In 1977, Pentax introduced two compact 35mm SLRs, the MX and the ME, after the Olympus OM-1 presented in 1972 had introduced a new trend for compactness in SLR cameras.
The Pentax ME was succeeded in 1979 by the more advanced ME Super and the simpler Pentax MV. The differences were the following:
- no shutter speed display in the finder
- no winder attachment
- no exposure corrector
- no winding indicator
- no self-timer
- no shutter lock
- no sync plug
- no memo holder on the back
- ASA range from 25 to 1600
- additional contact in the hot shoe for dedicated flash
- 0.85x finder
The Pentax MV was an aperture priority automatic camera, with an electronic focal plane shutter from 1s to 1/1000, synchronized at 1/100. The shutter curtains were metal and had a vertical movement. There was no shutter dial, and the camera could not be used in manual mode, except for B and 1/100 exposures. The exposure meter was of the standard TTL open aperture center weighted type. It was activated by a slight pressure on the release button.
The Pentax MV had a 0.85x viewfinder, covering 92% of the field. The finder screen was fixed, with a split image image and a microprism ring in the center. Neither the shutter speed nor the aperture was displayed was displayed in the finder.
There was a self-timer and a hot shoe on the top of the prism with an additional contact for dedicated Pentax flash units. The selector around the release button had three positions: Auto, 100X (1/100, X sync) and B. The Pentax MV could not attach a winder or motor drive. It could use the Dial Data ME databack with an adaptor to slide in the hot shoe, or the later Digital Data M databack via a cord adapter and the hotshoe adapter.
The lenses were interchangeable with the K bayonet mount. Together with the M series was introduced the SMC Pentax-M series of compact lenses.
The Pentax MV only existed in black finish.
It was followed in 1980 by the improved Pentax MV1.
Links
| Pentax K mount SLR Cameras |
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| K2 | KX | KM | K1000 | MX | ME | ME Super | ME-F | MV | MV1 | MG | LX | Super-A | Program-A | A3 | P30 | P50 |