Whats the best Pentax manual camera?

With modern cameras it's only months

How about a vote for the K2 ? That was top of the range in the K and M era.

I didn't use any Pentax film cameras sadly, , but I was always interested in the features and qualities of high end film SLRs, and in the times when they were very expensive, I long wished to possess something like it.

My biggest delight therefore when coming to Pentax (after a chance encounter with a K7 in a shop), was how it offered so many traditional 'pro-spec' controls & configuration possibilities which the competition only matched in a much higher price bracket.

I don't suppose anyone would now describe the K7 sensor as 'pro-spec', although I believe professional quality results are easily obtainable from the model, but certainly many other important features and controls on it (& the K5's & now the K3) do fall into this top category.

Its interesting now isn't it, that most of the discussions about our latest model (K3) & the alternatives within the range, focus on IQ and sensor-related matters, and much less on the huge range of capture management controls, many of which would have been applicable on earlier film-era models also.

If this forum were active back in 1988 say, I wonder what the equivilent detailed discussions and analysis would have have focussed on when comparing the various Pentax SLR choices? When somebody wrote 'the LX is my favourite' I wonder what specific qualities they valued most, and what aspects were most important to each different type of photographer?

It can't have been anything to do with image quality - that would have been determined by the choice of film and 'developing' used - I suppose the metering might have been more refined on some leading to a higher keeper rate, that would have been important maybe.

So I'd presume therefore that the discussions would have focused on ergonomic, ease of use and 'capture management' features offered by the cameras. And also presumably those qualities are still of importance now, both on our legacy film models and also on the latest digital wonders.

Best Manual focus Pentax must be the one you are using at the moment.

Lots of nice cameras and all with their differences but the MX, LX and Super A are my favorites. Small Light and all the controls in just the right places. (Not everyone will agree about the Super A but mine was my only camera for 20 years so it suited me.)

This forum didn't exist then, but there may be newsgroups from the '90s still searchable comparing cameras similarly before digital SLRs became available & affordable.


It was more feature specific than you'd think. Manual focus cameras had different specifications, some had advanced metering (matrix & spot), others off-the-film-metering and the OMT4i had spot metering with highlight & shadow buttons. Some had mirror lock-up and/or could take film winders or variously fast motordrives. Shutters had different max. speeds and sync speeds (and there were even debates about vertical run Vs horizontal run shutters).

Handling was important and the best had big, interchangeable viewfinders with various focusing screen options. Good ergonomics were important and better built bodies had smoother film advance mechanisms were more pleasurable to use (or faster to advance manually).

The camera body could influence IQ to some degree. Better built bodies were more accurately aligned with tighter tolerances. Film flatness (important for IQ) depended to some degree on the size & quality of the pressure plate and design of the film path. Contax used a vacuum pressure plate to try and get it as flat as possible.

The LX has a solid weather sealed body; big, interchangeable finders and screens; a large pressure plate; off the film metering; mirror lock-up; winder/motordrive options up to 5fps (with power rewind) and you could rewind to a specific frame for multiple exposures. It also had a hybrid electro-mechanical shutter (stepless electronic speeds but would operate without batteries from 1/75th to 1/2000th) - at a time when pro's shunned electronic shutters that wouldn't work without batteries.

A lot of the above doesn't really count if using them today. Winders & Motordrives stop working, their NiCd batteries no longer hold charge and the more unusual accessories are hard to find (or expensive on ebay). Some cameras have seen very hard professional use and some of the intricate mechanics seize up, jam or break.

Here's another +1 for the MX - Had to sell a few of my 35mm cameras earlier this year - Couldn't part with the MX though...

The MG is quite an interesting one though... Very good with the M40mm as a 'street-rig'

Nice camera but not that common compared to the others mentioned. The K2DMD is even less common! The KX, however, is a nice alternative to the MX if you prefer something heavier and more solid.

K.

I was one that contributed to this discussion and stated the LX as my first choice from my 3 Pentax SLR's. ? 1988 and the expanded discussion theme. It would run and run technically in it's day. I have a lot of old photography magazines with such printed letter threads/discussions. Simply put for me though is, if viewing a camera 'holistically', it's aesthetic values put the LX way above. It feels like an old friend that has produced some lovely results for me and holding the camera 'just feels so, so right'. I know it's techno capabilities, but a Brownie much loved would be equally as important to the holder if it was so much a loved piece of kit. The LX has cost me quite a bit to get repaired (sticky mirror) and to provide the add ons required (bright viewing screens, handles, winders, etc) but I'd never part with it if it could still be fixed. If I had to seek a camera if this broke down for good? I'd be hard pushed not to simply delve into buying another LX. I can still develop film at home and new technology would allow 'scanning negs' if needs be to substitute the darkroom print. If the chemicals and film went out of production due to digital dominance???.....doesn't bear thinking about really.

No doubt in my mind. The MX was the best 35mm film manual camera I ever owned. The best one I never owned was the LX.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Owned two MX's, a silver and a black one, sold the silver one on here a few months ago, but my black MX will be with me until the end.

I also own a LX, owned from new by my father and then passed down to me, this also I will never part with ever, but if I feel I need to shoot film it's always the MX I turn to.

Tough one.

I would probably say the following:-
K-mount manual focus:-
MX - Very tough basic Camera, with some features
K1000 - Cheap as chips, but built like a tank
LX - Pro model, but ensure it has had a full service.

K-Mount AF
Z-1p - Ugly as sin, but well made and reliable
MZ-5n, MZ-7 - The best of the MZ series models, and most reliable. Neither suffer from the broken cog issue of others
MZ-S - Yes it is another MZ body, but built like a tank and probably the best body since the LX. Rare and expensive.

M42 bodies
Spotmatic F - Has metering, auto on SMC and S-M-C lenses, a lever for other lenses.
SV - A classic, no metering, but a beauty.

Finally the ones to avoid.
MZ-50 - plastic lens mount, cheap build, cheap parts and will break! (I know!!!!!)
MZ-10 - Same.
MZ-5 - Earlier version of the "n", has the same cog issue as the MZ-50


Hope this helps.

For me, in terms of manual 35mm slr cameras, the X's have all you need:

The KX is a slightly better alternative than the K1000 (same size) because it has a nice depth of field preview button, a timer, and aperture window.

The MX cause its so neat and portable,(although I prefer the KX/LX exposure needle to the MX traffic lights).

The LX because it has versatility and is everything a 35mm camera should be.

I suspect a few members have all three! (in black)

It is for a different kind of photography but I also enjoy working with the 645N. Although it can easily and quite naturally be used entirely in manual mode, it is has full auto everything so is outside your criteria. It's also quite a load to carry around and needs large 645 mount lenses - but invariably worth it.

Pentax KX, LX and MX. par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity


Not all in black I'm afraid...

I think the SPF is a good shout for M42 anyway, I am mildly biased as I still have and use my Dad's SPF. Really nice camera to hold.

The Super A is a pretty good camera? I've had a lot of good results with mine. I now have two with winders.......

For AF I would say the MZ-7 as well. Spent a lot of time considering my choice for an AF 35mm and this came out top for the money I had.

My little opinion though is to go for older, the MX, KX etc are so well made and have a very different feel to modern cameras and make you see/think differently too.

The MZ-5n still has the plastic cog that will break over time. Recently i've acquired 2 Broken MZ-5n camera's both had the split cog syndrome! I've replaced the motor with a brass cog one and they go strong now!

I suspect the MZ-7 also has this problem (same time release as the 5n. If i read correctly the problem is only solved in the MZ-6 & MZ-S

To get to the initial topic question, the best camera is the one you enjoy using the most i guess!

The MZ-5n really surprised me, it's just right as a total package. Small light, but feels right in the hands. Good viewfinder (for an AF body +_ same size as the super A) & good vf info!. Simple old school commands (aperture/shutter/av/exposure lock!), still feels like you're in control but with a more modern body.

For the more quality feel body, i would choose an Me super if you shoot mostly in aperture priority or an mx if you prefer fully manual. Both body's just feel right & complete.


The super A shure is! Everything ok with the camera?

Regards,

Adam