Why I prefer a K2 or KX Pentax over the MX

H

Huss

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The lever throw. It is way too long on the MX. I much prefer the throw on my K2, and it makes me want to use the K2 more.



 
I don't disagree with you, Huss. I never really compared the advance lever on my K2 and MX, but back when I could still hold and wind a camera, the K2 was a definite favorite.
 
The MX lever is ratcheted and you can do partial winds. Short double strokes are actually very comfortable and convenient. Keeps the thumb pad in basically the same position as when shooting and maintains a stable hold. Can do one-handed winds.

I imagine the K2 has the same thing- try double winding with short thumb throw.
 
If only all the Pentax film cameras’ film advance were as smooth as the SV’s. The latter is buttery smooth.


Huss said:
Hmm, my K2 is definitely smoother than the MX. Guess that's the cost of downsizing the body. I wanted a KX but this K2 showed up at a price I couldn't refuse.
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p.giannakis said:
If i remember correctly, the winding stroke of the Minolta XD-7 was rediculously short too.
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The film advance lever throw on the Minolta X-500 is also super short. Feels odd using the X-500 and an SRT together on the same outing because the throw on the SRT is so long. Can do multiple short strokes with an SRT though, which is kinda fun.
 
Huss said:
Hmm, my K2 is definitely smoother than the MX. Guess that's the cost of downsizing the body. I wanted a KX but this K2 showed up at a price I couldn't refuse.
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I feel you. I looked for a clean black KX for quite a while and finally put that idea down...for now.
 
The MX looks perfect on paper, but I didn't take to it either. The advance is not smooth compared to other Pentax bodies, and both copies that I have owned had this metallic 'ping' accompanying the shutter. Throw in the stiff speed dial and it being almost too small, and I'd rather grab my K100, Super A, SV, etc.
 
I'm missing something here. Both my KX and MX have the same 170 deg throw. Both allow partial strokes to cock the shutter and wind the film. Neither feel any smoother that the other(am I suffering from tactile dysfunction?). The only difference I have ever been able to discern between the two is the size.

I sold my K2 awhile ago but I never noticed any difference between the KX and K2 except for the metering. I see the K2 has a slightly shorter stroke in the pictures, not sure that would make any difference too me.
 
According to the owners' manuals:

KX:
Ratchet-type rapid-wind lever. 20" pre' advance and 160" advance angle

MX:
162° throw with a stand-off angle of 20°. Rewind crank for
speedy film rewind

K2:
Single-stroke wind lever. 25' pre-advance and 130'advance angle

Huh, look at that. The KX and MX are about the same but the K2 is much shorter! For some reason I assumed the KX and K2 would be the same.

Guess I am really happy I have the K2 over the KX now! And I changed the title to match.
 
It’s always those “little” details people leave out that actually make a difference to how you get along with a camera!
 
Pál_K said:
The awkward placement of " <AUTOMATIC" is a bit surprising. It seems uncharacteristic of Pentax and of Japanese aesthetics. It's strange that the camera was released this way.
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Well, it's right next to the marking for the highest shutter speed, same as on Leica M digitals...
 
Pál_K said:
The awkward placement of " <AUTOMATIC" is a bit surprising. It seems uncharacteristic of Pentax and of Japanese aesthetics. It's strange that the camera was released this way.
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The full wording ‘Automatic’ always looked misplaced, a bit clunky and too large to me, but it was early days and probably Pentax thought engraving just an ‘A’ was a step too far, but it is very easy to see.

Pentax has form for quirkiness or going against the established norm… the solid dots on the LX speed dial instead of zeros; no doubt, though, that the dial is tactile. And quite how they could otherwise accommodate full numbers together with ‘Automatic’ on such a small dial, I have no idea.

Both great cameras.
 
I always wonder a bit when people start talking about the 'smoothness' of various 40+ year old cameras... Have you handled multiple examples? Has your example been well cared for? Has it been regularly used? Has it been serviced? Has it been sitting on the shelf for 30 years?

My serviced MX is smooth as can be. My unserviced but 'clean' KX was pretty rough. Likewise my Spotmatic F. I have serviced and unserviced examples of the OM1n, and the difference is remarkable.

Point being, there seem to be a lot of people commenting on the interwebs who have only tried one body, of unknown provenance and with no service history (not saying everyone here is doing that)...

Anyway, back on topic. I was blown away when I got my F2. I believe it has a 120° stroke.

ediz7531 said:
If only all the Pentax film cameras’ film advance were as smooth as the SV’s. The latter is buttery smooth.
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Swoon :) the most enjoyable advance I've used by a significant margin. The joys of not having a ratchet, among other things...
 
nickthetasmaniac said:
I always wonder a bit when people start talking about the 'smoothness' of various 40+ year old cameras... Have you handled multiple examples? Has your example been well cared for? Has it been regularly used? Has it been serviced? Has it been sitting on the shelf for 30 years?

My serviced MX is smooth as can be. My unserviced but 'clean' KX was pretty rough. Likewise my Spotmatic F. I have serviced and unserviced examples of the OM1n, and the difference is remarkable.

Point being, there seem to be a lot of people commenting on the interwebs who have only tried one body, of unknown provenance and with no service history (not saying everyone here is doing that)...

Anyway, back on topic. I was blown away when I got my F2. I believe it has a 120° str


Swoon :) the most enjoyable advance I've used by a significant margin. The joys of not having a ratchet, among other things...
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In principle you're right, but the two MXs I've had also weren't smooth in exactly the same way. Not really rough, just not smooth. Something uncouples at about 130° and then it's softer the rest of the way. Pretty sure that's not a maintenance issue. Are you saying your serviced MX doesn't do that?
 
I much prefer both the feel and shorter throw on my Pentax ME Super over that of my Pentax MX, however I do prefer the operation of the MX over that of the ME Super. It’s a difficult choice sometimes. Now for silky-smooth wind-on nothing can beat my Leica M2!
 
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