a photographer’s camera.

The SV enjoyed a 7 year manfacturing run, which is a long spell for any camera, selling nearly 500,000 units in that time. For me it's big plus is that I don't worry about it, no batteries, are the electronics going to pass out or so many different settings I need the manual everytime I shoot a frame. Beyond having a good film supply suited to your genre of the day and a couple of lenses - well, thats it.There is nothing to worry about with this camera. There is no battery needed, there is no light meter, the shutter is completely mechanical, All you need is some film and a couple of M42 screw mount lenses. Maybe the legendary Takumar 50mm F1.4 and the short tele 135mm F3.5. These 2 will take you most places but there are many other lens choices in M42 mount.

A good description of the SV is ‘spartan’ - there is nothing to do except set the photography basics – aperture shutter speed and focus. Get these right and you will shoot the perfect frame. The only slightly obscure 'setting' is the film speed.This is not a setting as such being a reminder only of the film loaded - there is no connection to the camera exposure settings.There is a tiny nipple on the ring under the rewind crank. Move this until the ASA setting of your loaded film corresponds with the red groove on the outside of the ring. The photographer must make compensating film speed adjustments via shutter speed or aperture. For example an ASA 50 film requires 4 times the exposure than an ASA 200 film. A landscape shot with ASA 50 film on a sunny day at 1/60th - if shot using an ASA 200 film, then the shutter speed could be 1/250th for a similar exposure. If you are an experienced shooter then sunny 16 rule should suffice but a handheld meter is a useful accessory, The Sekonic Twinmate is easily pocketable - an easy travel companion and very straightforward to use. The 'sunny 16' rule is simple - on a sunny day set the aperture to F16 and shutter to the reciprocal of the film speed loaded or as close to. So, ASA 100 film set the shutter to 1/125. Challenged light scenarios need more definite assistance from a light meter. There is a bit more to the Sunny 16 rule which is useful to know so my advice is to Google and do some reading.
The SV is a camera with which a photographer can build their confidence to gauge prevailing light conditions and how photography's basic rules work together. Used regularly and stored well the SV will last for decades and won't break the bank.