FS: Pentax MX-1 (please read carefully)

For sale is my Pentax MX-1 in silver, by far my favourite compact of all time.

Unfortunately it has developed a fault which causes images to come out underexposed. Auto modes generate unreasonable shutter speeds/apertures for the scene, therefore it is unusable in its current state. It is being sold for spares and repairs. I am gutted to let this one go however I hope the more tech-minded Pentaxian will be able to bring this one back to life!

In fantastic condition and boxed with charger and 2x unofficial batteries. Well looked after in my care, never dropped or mishandled etc.

£100 ono

Does the camera work in manual mode?

I tried to take some photos with green button metering and, although the photos come out well exposed, the settings aren’t as they should be.

I took a photo in a bright room and the green button settings were f1.8, 1/8, ISO 100. Unless you point it at an extremely bright source of light, the shutter speed hovers around 1/40 or slower.

Does the MX1 have an ISO priority mode like the Pentax SLRs, that might be affecting the operation of the camera. I had a similar experience recently with a K5 where the shutter speed would not change with aperture changes, and then realised the camera prioritised ISO.

I’ve tried most combinations in the book and can’t figure out what it may be (light meter perhaps?). In Tv it stubbornly sticks to f1.8 no matter the ISO, auto or manual. In Av, when pointed at a blue sky it’s giving me f1.8, 1/40 ISO 100. No exposure compensation set either, and built in ND is off.

That's annoying! Perhaps a factory reset?

I’ve already tried to no avail! Thank you for the suggestions though, it is much appreciated!

So it sounds like manual mode will work but without green-button metering as that's unreliable and seems to be the source of the problem.

Just a thought, have you checked that the EV button is on 00 and that the built in ND filter is off.

Michael