The Pentax Auto 110 was a true miniature single-lens-reflex camera produced by Pentax starting in 1979. What made this camera so cool was the wide variety of accessories available including several lenses, two flash units, a variety of filters and even an auto-winder. I've had a lot of fun with this camera. Thanks to its tiny size, I keep the camera, the 24mm & 50mm lens and the AF100 flash in my car.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Pentax Auto 110 features a completely automatic exposure system that does not allow the photographer to select either lens aperture or shutter speed. The aperture blades are mounted inside the camera body behind the lens and also function as the shutter. In this configuration, the mirror serves as a light block to the film. Once the shutter is depressed, the shutter blades close completely, the mirror swings up, the blades open to the correct f/stop then close again completely, and finally, the mirror swings back down blocking out light from the film plane again.

Obviously you won't get the same sharpness when enlarging a photograph taken with the Auto 110 as you will with a 35 mm; after all, the 110 format is half that of 35 mm. However, this little camera consistently produces sharp and contrasty snap-shots. I've enlarged Pentax Auto 110 photographs to 5 x 7 with excellent results. I believe back when this camera was being marketed new, Pentax touted the possibility to enlarge to 11 x 17, but the consensus among enthusiasts is that you lose sharpness when going larger than 8 x 10.

• 18 mm wide angle
• 18 mm wide angle pan-focus (fixed focus)
• 24 mm standard
• 50 mm portrait
• 70 mm telephoto
• 20 - 40 mm zoom lens
• 1.7x focal length doubler (manufactured by Soligor)

• Small "go anywhere" size
• Auto-exposure system usually provides good results
• Adjustable focusable fast (f/2.8) lenses
• Wide selection of lenses and accessories available
• A real "head-turner" today!

• 110 format is becoming increasingly obsolete, limited film selections available
• No shutter lock or guard results in too many accidental exposures
• Double stroke film advance lever

Starting in 1983, Pentax began producing the Auto 110 Super, which featured a few improvements over the Auto 110. These improvements included single-stroke film advance; a shutter button guard; and, an auto-timer.

Both Pentax Auto 110s and Supers, as well as the many accessories for these tiny SLRs, are easily found on eBay today. Like other sub-mini cameras, they also have quite a loyal following on the Internet.