PENTAX AUTO 110
The Pentax Auto 110 and Pentax Auto 110 Super are single-lens reflex cameras made by Asahi Pentax that use Kodak's 110 film cartridge.
The Auto 110 was introduced with three interchangeable lenses in 1979. Three more lenses were introduced in 1981, and then the Super model was released in 1982. The camera system was sold until 1985. The complete system is sometimes known as the Pentax System 10, apparently for its official Pentax name, although most Pentax advertising only uses the camera name or Pentax-110. This model represented the only complete ultra miniature SLR system manufactured for the 110 film format, although several fixed-lens 110 SLRs were sold. The camera system also claims to be the smallest interchangeable-lens SLR system ever created.
The cameras and lenses were very small (the camera fits in the palm of a hand easily) and were made to professional SLR standards of quality.
While the Pentax Auto 110 is considered to be the smallest consumer SLR reflex camera ever made, another contender would be the Russian-made Narciss. However, the Narciss is larger in all dimensions and is much heavier.
"System 10 is by far the smallest and lightest SLR ever made."
A custom electronic flash unit, the AF130P, was part of the original Auto 110 system, and was produced until the camera ceased being manufactured. Pentax responded to criticism that this electronic flash unit was too large by introducing the smaller AF100P electronic flash unit in 1980. This unit, however, was never part of the Pentax camera kits and became rare.
The camera was offered in a special edition "Safari" model (picture below), identical to the Auto 110 except for the brown-and-tan color scheme.
The line of lenses consisted of these three at launch:
The Auto 110 was introduced with three interchangeable lenses in 1979. Three more lenses were introduced in 1981, and then the Super model was released in 1982. The camera system was sold until 1985. The complete system is sometimes known as the Pentax System 10, apparently for its official Pentax name, although most Pentax advertising only uses the camera name or Pentax-110. This model represented the only complete ultra miniature SLR system manufactured for the 110 film format, although several fixed-lens 110 SLRs were sold. The camera system also claims to be the smallest interchangeable-lens SLR system ever created.
The cameras and lenses were very small (the camera fits in the palm of a hand easily) and were made to professional SLR standards of quality.
While the Pentax Auto 110 is considered to be the smallest consumer SLR reflex camera ever made, another contender would be the Russian-made Narciss. However, the Narciss is larger in all dimensions and is much heavier.
"System 10 is by far the smallest and lightest SLR ever made."
A custom electronic flash unit, the AF130P, was part of the original Auto 110 system, and was produced until the camera ceased being manufactured. Pentax responded to criticism that this electronic flash unit was too large by introducing the smaller AF100P electronic flash unit in 1980. This unit, however, was never part of the Pentax camera kits and became rare.
The camera was offered in a special edition "Safari" model (picture below), identical to the Auto 110 except for the brown-and-tan color scheme.
The line of lenses consisted of these three at launch:
- 18 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens (equivalent angle of view to a 35 mm lens on a 135 format camera).
- 24 mm f/2.8 normal lens (Equiv. 50 mm). The optical design meant that this was the smallest lens on the system.
- 50 mm f/2.8 telephoto lens (Equiv. 100 mm)
- 18 mm "Pan Focus" lens was a compact lens of fixed focus set to the hyperfocal distance; the short focal length and wide aperture meant that its depth of field stretched from 1.75 m (5.7 ft) to infinity.
- 70 mm f/2.8 telephoto lens (Equiv. 140 mm)
- 20–40 mm f/2.8 zoom lens (Equiv. 40–80 mm). This lens extended for wider focal lengths and shortened towards the telephoto end.