Pentax MX Users

I've just recently decided to have a go with film - thanks to hefty he pretty much made my mind up and went for this Pentax MX from Ffordes - i'm so impressed with it you wouldn't believe! I've not owned or used a film camera of any sort, although i've had some expereience with digital and using the manual features but thats it.

I've almost gone through my first roll of film this evening taking some test shots, going to get them processed tomorrow, looking forward to it I suppose I can't say too much yet as I haven't seen what the pictures will turn out like, but as a camera to use and hold I think its something a bit special.

I'd like to hear from other people who use this camera and what they think of it - I can see why it seems ot have a good following

I've included a link so you can have a look at it if you want : link

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR

Nice. That is how mine was born too...with the M 1.7 atached ! Classic pentax camera.

Manual here if you dont have one. http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/mf/mfmanuals.htm

password is Pentax

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Peter



My Flickr page

Thanks for that do you still use yours?

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR

Sad to say I have not used it seriously since I went digital.

I have run a film through it recently after having the foam replaced to make sure it was all working. It was.

I have had it for 28 years and get it out at least once a year to run the shutter at all speeds. If you are heading out to the middle of nowhere and want to take a backup camera it is ideal. It will work perfectly without a battery (no meter of course).

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Peter



My Flickr page

Fab camera - I loved mine and kept it for years until it required an uneconomic repair to the shutter. You will be spoiled by that bright FF viewfinder though!

There's not a lot to say as it's so simple to use, but just in case you've not read it yet you should be able to get the mirror up by giving the shutter a quick sharp jab, which can be useful for reducing shake on long exposures. Give it a try when there's no film in the camera.

If you're using negative film you'll find that it's rather more forgiving of minor exposure errors than digital, and the centre weighted metering of the MX is pretty good. One thing to check is the light seals, which Ffordes may well have replaced. If not, and if they appear worn and gunky, look up "Interslice" (based in the US) who supply superb kits to do it yourself. It's an easy job.

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Jon

Some occasional random stuff at The Photographers Block: link

I forgot to mention the light seals!

You'll see when you get your photos back whether there were any light leaks and if there were then you'll need to replace the seals. Like Jon I also use Interslice foam and the whole job is relatively cheap (around £5-6 including postage from the USA) and straightforward.

If the camera has the original foam it'll almost certainly need replacing, otherwise it'll need doing about every 10-15 years or so.

Other than that (which to be fair applies to all cameras of that vintage) it's hard to know where you can go wrong with an MX

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Joining the Q

Forgive my stupidity but I'm not sure where the light seals are located from what i can see, the inside of the camera looks in good condition. I can see foam but it doesn't seem old.


That's the first thing that impressed me... looking through it! i was quite surprised


It does seem very well made, I cant imaging it breaking lol

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR

There are strips of foam around the film door; some very thin ones hidden in the channels top & bottom, and some wider ones at the hinge end. There's also foam around the focussing screen which you can see when you take the lens off. In addition there's foam underneath the top panel but that rarely gets changed and shouldn't make much of a difference.

You'll know if it's gone off 'cos it'll go into a sticky gloop that leaves black inky marks on your fingers when you touch it - clearing the old stuff off is a messy job!

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Joining the Q

Right i'll check that tomorrow then, i've got no sticky gloop anywhere that I can see anyway and the foam around the focusing screen appears ok, just like ordinary foam - non gloopy lol so I hope its ok

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR

If it's been in regular use then it will have been changed at some point, the real problem is when you get a camera that's been sat untouched for a while. They will need changing at some point in the future (all foam breaks down eventually) but that may not be for years yet with any luck.

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Joining the Q

I'll take some pictures of the foam tomorrow and see what you think, i'll post them on here once I figure it out lol

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR

Ah here we go lol

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR

Nice looking example of one of my favourite Pentaxes! As for the foam, if it's not sticky and horrible or dry and disintigrating then it's OK.

There is also a strip of foam that cushions the mirror as it flies up and that too should be checked out.

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Best regards, John

Its very likely that ffordes replaced the foams, no?
I've got one too and its a great camera.
Not all MXs can do MLU, but mine does. I just force my index finger against my thumb (kinda like doing the ok signal the divers use), this makes a spring like action, when you release the thumb, the index hits the shutter button at very high speed, locking it up.

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TWAPSI Blog

I've just got back with the prints from my first roll, there doesn't appear to be any ligh leaks! I'm really pleased - they look completely different to digital prints

Will post some on here later on. A few of the shots have some little white marks on them - I don't know if this is the camera, the film, or the development?

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Neil Richardson

Pentax K-5, 18-55mm DA WR