SF7 and ES bodies. Thoughts?

I have been looking at some film bodies, and came across these two.

The SF7 body and the ES M42 body.

Both are in good condition, and even the ES body has had a refurbishment to fix the usual faults. In fact with its wear on the top, now showing the brass on the edges, it looks rather good.

So, have any of you used these two cameras? What do you think?
I even put my DA 40 Limited on the SF7 and works nicely, but with a touch of vignetting, but could be used to effect.

Thoughts?

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Digital - K-5, K20D, K10D, *istDS. Film - MZ-5n, MZ-50, Spotmatic F, SV.
Many lenses both K-mount and M42. Many Bags, Interfit strobes and constant. LR3 and CS6.

I've have one of each (in fact I have a second ES I'll be selling) and they are so different it is difficult to compare really.

The ES is a lovely, solid, metal bodied M42 camera. It doesn't have a self-timer (you'll have to find an ESII for that) and although there are manual shutter speeds on offer (which work without batteries) there is no metering in manual. It works best with S-M-C/SMC Takumar lenses as they allow the camera to use open aperture metering. Older Taks and other M42 lenses without the extra bits to the mount require the use of stop down metering as with the older Spotties. The light meter is surprisingly accurate for an early Av mode camera, and exposure compensation is available. I am extremely fond of my ES, and use it quite often. I have taken to using the black ES for monochrome film and the chrome ESII for colour film. The biggest weakness of both models is the early electronics. Eric Hendrickson in the US has the world's last spare electronics for these cameras. I took a punt on a broken ESII in the hopes he could fix it, and he did. It works perfectly now.

The SF7 is a different beast altogether. It has autofocus, automatic film advance, various autoexposure modes. It is from the "pug ugly" period of Pentax cameras including the SF series and the Z series. The flash is offset near the shutter button and the top of the pentaprism has the LCD display. I have an SF7, SFX and SFXn and they are all fairly similar. Like modern dSLRs they are hard to manually focus with the standard screen although, to be frank, the ESes are not easy either when one is used to the delights of an MX. Despite being plastic, they feel sturdily built. I only have the one F series lens so tend to only use one of them.

Perhaps the biggest difference is the price. The SF series are as cheap as chips and fairly hard to give away whereas a good working ES will still command a moderate price.

If I had to choose one or the other, I would probably go for the ES. Did I say I love mine?

Hope this helps, Kris.

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Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
My website

I haven't had the pleasure of using an ES, but agree fully with Kris' comments on the SF7.

If you can afford both go for it.

As for the DA40 on the '7, I use mine on my MZ6 regularly with no problems, it seems that most of the 'limited'lenses are quite happy on a full frame format...

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Cheers, HG

K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K5+Tammy 18-250, a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.

Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

I've some gallerieshere CLICKY LINK! and my PPG entries.

The SF7 is quite basic. The SFXn is more advanced and originally
had very accurate shutter speeds. (Possibly the SF7 had accurate
speeds as well).

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Pentax K-5 and some other stuff

Algi

Most film bodies seem to sell cheap as chips nowadays, is there any particular reason you've selected these two?

For K mount bodies with bells and whistles the general consensus seems to be in favour of the Super/Program A or MZ6/7 if you need it to use FAJ lenses, for bodies with less features either the MX or ME Super.

It really all depends on what features you want.

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My Names Alan, and I'm a lensaholic.
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I presume he's just found these two going cheap. If the SF7 is very cheap, go for it. I would not want to pay much more than a tenner Who cares what it looks like, although the PZ - Z series is slightly nicer IMHO (not pug ugly, Kris!), and the MZ6/MZ7 is much nicer. These camera feel and operate a bit like DSLRs, using a front 'wheel' to control aperture, which is nice. They have total compatibilty with all K mount lenses in terms of operation.

(On the SuperA you need to change the shutter speed in Tv mode, via push buttons on the top of the camera, to get the aperture to change - which is less convenient. It is a very nice camera though, great viewfinder).

If I found the two going cheap I'd probably buy them both, try both and move the unwanted one onwards to here or eBay.

They are very different cameras, so not really a "which one" choice that has any equivalence.

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Best regards, John

They are both different, but if I am presented with both and they are reasonable priced, close my eyes, I'll get both of them.

Oso

Thanks guys for your input.

I was intending to get both bodies, or at least an M42 body and an AF body what will take non-A ring lenses (my MZ-5n is restricted to an extent- I have to use the shutter speed dial to change the f-stop)

Still, the refurb ES body seems a good price at £59, and it does look good!
Mind you the SF7 is £25! which could be more than the market value. But it is good condition.
Having said that, the same place has a Program-A with a zoom for £50, would that be the better bet? I know it does not have AF, but it might be the better camera.....

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Digital - K-5, K20D, K10D, *istDS. Film - MZ-5n, MZ-50, Spotmatic F, SV.
Many lenses both K-mount and M42. Many Bags, Interfit strobes and constant. LR3 and CS6.

I think the SF7 is worth 25.00, it's just you can find them (or similar SF or PZ bodies) cheaper if you hunt. My PZ70 was a tenner. Use of full Av mode via a proper dial is great.

I think that the program A has no Tv mode, so no control of DA lenses. Super-A or Super-Program is the one with TV mode. Confusing eh?

http://www.rockycameras.com/pentax---autofocus-sf7-slr-camera-999-34001-p.asp

Tell me Pentaxophile.....
I might have a word with the place and try and get a deal for the ES and SF7, and see if they can throw in a a Miranda 35mm F2.8 M42 lens for the combined price. I might even press them for the rubbish 28-80mm F lens currently on the end of the SF7 too......

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Digital - K-5, K20D, K10D, *istDS. Film - MZ-5n, MZ-50, Spotmatic F, SV.
Many lenses both K-mount and M42. Many Bags, Interfit strobes and constant. LR3 and CS6.

Such is the extent of the cameras at the place, and me want to get the one "right" for me, I have since changed my mind.....
Reserved for me whilst I read up and confirm that it is the right one, I have decided on a fairly rare Spotmatic F with SMC-Tak 35mm F3.5 instead.

As for the SF7, well for a little bit more they have a pristine P3n.
So, when I buy the Spot-F tomorrow do I get the SF7 or the P3n? I am leaning towards the P3n but.......

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Digital - K-5, K20D, K10D, *istDS. Film - MZ-5n, MZ-50, Spotmatic F, SV.
Many lenses both K-mount and M42. Many Bags, Interfit strobes and constant. LR3 and CS6.

The SF7 is pretty much an AF version of the P3n/P30n. The SF7 needs the expensive 2CR5 batteries and my preference would be for the P3n (less to go wrong) and the SF7 hasn't got a lot going for it (an SFXn is a different story).

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The P3n (P30n?) is a cracker. No AF, no ability to control aperture on DA lenses, but a great manual body. You really don't need to pay more than 25.00 though, I would expect to pay half that - there are mountains of P30 bodies on ebay and Rocky cameras has about a hundred of them! Someone on this forum gave me mine. Only being able to use DA lenses in Program mode is at least possible.

The batteries the SF series take are not expensive by the way, and last a good long time, so don't be to swayed by that. Especially as an occasional film user. (The batteries cost 2.99 from 7dayshop).

Maybe you should look past what this shop happens to have in stock, define your priorities, and then you can decide on the ideal body and hunt for a deal?