Why I prefer a K2 or KX Pentax over the MX

[nickthetasmaniac]

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?

No none of my MX’s have done that... Sounds odd?

FWIW I wasn’t trying to argue that the MX is a particularly smooth camera compared to some of the competition. Just remarking that gear this old has a lot of variables and sample variation 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

I have noticed wind differences in many different cameras I do or have owned. I didn't find any of them a problem to use, just different. Maybe I too have dreaded digital dysfunction. 😀

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Big Pentax fan here. The Pentax KX is my preference for many reasons.
By comparison the MX suffers operationally in various ways due to over-miniaturization.
The K2 is okay, but I sold mine while keeping the others. K2DMD is a keeper though.

Chris

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Big Pentax fan here.
By comparison the MX suffers operationally in various ways due to over-miniaturization.

Chris

good enough for my friend Pat Morrow to take to the summit of Everest though...

 

[ChrisPlatt]

good enough for my friend Pat Morrow to take to the summit of Everest though...

I've never climbed Everest, but I do use my Pentax MX when I need motorized advance.
The Winder MX is pretty fast and improves the handling of the too-small camera.

Chris

 

[dourbalistar]

good enough for my friend Pat Morrow to take to the summit of Everest though...

Do you have any friends who took the K2 to the summit of K2? 😀

 

[Huss]

I use my ME to take selfies.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Do you have any friends who took the K2 to the summit of K2? 😀

'fraid not... 😎

 

[Uncle Bill]

I had an MX, and wound up giving it to a fellow photographer as a Christmas present. I much prefer shooting with my KM's, KX and K2. That series was just right in my hands in term of ergonimics, Pentax hit it out of the ballpark.

 

[Pál_K]

Just shifting the word slightly would have looked a bit better, like this:

 

[Huss]

Just compared my MX to my ME. Same size, but the ME has a much shorter and nicer film advance throw.
Interestingly, the last time I used the ME I remember how much fun that shooting experience was. Never got that feeling from the MX, and for me it really is all down to the winding action.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

It's thread like this that make me wish RFF had a "like" button.

Chris

 

[Freakscene]

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)...

Back when Fuji B&W film was made by Fuji, I always noticed that my cameras felt smoother when using Fuji film than other brands. I assume the canisters were better engineered or maybe made of something self lubricating. The new Ilford made Acros doesn’t have the same effect, probably unsurprisingly.

I don’t tend to exercise my cameras without film.

Marty

 

[D&A]

Doug Wrote >>>"Well, it's right next to the marking for the highest shutter speed, same as on Leica M digitals..."<<<

That might not be a coincidence. Many years ago during the MX hayday, Pentax USA had an advertisement (I believe on the back page of Popular or Modern Photography magazine), pointing out the similarities between the Leica M body and Pentax MX....such as size and weight and other attributes of the camera body. I think they also compared the systems. Pentax in some small way was hoping to capture those thinking of purchasing a Leica M of that time, to think about their little gem and note the similarities and advantages.

Sort of like when a one of the car companies compares the trunk space of their low price vehicle to a name brand luxury sedan and how its bigger and that rear leg room has more room when compared to another luxury sedan etc...hoping to convince buyers, that their economical car has attributes equal or better than higher priced cars. Of course to those in the know, the sum of the parts of one is not equal to the sum of the parts of the other.

Dave (D&A)
__________________

 

[Rayt]

I don’t use Pentax but the long lever throw of the Leica CL is why I don’t use it.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Pentax in some small way was hoping to capture those thinking of purchasing a Leica M of that time, to think about their little gem and note the similarities and advantages.

That seems odd, since around that time Leica rangefinder sales were at an all-time low.
But I wouldn't put it past Pentax, known to often shoot themselves in the foot...

Chris

 

[Beemermark]

Comparing the KX and MX is almost like comparing fraternal twins. Besides size the MX has a VF with diodes (great in places with little lightening) vs the KX with match needle metering (great everywhere else). The KX has stop down metering, the MX doesn't. The MX is too small for most people to hold comfortably, the KX is too big for most people to hold comfortably. I could go on. I have both and could never decide which I should sell. I like them both. I use both with screw mount lenses and no K mount lenses.

 

[Pál_K]

... The KX has stop down metering, the MX doesn't...

The KX has metering wide-open, all the K cameras do, as they followed the Spotmatic F's legacy in metering. Perhaps I misunderstand your statement.

The strong points the KX has are:

* fully mechanical
* DOF preview
* mirror lockup
* self timer
* aperture visible in viewfinder

The MX doesn't have mirror lockup, but you can change the screen. Of course, the camera is smaller. The MX shutter speed / exposure display is clever.

I chose the KX because it fits my hands. The MX is too small, but I would buy one if the price were right.

 

[Doug]

Pentax in the 1970s had cameras in sizes for several tastes... Small M series, larger K series, and the giant 6x7. 🙂

I have a couple of ME Super, a pair of MX (chrome and black), a pair of LX, a K2 and a K2DMD, two P6x7, two P67II... oh, and a pair of 645NII. And a few scattered others. I like Pentax but haven't had them all; no KX or KM or K1000. Ah, and not to forget "tiny", I have a pair of 110 Auto...

 

[ChrisPlatt]

To clarify:

Pentax KX and MX are capable of stop-down metering with M42 lenses.
Lens must be set to manual diaphragm operation via switch on lens.

Of course both models meter at full aperture with Pentax K bayonet mount lenses.

Chris