HISTORY OF THIS CAMERA
My professional and private background is all about electronics, audio and 'The Arts' but NOT photography! My photographs on this website will atest to that (I am "learning the ropes" with a new camera, the photographs are the best I can do at the moment)
Recently I have been asked by an associate/friend to 'look after' their collection of photographic equipment and small format film projectors and stock due to his serious ill health and inability to look after this gear any longer. While most of the photographic gear is original, older Japanese marketplace equipment (his country of birth) this camera is from the very well known Pentax stable, designed in Japan but assembled in China.
This ESPIO105G seems to be pretty "fancy" for a point n shoot camera from the early 1990's - nice 38–105mm power zoom lens, infrared active autofocus, programmed auto-exposure, and motorized film handling.
Included is the original carry case, wrist strap and even the manual for the camera. The Lithium battery was "dead" so I found another for my testing ... I will include the 123A Lithium battery but NOT installed as Australia Post does not like shipping items with batteries installed.
There are no returns or refunds offered, this is second hand gear and offered 'as-is' but I do try to give some information in the TESTING section of this description.
PENTAX Point N Shoot Camera
Technology: 35mm Film (Analog)
Model: ESPIO 105G
Released to market 1989
Comes with the original leatherette carry case, wrist strap, User Manual (original) AND the Lithium type 123A battery (3V) but I will pack this battery inside a sealed plastic, it will not be installed in the camera.
NO FILM is supplied - I have no film here and not too sure where I could have it processed in any case ... tests of the camera are quite basic.
Basic features are ...
38mm–105mm F/4.5–f/11 power zoom lens (6 elements in 5 groups)
Infrared active autofocus system with a focus lock and an infinity-landscape mode
Focus Range: 0.65m (2.15 ft) to infinity
Programmed auto-exposure control with multi-zone metering
Shutter Speeds: Approximately 1/360 sec to 1 sec (ranging from 1/2 sec to 5 min in bulb mode)
Film Speed: Automatic ISO setting for DX-coded film from ISO 25 to 3200
Built-in Flash: Automatic low-light and backlight discharge, fill-in flash, slow-shutter sync, and flash-off options
Weight: 250g (Camera alone)
TESTING:
When providing these cameras to me, the owner told me that this Pentax was a beauty, when he last used it! He has a long term health issue and I would say he has not held the camera in his hands for a long long time ... so here we go
Testing limitations: I do not have any 35mm film rolls, which means I have only visually inspected the lens and viewfinder to the best of my ability, inserted the Lithium battery and made sure it powers up and does some basic functions ...
Battery installed, away we go ...
When opening and closing the back cover, I can hear the camera try to wind a film "on"
I turned ON the camera and the LCD display shows 0 (which I guess means "Hey! where's the film") and pushed the Flash button (LCD screen shows the Flash symbol, so the button is "talking" to the electronics) and most importantly, operated the Zoom function and made sure the camera "nose" went right out to become fully extended and also retracted again WITHOUT excessive motor gear noises - all was fine here.
I looked through the tiny viewfinder and could see various indications of what was happening the current setup and also by rotating the small dial next to the viewfinder, change the focus of the photograph in frame.
I noted that NO buttons are damaged in any way, the rear cover locks into place properly as does the battery clip cover on the underside.
Compared to the other 35mm cameras the owner has handed me, this one looks pretty "nifty" in an old school sort of way.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
For a 25+ year old "point n shoot" camera, I am amazed at the condition of this camera and it's carry case. I suspect he didn't use the camera very much AND/OR he cared for it!
USED
Clean - everything is clean! Even the lens and no signs of the dreaded mildew inside!
NO physical camera body or outer external clear case damage at all, not even scuff marks or scratching!
NO cracks to any of the plastic
NO damage to the carry strap
NO pages missing or substantial damage to the User Manual - perhaps just slightly discoloured paper, that's all
The owner had written his name on the manual (only) and I have "whited" this out for privacy. Interesting that he didn't mark his name on the camera, these were EXPENSIVE (in my opinion) cameras back in the day - he told me he paid A$375 for this one!
I have now packed this camera, along with all accessories into a sealed clear plastic package to maintain the present condition and keep out airborne dust.
