Butkus camera archive — 1999 Archive snapshot

Chinon, Ricoh and other K-mount cameras                                   http://web.archive.org/web/19991114220811/http://butkus.org/chinon/chi...





                                             (under constant change, please help add stuff
                                          I'm looking for manuals or copies or your tips and tricks
                                                                 to assist others)




        Check here for the "Official" Chinon site which now has basically nothing except software for digital cameras.

        Other places to check

              Pentax camera FAQ, camera repair FAQ and other items
              Other information about K-mount cameras
            Even more on K-mounts
             The ultimate K-mount camera list
               Information on K-mount lens mounts





        Ricoh XR-P (another K mount show with frames) XR-P in one page

        Ricoh KR-10m  Ricoh KR-30sp  ..





            I first picked up a Chinon camera in May, 1997, a Chinon CP-5 dual program.  I was at a camera store and they had a
        100-500 Samyang (PK-A/P)zoom lens.  I picked up the camera for $95 and it had a two auto programs so it would work with
         the 100-500 by just point, focus and shoot. A K mount A/R lens works with both Pentax and Ricoh in program modes.  I
         took that camera set to vacation and the zoom works great on the beach.
         Information on the CP-5 camera will follow as well as the type of lenses that work on each.

       My next discovery was in September at another camera store near work. A Chinon CP-9AF.  It was in perfect shape. It
       came with the traditional 35-70 macro AF lens (metal case too).  It also came with a manual.  It takes 4 AA batteries or the
        $12.00 - 6v battery for the built in motor drive and camera operations. Also included in this deal was the S-120 flip up flash
        and original manual. All for $175. In reading the manual I find that there is a 70 - 210 zoom and AF-S280. Something to
         look forward to finding. The AF function works well in bright situations... in darker lighting an AF light on the camera can
         help assist but you can forget the very dim situations (as with other AF cameras). The built in flash charges when flipped up
        and sets the camera to 1/60 to 1/100 sec. This flash will also work as "fill in" lighting up to a point. The battery power for the
          flash comes from the camera. The camera has a square program changer by the shutter and a LCD for the information on
          battery power, manual/auto focus, distance to subject, number of exposures taken and program mode. By the shutter two
         buttons allow you to use AEB (Automatic Exposure Bracketing) and RESET the camera back to normal program. The
          shutter on/off switch allows single, continuous and multiple exposures. Two up down buttons allow shutter speed and
         aperture changes in Automatic and manual modes. This camera has many features taking 77 pages in the instruction manual.

                                         BASIC FEATURES




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Chinon, Ricoh and other K-mount cameras                                   http://web.archive.org/web/19991114220811/http://butkus.org/chinon/chi...


          The Chinon CP-9AF is a well built camera, with metal lens mounts on both ends. The lens is also made with metal tubes.Close
         This makes it a bit heavy, but what can I say.  It is auto load, automatic advance with auto ISO selection. The square
        program selection allows easy Auto,                      anual. With Program mode you can choose one of three:        Help
        Program, that gives the same priority to aperture and shutter speed.
        Pc, mode allows the aperture to close more allowing more depth of field.
        Pa, mode more preference is given to the shutter speed for action shots.
       Any of these exposures can be locked by a button on the front by the lens, the mode will flash in the viewfinder until a
          picture is taken or that button pressed again. Each of the modes you selected can be seen in the viewfinder. You can also
        view information on the LCD panel. Aperture information is not in the viewfinder but on the LCD as is distance to your
         focused object.
       Manual mode, shutter speeds are changed by the Up/Down bar and aperture settings are changed by holding the front
        bottom right exposure lock button and pressing the Up/Down bar.
        Automatic, the shutter speed it chosen by the camera as you choose a F-stop. Now the F-stop selection is the Up/Down
          bar. This is how you will use non-program PK lenses.
        Bulb.. yes it eats batteries as the battery holds the shutter open.
        Those are the basic functions.
                                           LENSES

       Any Pentax lens (PK) will fit your camera... but you will have to go to A (automatic) mode without a PK-A lens... You will
        have to press the shutter a bit and then turn the F-stop on the lens.. the shutter speed will adjust to match the correct
         exposure. Make sure the shutter speed is fast enought to stop the action and camera shake.
         This does get confusing but here it goes:
     A contact on the camera body mount (facing camera mount on bottom left, right next to screw) sends information to a PK-A
          lens with a matching pin on the mount. As usual there are two types of program lenses. The Pentax and Ricoh lenses. Each
         with a pin in a different area.

       PK-A: That is a Pentax K mount with a matching pin on the lens to match the Pentax A mode. They call it A for
        Automatic mode. Put the F-stop on the lens to A... it should lock in that mode. If you have a PK-A lens... It should say "A"
          in red on the lens by F-22/32.  If you have an PK-A, turn on the camera.. lens to A and press P to choose whatever Program
        you want. In the viewfinder you should see P in the upper left. Press P again and you should see Pa in the viewfinder....
         press P again and it should change to Pc... It this happens, the lens is a PK-A. The A mode on the lens should lock (some
          lenses just click.. some have a button to lock it in and out of the A mode).

       PK-R: Ricoh (also using the K mount) but the pin for the lens info (facing the camera mount) on the bottom right. They are
          called PK-R or PK-P (R for Ricoh or P for Program, the word that Ricoh uses).
         Since Tamron, Vivitar and other NON-OEM companies didn't want to make yet another lens for each of these cameras they
           call them PK-A/R (A for Pentax and R for Ricoh) or PKA-P lenses with the P for Ricoh's Program. Those lenses will work
          fine on both cameras (Ricoh, Pentax and Chinon) It's very easy to tell with the lens in hand... It should have BOTH the P
        and A on the F-stop setting. Check the lens and they will have BOTH pins (bottom left and right).

        There are a few (a real few) Ricoh only lenses (PK-R)... this would not work in program mode on a Chinon or Pentax.

                                NEW LENSES

        Not to really confuse you... I have been told... If you want a new lens.. the Pentax auto focus lens will also fit and work on a
        Chinon in program mode!... you just have to manually focus.
        Should you ever "move up" the lens will work on any Pentax AF camera. The Pentax AF lenses will be harder to focus as
         the focus part is only on the very tip of some of the lens. Check it out.
        The other universal lens makers do make new lenses that are PKA-R. They will work in Program and Automatic mode.
       Make sure the store will guarantee that without "re-shelving" fees. Usually the Ricoh cameras have this problem as most
          lenses are PK-A, not the dual A and R / P pins.

                                 SPECIAL ITEMS ON THIS CAMERA

          The Chinon CP-9AF and CP-7M, seem to be the same camera.  It seems the 7M is just not Autofocus and has a different
         switch by the firing button.
      AE lock: By pressing the front button by the lens when in A, P, Pc or Pa mode you can lock the exposure (when exposure
         readings are being taken) and still maintain slight pressure on the shutter. The shutter speed in the view finder will flash


2 of 3                                                                                                               3/24/2012 11:49 AM

Chinon, Ricoh and other K-mount cameras                                   http://web.archive.org/web/19991114220811/http://butkus.org/chinon/chi...


         while locked.                                                                                                                              Close

       AEB: (Automatic Exposure Bracketing) By pressing the AEB button, on the LCD 3 small covering squares will appear.                                                                                                                                                            Help
         Pressing the shutter three separate times (single shot mode) or holding it (continous mode) will expose the shots as one
         normal, one stop over and one stop less.
       You can't do this with flash exposure.

       Time Exposure: You can take long exposures in BULB by using the time exposure mode. Up to 90 minutes can be set (this
         uses battery power). A variation of this feature allows it to be used as a self timer up to 90 minutes. Select either B or a
          regular setting, press the TIME button and hold it while pressing the Up/Down bar to change the amount of time it states on
         the LCD. Remember AF many not work correctly, so turn it off. You should be able to use the auto exposure lock with the
         bulb or self timer. When you press the shutter the LCD will display time left.




        Chinon AF-S280 flash.  I found this new in a box at a camera store in NJ. They use to sell the Chinon cameras and still have
         a few. The store still wanted $79. for it. When I asked to see it I asked the sales person for the "used" flash they had. "Oh,
       we don't have used flashes" they said.  I told them I was sent by their other store and the reply was "Oh, the NEW flash"
          (that hasn't been sold in 9 years!)




                                     Check the sites below for other K-mount cameras

                                         This Pentax Users Ring site owned by Michael Butkus.
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