PANDA
There were actually FOUR Panda cameras -- much to everyone's surprise. Maybe it's better to say there
was ONE camera and FOUR models! They may look the same but there were changes over time. None of these
cameras were inscribed with a model designation, but they had a serial number on the back which probably can be
used to distinguish them. Consequently we have created our own designations in order to bring some order.
It's best to distinguish them based on their appearance, as shown below, as opposed to trying to distinguish
them based on their features. They all feature a mirror lock-up switch, and have a cold flash shoe with two flash
connections on the film rewind end of the camera -- marked X and FP.
Panda (model A)
The original model has a Panda icon inscribed on the top of the pentaprism with two Chinese characters (probably meaning "panda" and "bear") on the front of the pentaprism. The word "PANDA" is written in red script under the shutter release button. It sports a unique "slide-in/out" film rewind crank instead of the common "flip-over" style. It made its first appearance around 1972 with a motor drive option on the bottom -- suggesting that its "guts" were modeled after the Minolta SR-2.
Serial numbers appear to start with "XM-3..." but who knows, there probably were earlier models (prototypes?) marked XM-1... or XM-2.
Panda (model B)
On this model, the panda icon has been removed from the top of the pentaprism, but it still has the two Chinese characters on the front. Also, the "PANDA" is still in red but now it is NOT written in script. Perhaps the serial numbers were marked XM-4... and XM-5.
Panda (model C)
It still has the two Chinese characters, but "PANDA" is now in black. Serial numbers start with XM-6.
Panda (model D)
On this final (?) version of the Panda, the motor drive option has been removed. It's really no big deal since no motor drive was ever produced. Also, it dropped its unusual "slide-in/out" film rewind crank in favor of the traditional "flip-over" style, and the shape of the self-timer lever was changed slightly -- looking more like the Minolta lever.
The serial numbers also start with XM-6 -- like the lenses:
| Shutter | Shutter speeds |
Flash synch speed |
TTL meter- ing? |
ISO settings |
Auto expo- sure? |
AE lock? |
View- finder info |
Flash shoe |
Sensa- switch? |
PC plug? |
Multi- expo- sure? |
Cable release plug? |
Stop down button? |
Self timer? |
Mirror lock-up? |
Motor drive option? |
Battery used for |
Film indicator |
|
| Panda (model A) | cloth, horizontal |
1-1,000 B |
1/60 | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | None | Cold | N/A | X/FP | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N/A | In shutter speed dial |
| Panda (model B) | cloth, horizontal |
1-1,000 B |
1/60 | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | None | Cold | N/A | X/FP | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N/A | In shutter speed dial |
| Panda (model C) | cloth, horizontal |
1-1,000 B |
1/60 | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | None | Cold | N/A | X/FP | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N/A | In shutter speed dial |
| Panda (model D) | cloth, horizontal |
1-1,000 B |
1/60 | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | None | Cold | N/A | X/FP | N | Y | N | Y | Y | N | N/A | In shutter speed dial |