Running repairs (Asahi Pentax MX)

Hi folks!

This forum is geting a bit quiet, so (knowing there are a number of Asahi Pentax MX owners out there) I thought I would share some of my doings with you (for what they're worth)

I have been running some film through my MX lately, and have been a little unhappy with the state of the cloth lined, plastic coated cardboard ever-ready case it came with (although the camera itself is in an 8/10+ condition ).

What I decided on -after briefly exploring other options, such as trying to fit it into an Olympus OM case (this could work, using the style without a tripod screw)- was to cover up the spots worn through by thumb and finger contact with glued-on pieces of felt (cut to shape).

Although the result looks a little reminiscent of the kind of winter hat with the furry pull-down ear flaps, it is very functional and extremely robust. I reckon, it will give my ever-ready case at least another 50 years of life! )

It is a shame that Pentax went away from the nice leather cases the Spotmatics had and which last much better. I had been thinking about tarting up some of my M series cases using the boot polish trick discussed in the "Pentax Equipment" forum but haven't tried it yet.

I'd still like to find one of those soft MX cases but they seem rather rare!

Best wishes, Kris.

Boot polish works well on leather/leatherette cases , but not so good on vinyl coated cardboard, as it just rubs off (on your clothes and hands, mostly )

I have also tried plastic-adhering spray paint (such as used by car and aircraft modellers), but found it would not hide the crazing of the surface, nor would it fill in the bits of surface that had fallen off. Covering (the half-case) with suitably coloured felt seems to produce a reasonable result.

I had already done this before, with an Olympus OM case in a far worse condition (the bottom of the half-case was hanging loose and flapping in the breeze).

You can always tell the difference between pros and amateurs:

Pros, worn cameras with unused cases
Amateurs, immaculate cameras with worn cases

I was looking for an MX ERC, then I managed to get my hands on one of the winders. The ERC would be a bit superfluous now, especially as I've taken to leaving the M 40-80mm zoom on the front!

Some of the Cosina SLR cases fit and seemt to survive better than the Pentax version. Or look for a Zhou case for the Bessa R - the early ones were a very good fit for the MX.

I really must find my old MX and ME-super cases including the one designed for the M40-80 !

One day, they along with the cameras, and lenses will appear in the for sale section.

Are there any new cases that would fit the MX?
I tried the one from the ME super (for sale in the classifieds!) and it almost fitted, but not quite.

Some of the Zing or Leica neoprene cases may fit, or this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CASE-PENTAX-MX-MV-ME-NEW-/140401014738?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_...

The main thing to be aware of is that the MX is slightly wider, so cases made for the other M series bodies won't fit. I'm therefore a bit puzzled by that listing saying "MX-MV-ME" as the same case will not fit all three bodies properly!

The two problems I'd have with an ERC now are that it doesn't have room for the winder and that some lenses won't fit. Having bought the winder I'm inclined to keep it attached now, also on the look out for a sensibly priced example of the M 28-50mm zoom but there don't seem to be many about at the moment.

Talking of the 40-80mm I think this is a lens which suffers from poor reviews on the other site. It's a very handy macro lens and I find it very sharp when stopped down, for normal outdoor photography around f8 it's a cracker. If you look at the reviews it seems to be criticised for being chunky or being a two-touch design which is daft - all modern Pentax zooms are like that!

The body case was different to cope - but the lens part was the same.

I would attach the appropriate one for the lens I was using.

The 28-50 used to sell for only £30 on the auction site. No longer, alas....

Carmarthen Cameras have one listed but £70 is a bit much, given I really only want it as a standard lens for the MX (more flexible than the 50mm).

Someone listed a very nice M 35-70mm for £35 a couple of weeks ago, really annoyed that I didn't pounce on that one fast enough. That's also on my wish list to complete my set of M series zooms

Indeed - my 40-year old leather Spotmatic case still looks very good (particularly after applying some black wax shoe polish).

Whereas, my M-series cases have long since been consigned to the bin.

R

I have a 1961 Asahi Pentax S1 (the H1 to Americans), in original condition (including the clip-on light-meter) and Auto Takumar 2.2/55 lens, all in the original leatherette case: the whole shebang (case and handbook included) look as if they have just come off the shelf from the factory.

(I just put a film through it over the weekend.)