good used manual camera on ebay?

2 questions.

First of all, what's a good inexpensive manual Pentax camera that can be found on ebay from time to time? I know there were probably many models over the years, and I only know a few of them, from reading about them here, and not much more than the name. I'd like to start keeping an eye out for one, that hopefully wouldn't be too old, and maybe even have some newer options that my SFXn doesn't have. I'm not looking to replace my AF camera, (though I know there are better, newer models for that if I do later). I just want a reletively inexpensive manual camera to play with for now. Hopefully one that takes really nice pictures.
Which leads me to my second question. Did the manual camera's ever come with a depth of field preview button? Mine doesn't have it, though I have read about it. It's not manditory, but would be nice.

fiannor

These days, you could mean a couple of different things by "manual camera". There is the manual camera of the Spotmatic, KM, KX and MX type, which has to totally set by the user. Or you could just mean manual focus and be happy to have auto exposure modes of various types.

The manual cameras that will be most useful will probably be the bayonet fit lens types, all of which appear regularly on eBay at excitingly low prices: KM, KX and MX have DOF preview. K1000 doesn't and has no self timer either.

If you extend this to mean only manual focusing but have auto exposure, then the choice is massive, from the K2, ME series, LX, A series, P series....

If you mention some more specific requirements, we can try to narrow down the choice!

Wow John. Well I guess I don't really know enough what to ask for lol.

Hmm well for starters one that doesn't have a readout like my centic panel. The kind that has the little round manual shutter speed setting.

I think I just want a lighter weight camera with manual focus, manual shutter speed. As for Aperture, manual at least, (but i guess that's standard), Automatic Aperture would be a helpfull option. Exposure modes would be good down the road, and I have seen some of the minus and plus exposure options on some of the manual types, if that's what you mean. I would still like the DOF preview if possible.
The KM, KX and MX you mentioned. How old are these generally? Do they take good pictures? i see so many cameras on ebay, but don't have a clue.

I like my AF camera, but don't want to struggle with the readout panel all the time. It takes both hands to move it over to manual shutter select, and then move it one setting at a time. It is slow. And it is heavy, maybe because of the fast multible shot options which i never use. i would think manual focus would be lighter too, and I'd like to have the longer focal play that many manual lenses offer.

Oops I just re read your post. I wasn't paying close enough attention. So the KM, KX and MX maybe are too manual for what I want.

The Super A is a lovely little camera with lots of exposure options, including TTL flash. To get the best from it you need to use A lenses, but the M and K lenses work fine in aperture priority and manual modes.

Its newer than the M and K series cameras, so MIGHT have seen less use.

The K cameras were built like tanks, and similarly massive. The Super A is the same size as the ME Super, and if you put a pancake lens on it, it will fit in a (largish) pocket.

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/bodies/A/super.html

George

I'd go along with that, good advice from George. Super-As are mid 1980s? If you want something newer, the P30T will maybe do the trick, complete with DOF preview.

Yes, good advice Georgey!

The Super A is an excellent camera and curiously undervalued on Ebay. I would rather have a Super A to almost all other Pentaxes out there (ME Super, MX... etc.), but then I do have a soft spot for it as my first Pentax was a Program A (that too is excellent) and eventually (years later!) I got hold of the Super A and I wasn't disappointed.

Regards,
Simon

Thanks for the suggestions. Yea I saw a P-30 last night on ebay. But i have no idea of the date of most of these cameras, though some look great. I think I'd want something fairly modern. My SFXn is an 89. (though I know that's an AF). I was thinking maybe mid 90's and up. And do the later manual models have multi focus sensors like some of the autofocus camera's I read about? Speaking of that I have one pair of brackets on my SFXn and asume it's only got one?
Also what manual equivilent does Pentax make new at this time that's good?

Ah, Batty, nice to hear from you!

Pentax's best manual camera at the moment is the *ist DS in manual mode. The MZ-M is not nearly as well made.

George

Thanks George, but I should have said film camera. What's a good film equivilent? Is there an isd film version? Not so worried about size of camera. it doesn't have to be small. Lighter than my AF SFXn would be nice, but not looking for a small camera nessesarily.

sorry make that ist, not isd. Guess I should proof read some more.

As for as new what about the ZX-M? I see it's the only manual SLR on the Pentax site. What do you yall think about it? It looks nice.

It's very inexpensive, but does just about what the ME Super or similar cameras used to do at higher prices. Lots of plastic, but with a Pentax lens on the front it will produce superb quality images.

I nearly wrote "it will take great phtots", but it's the photographer that does that!

What was it's predesessor? What are the cons of plastic, other than maybe look or feel?

And yea aint it the truth, I'm lousy and don't take great shots lol.

Wait the ZX-M doesn't seem to have a flash. Am I right?