FA Limited
missing in action
had one but i found the shutter dial extremely stiff... the view through a nikon i also felt was brighter and easier to focus through. but it was fun to use while i had it.
unixrevolution
Well-known
I love my MX. It's my perfect manual 35mm SLR.
I've had an Exakta, an OM-1, K-1000, and various others.
MX. Every damn time.
That is all.
stratcat
Well-known
I own a silver MX. It's a very nice camera: all mechanical, small, very solid feel nice viewfinder, coupled meter and great lenses. You can see your lens aperture setting through the viewfinder.
Overall a very enjoyable camera to use.
Overall a very enjoyable camera to use.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Tony,
I love my OM-1 but the MX is my go to camera for my K and SMC lenses.
I just took mine on a trip to Oklahoma this past weekend.
Here is a shot using the Takumar 300mm 1:4. Handheld. You'd think that big lens would be a pain to use with the small camera, but in practice, it's really fun to use that combo.
I love my OM-1 but the MX is my go to camera for my K and SMC lenses.
I just took mine on a trip to Oklahoma this past weekend.
Here is a shot using the Takumar 300mm 1:4. Handheld. You'd think that big lens would be a pain to use with the small camera, but in practice, it's really fun to use that combo.
Wulfthari
Well-known
Sharp pics, this is not my best, but it was taken last year with my MX:
Self portrait of the camera:
Self portrait of the camera:
David Murphy
Veteran
I've used the 50/2 SMC extensively on a K1000 - a very, very good lens and now inexpensive. I think the 55/1.8 may be a derived from the earlier M42 Pentax lenses, but I'm not sure. The 50/1.4 SMC is popular and sought after - they are going up in value recently too. I know they are very well made physically - light, yet very reliable mechanically and optically.
raid
Dad Photographer
I have an MX with the pancake lens. I also have ME Super Program and Spotmatic F and Honeywell SP. As for other lenses, I have the SMC 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.8. I may have the 55/1.8 too. I also have a 17/4 in K mount and the cheap but great 28/3.5 ($6 at KEH)
keithp
Established
I love my MX. It's the first camera that I ever bought for myself back in the 80's. Still use it. Usually with the 50 1.4 m and the 85 1.4 FA*. I have the ME Super too but prefer the MX.
johnnyrod
More cameras than shots
I found a black MX in a case at work when we were closing down a site, no-one seemed to notice it there. Really nice, every click is precise. Metering on mine is good though maybe 0.5-1 stop too dark. I can't tell you much about lenses, I'm a real amateur! Sample pic using the standard Pentax 50mm it came with, ambient light:
http://www.johnnyrod.co.uk/mx.jpg
http://www.johnnyrod.co.uk/mx.jpg
I got a black MX from eBay a few years ago, claimed to be "near mint." Well, it had a dent in the top cover on a corner right under the wind lever. It bulged the top cover up a bit so that the wind lever scraped, also the dent was on a compound curvature and would not be practical to fix. Otherwise it was in pretty good shape.
So I found another black top cover on the 'bay for $6 that had a very slight dent in the prism housing area, easy to get to. I took it to a friend who owns an auto-body shop, and he straightened out the dent and sprayed the affected area with matching semi-gloss black... no charge.
Then off it went to Eric Hendrickson, who swapped top covers during a CLA, and it's been a great little camera with a story.
So I found another black top cover on the 'bay for $6 that had a very slight dent in the prism housing area, easy to get to. I took it to a friend who owns an auto-body shop, and he straightened out the dent and sprayed the affected area with matching semi-gloss black... no charge.
Then off it went to Eric Hendrickson, who swapped top covers during a CLA, and it's been a great little camera with a story.
chrism
Well-known
Not an MX, but the ME Super is definitely smaller than a Leica:
Chris
Chris
Wulfthari
Well-known
The Pentax SMC 55 mm f1.8 and 2.0 (that today we call "K lenses") are in short of Takumar (M42 or S mounted) lenses adapted to the then new K bayonet, same thing for the 50 mm f1.4.
The F1.2 was a new design that needed the K mount because it was too wide, the SMC M 50mm f2.0 and 1.7 were new designs developed for the "small" M series.
Indeed the M series and LX are smaller than Leicas. I always suspected that the real "Leica killer" of the 60s wasn't the Nikon F but the humble Pentax Spotmatic: while the former is a professional SLR like the Contarex and the other SLRs of that era the Spottie was the first SLR more or less of the size and weight of a rangefinder that could be used everyday and performed as well as a rangefinder.
leica M2 fan
Veteran
I'm overwhelmed by the response to my questions about the Pentax MX. I now know way more than I did before- thanks to everyone going out of their way to help.As soon as I get mine and take some pictures I will post examples. Thanks again!
keithp
Established
Tony, there is nothing to dislike about the camera. As far as SLR's go, it's nearly perfect IMO. Everything it needs and nothing more. Now a days I prefer shooting rangefinders over all but nothing is perfect and together it and a leica make an unstoppable team. Here is a previously posted portrait I took with the MX and the 85 1.4
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Mark C
Well-known
I agree with all of that, but have been enjoying my MX's so much that I've neglected the Leica lately. I think the low cost and low worry factor is part of that, plus the novelty.
I find myself shooting sometimes the MX with 50/1.4 alongside the Leica with 35/1.4, and that works out nicely.
The backward compatibility to screw mount is a nice feature, but I definitely prefer the open aperture viewing with the fully supported K mount lenses. The M 50/1.4 is very nice lens. The wides I've tried aren't in the same class, but still nice enough. I doubt I'll ever find an affordable copy of the great 28 f2, but the 35 f2 is my most used lens in spite of not being up to the level of the 50.
Huss
Veteran
Pan, just clicked on your site for the first time and love it! And it kills me to see how little you spent on some of those cameras..
Clark.EE
Well-known
I have a Black MX on the Evilbay.
50 1:2 lens.
I also have a silver body.
Both work well & have new seals fitted if you are interested.
leica M2 fan
Veteran
How do I contact your ebay post?
Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
Really wonderful camera - as noted, very small and compact. I prefer the all-manual approach of an MX..YMMV.
For sheer elegance it's hard to beat an LX, though. I found one in need of a shutter clean for a great price -- just a wonderfully designed camera. Either one would be a great choice.
For sheer elegance it's hard to beat an LX, though. I found one in need of a shutter clean for a great price -- just a wonderfully designed camera. Either one would be a great choice.