C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile35mm SLR
Pentax MV-11979
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Pentax K
- Years
- 1979–
- Shutter
- 8s – 1/1000s
- Meter
- ttl-center-weighted-spc
The Pentax MV-1 (1979) is the entry-level body of the Pentax M-series compact SLR family, positioned below the ME and MV. It shares the small M-series form factor — roughly 340 g, under 50 mm deep — and offers aperture-priority automatic exposure only, with no manual shutter override. Relative to the ME, the MV-1 cuts costs further by using a simpler matte-screen-only viewfinder without a split-prism focusing aid, making manual focus somewhat less precise. It is powered entirely by electronics with no mechanical fallback. The MV-1 was aimed squarely at first-time SLR buyers in the late 1970s.
Reference
Find film for your Pentax MV-1
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
ISO 400
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **Battery dependency** - fully electronic; no shutter function without battery. Test with fresh cells.
- **No split prism** - matte-screen-only focusing is less comfortable for critical work; factor this in against ME pricing.
- **Light seals** - foam seals have certainly deteriorated on all surviving examples; replacement is straightforward and inexpensive.
- **Mirror bumper** - original foam disintegrates; inspect and clean before use.
- **Slow speeds** - test 8s and 4s; capacitor-dependent slow speeds are the first to drift.
- Price range: $20–60 USD, typically below comparable ME bodies.
About this camera
The most stripped-down M-series Pentax - aperture-priority only, no split prism, lowest price.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Pentax MV-1 use?
- The Pentax MV-1 shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Pentax MV-1 take?
- The Pentax MV-1 uses a 2x LR44 / SR44 battery.
- What lens mount does the Pentax MV-1 have?
- The Pentax MV-1 uses the Pentax K mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Pentax MV-1 offer?
- The Pentax MV-1's shutter speeds range from 8s to 1/1000s.
- What light meter does the Pentax MV-1 use?
- The Pentax MV-1 meters with ttl-center-weighted-spc.