Which older Pentax film camera?

Hello - I am considering a return to SLR photography having had a series of film and digital compact cameras, with often disappointing results. I am reluctant to spend the kind of money required for a digital SLR and so am considering getting an older second hand film model.

Having lost my old K1000 a number of years ago (d'oh!), I am attracted by the idea of getting something similar, but perhaps there are other models that might be equally or better suited to a non-technical user. The array of model names (ME, MX, etc.) is rather confusing, so can anyone offer a handy route map through the options?

Thanks!

There are two fully manual bayonet bodies - the K1000 and the MX - that maight be worth considering. It is not impossible to still find good examples of these at fairly reasonable prices. Of the two, I favour the MX for its more compact body and better LED readout and metering.

Of the auto bodies, by which I mean you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed, then perhaps the ME Super is the one of choice. It also gives you the option of setting it manually vis a push-button system.

There are plenty of other choices that could be made, but to keep it simple then the above ones should serve you very well.

If you use a film a week, you will pay for a basic Pentax DSLR within a year or so. Cost-wise, digital wins hands down.

So, you CAN afford a DSLR if you take pictures regularly. However, if you buy two films a year for holidays, and have no plans to change, then stick with film.

As for which film body, I echo JR's thoughts concerning MF bodies (although I would add the Super A), but almost all the AF bodies are now affordable; the only exceptions being the Z1-P and the MZ-S. Have a look here:

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/

George

Although I mainly use my DS, I do enjoy shooting a roll or on my MX

With a good prime lens and fine grained film I can still get better detail resolution on very large prints; I often shoot film on my Ricoh GR1 with excellent results too. (I expect the K10D to narrow the gap)

I also have the satisfaction that it is bomb proof, having dismantled it to resolder the meter circuit after sea water got in (I wouldn't have fancied my chances with my DS)

I think it is also good occasionaly to make sure you get things right first time with film, eg grad filters etc rather than making good in photshop afterwards. Also MX is a good failsafe backup to the DS

Film or Digital>

Both of course!

Having spent the best part of over 500 euros for memory cards and storage recently - not to mention all the electricity used to charge the batteries for the D, DL and G5.....and run the computer, the 'economies' of digital don't seem so attractive...

If you've spent so much on cards and storage, you must be shooting a lot more than 72 frames a week.

G

I've spent a fair bit on memory cards over the past two years (I've had two SD cards that have packed up) but at least they are now more affordable.

I've just bought an MP3 player c/w 512MB SD card from 7dayshop.com for £15.......less than a year ago, I paid nearly £25 for a 256MB SD card - and that was cheap!

I've never seen them mentioned on this forum so I guess they must be somehow vilified, but I really like my SFX and SFXn. Solid, reliable, big and chunky and their original lenses are 100% compatible with digital Pentax SLRs... you can get them for <£20 on ebay. However not a patch on the MX in terms of allover lovability.

If you really want to shoot film why not look at a 645, prices for film ones will be dropping but they tend to be either immaculate or knackered.

Ken

I have both and agree completely. The AF is perfectly adequate for most situations but the centre-weighted metering leaves a little to be desired - but the same could be said for most cameras of that era!
In most respects, the SFX is a Super A with built-in flash, motorwind and auto-focus and is an excellent low priced general use film camera.

Comparing an SFX to a Super A is like comparing a mule to a thoroughbred. Both good at their jobs, but only one is beautiful.

But strong as a mule the SFX certainly is, and good value.

G

Z-1p and MZ-S are the ultimate objects of beauty.....

I still remember the day I bought the Z-1p 11 years ago.......

Eee when I were a lad I had to build my first pentax out of a handful of gravel and sticky-back plastic...

Sticky back plastic lad, ai.. could tell you was from t' posh end o' town.

We as 'ad to make do wi' paper mache, but wi'out paper, or mache as I recalls it..

Taxi for Liam..

hmm......bet the results were a tad grainy

Many thanks for all your suggestions and thoughts, folks.

I think I might pass on the gravel and sticky-back plastic idea and buy two or three of the suggested models on eBay, see what suits me and sell the rest back again.

I'm not 100% convinced that the cost arguments for digital SLR would work for me, though I'll probably change my mind in a while at the rate the prices seem to be coming down.

Any thoughts about good cheap sources for films and developing?