Best Film body to get.

I know the title is best film body to get, and obviously it would be either the LX or the MZ-S. But these are either rare, or expensive.

So, looking at Bojidar's rather wonderful K-mount web page, it lists all the bodies ever made. However it does not really advise which K and M (even P) body is the best without digging deeper, and even then....

So, I am thinking of getting a nice MF body to partner my digital and my AF film bodies.

I want something more than the K1000. It is a great camera and built like a tank, but I want something more than the K1000.

So, which K, M or P body would you suggest?
Is the MG better than the MX? Is the KX the best K body? etc......P30? or P30n? You get the idea.

And if anyone suggests a Z body I shall shoot them! LOL

Did you see this at Bodjiar's http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/technology/topBodies/index.html

I did't, as the tab "technology" is a bit of a misnomer. But thank you.

How about a Super A.
Program, shutter/aperture auto, manual, TTL flash metering. Off the film metering too. Small and light, same sort of size as the ME's. Whats not to like in a former European camera of the year. I still have mine, bought new in the 80's, climbed many mountains together and it never let me down.

Of course someone will bring up the fact that it needs battery's but I think we have got over that old chestnut now we have all got used to digital cameras where the batteries don't last a year!

MX.

K.

For a totally manual body, I doubt you could beat an MX for value for money.

I've got an MG and an MX... The MG is aperture priority only... The MX is just lovely... Of the two I'd go for the MX evry time.

My views and thoughts are on my site Offertonhatter,

LINK

If you find a good MX then go for it, but don't forget the humble ME or MV, they turn up cheap and are easy and satisfying to use. The disadvantage being the auto exposure.link

The obvious answer is ... ... ...
The one that feels right in your hand.
For me, with small hands, the P50 is my favourite of the non-autofocus bodies.
For autofocus, any of the MZ series.
i have had most of the ones mentioned above, and found some were very fiddly to operate (even just to switch on and off) but in the end, you have to hold one (any one) and see if it is right or wrong for you.
Geoff

I like the feel of the super a in my hand, but i prefer to use the mz50. Its cheap, its multimode and its autofocus.

I think the MF body with the best ergonomics in the P30N. Older cmaeras are nicer overall to use but have much worse ergonomics.

My favoured film bodies are the MX and the MZ5n, though (dare I say it) the Ricoh XRX is a close 3rd

If you don't mind the camera also having an Aperture Priority mode, the ME Super is even better value.

Same form factor as the MX. You have LEDs displaying shutter speed in the viewfinder rather than a needle showing exposure, and you push buttons rather than twist a dial for manually adjusting that speed should you so wish. But as far as I know that's more or less it. And they're tuppence ha'penny on ebay.

I prefer mine to my Super A because it's simpler, and because I prefer those late 70s LEDs to the tiny early 80s LCDs. Cost aside I'd prefer an MX to both, but as an essentially free camera the ME Super is, well, pretty super.

Even though I just declared my love for the ME Super, the Super A does have a trick up its sleeve: It can use lenses that don't have an aperture ring. Either in program mode or shutter priority. They need to cover a 35mm frame, of course, but the DA35/2.4 works well, for example.

That said, I imagine most of us strongly prefer the focussing feel of the older, manual lenses. But it does increase shooting options for those without much older glass.

Unlike digital bodies, film bodies have no impact on the quality that you can obtain. Assuming they are in good order, that is. The quality depnds solely on your skills and the quality of the film and lens used.

So, whichever body fits is the one that's best. "Best" can mean many different things, so although the OP suggests the LX and MZ-S are the best, they are not the best if tyou want something small and light. Then the ME Super might be the best. Ando so on.

My favourite is the MX.