ZX-M question

Kimbo,

I do want a more modern automatic, especially for the advanced light meter and other stuff, but funds dictate when I can get it, and I still want an old manual to play with, (and even some of the K series had dof preview, (though probably not as advanced as the later automatics). Unless the digital cameras come down allot, or they reduce film production where it becomes non exsistant, (and i doubt they'll ever do that compleatly with as many owners of nostalgic cameras as their are), I will still buy something like the MZ5n. If money wasn't an issue I'd buy them regardless cause i think the old pentax are beautifull.

For now I just need to know the diff between the KX and the KM before i jump on one on ebay, (which might be awhile based on availability and the quality). I'd love to have a page of the comparison chart on the K's pdf that was readable, Kim C can you get a better one scanned? I just need that page, (or you could tell me the difference). The actual page is small, and it's blowing it up to page size on the pdf that renders it unreadable. it's the only page i couldn't read so far in the manuals. Maybe i can print it out small and use my scanner to enlarge it.

Sorry to always be bugging you guys.

Apologies David, just checked eBay's US site and I must admit that there doesn't seem to be a great deal available but plenty worldwide!

I don't think there's much to choose between the KM and KX but I do like the pentaprism window on the KX (like on the MX) that allows you to see the aperture ring setting.

Thanks Kimbo. I forgot there was a European ebay, i'll have to look at it. I don't mind paying a little more for shipping if it's not too much.

I downloaded both the KX and KM manuals and a getting a good idea of the difference. I understand the "through the window bit" now. Yea the KX shows both shutter speed and aperture in the view finder.
It looks like the advance lever trips the lightmeter on the KX, I like that better than worrying about losing the lens cap which turns it on and off in the 1000, i think. As far as the KM I see it's compared to the spotmatic, but will finnish reading the manual. Kudo's on an awsome site Kim C!

I'm sure there were quite a few MZ series cameras a while ago but not many at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15240&item=7519023818&rd=1

or there's a KX outfit (costly postage)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11720&item=7519662119&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

or this one, says UK only but might be worth asking

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15215&item=7520423316&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Thanks much Kimbo for the links. the MZ5n looked nice, and hadn't seen one at that price, but the bidding had closed. Same problem with the KX I bid on yesterday, as I'm such a night owl i was outbid by 2 dollars, cause i didn't get up in time, (sokay i had only bid 9 more than the one before .
Not much else of either on reg ebay right now so i think i'll do some used long lense shopping there. For starters i want someting for shooting local birds, and was thinking about a 200 - 300 telephoto. Or do i want a zoom? I had a telephoto many years ago with my first camera, (which was a sears honeywell, now i think it might have originally been a pentax with the other 2's stamp on it), but don't know today what's better for birds and wildlife. Telephoto's better but a stuck range right? Zoom lets lets you move between the 2 settings but isn't as good? Some times the camera's come with 2 or 3 lenses, some long. Though the KX I had bid on didn't come with any.

David

KX's are scarce on ebay lately. So i was thinkin of getting a K2. But in the pdf manuals, the K2 appears to have allot of stuff on the viewfinder, (an inner circle with lines, and an outer circle with strait lines at each corner).

Are these diagrams shown in the maual actually in the viewfinder? Because in the KX manual they show none. And I don't think i would want all that in my view.

Other than the Exposure factor of the K2, (which i probably would never use), and the aperture apearing in the KX's viewfinder, their fairly similar, and both have things i want. Most K2's I see are cheaper than the one or 2 KX I have seen. I thought the K2 was the most advanced of the K line?

Hi Fiannor,
I think the world has got wise to the KX at last. 6 months ago I bought a near mint one with 1.8 lens in one the the larger camera chains for £80. The same branch has just got another one in which is very well worn body only and they are asking £120. Most of the older gear is dropping in price but this is one of the exceptions.

The finder of the K2 is almost identical to the KX but it doesn't have the Judas window. The prices on these have dropped and they used to be quite expensive. I think one of the reasons is that it has an electronic shutter and is therefore "battery dependant". Many people go on about losing shots because of batt failure etc. Personally, I have never lost a shot for this reason in 30 years. Mind you I have lost several because I lost count of the frames and ran out of film at the critical time or forgot to wind on If you do go for the K", be wary. They are more prone to problems than the other K's and are more difficult to get fixed. One common problem is the ASA setting dial which becomes sticky. It is awkward to set at the best of times and near impossible if it gets gummed up.

There's a black KX here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7522204806&fromMakeTr... I don't know what your budget is but if you get stuck, send me a PM and I amy be able to help.

Kim

Thanks for the info Kim C.
I was concerned that the K2 had all those diagrams in the view finder, but there's enough in what you said that gives me other reasons. I like the idea of not needing a battery, (maybe it's a post apocyliptic image of me taking snow pictures during a nuclear ice age lol). Anyway i didn't know the K2 was battery dependant, and thanks for the head up on the dial info.

There are 2 all black KX's on ebay right now. The one you showed me is a recent offer, but has more wear than i want. The other seems pretty nice but the photo's are slightly out of focus, which could obscure it's actual condition a bit. And I really want one of the silver and black ones. I had an option the other day and should have bid allot more. I just need to be patient. But I think now it's a KX or nothing.

Thanks much for the help, and the offer. That's real nice of you, but I can afford it, i'm just picky. The guy that was selling the KX i lost on gave me some tips afterward. One was to find one cosmetically that i want, and send it in to be re furbished inside. I think he's a friend of yours. He was very cool.

If you need the name of a very god Pentax camera tech in the US, I can supply a name. I haven't used him but I have heard nothing but praise for him from people I trust.

Kim

johnriley suggested that the classic was the MX.

I would step back to the Spotmatic. I have several that have been CLA'd and brought up to snuff. I have noticed very little difference between images made with the Spotmatic's comparatively crude metering system and images made with the new Voigtlander Bessa R's TTL metering system. Just that the stop-down moment for metering is a bit annoying with the Spotties, but once you've got a baseline meter reading, you don't have to meter every frame.

As I've never owned any Pentax cameras later than Spotmatics I can't comment on the nature of metering improvements in later models.

I am currently contemplating the purchase of a new Pentax digital SLR, and I hope my collection of wonderful M42 lenses can be adapted to it.

Hi Ted,
Nice to see you over here as well as on the Spottie group. The M42's will work on the D and DS with some limitations. You need one of the later software upgrades and it can be a bit fiddly. If you look through the threads, it has been discussed a couple of time.

Regards
Kim

Thanks for the info, Kim. Noticed you on this site the other day.

Actually, when I first read your posts on the Spottie group, and saw that you lived in "Lincoln," I thought it was Lincoln, Nebraska. Then I noticed syntax and spelling variations and realized I was several thousand miles off the mark.

I assume if I were to purchase a Pentax digital SLR, the "Later software upgrades" would be easily obtainable?

The "fiddly" part is mildly off-putting, but I suppose it's like most strange encounters in the wonderful world of photography, fiddle long enough and you get it figured. Like my first film loading experience with a FED 2.

Ted

It's not much more fiddly than the system you're used to. The only real difference is that the auto diaphragm doesn't work, so you have to take the picture in stopped down mode. Not great for action shots, but fine for static subjects.
One other problem is that the auto-manual lever goes under the low overhang of the pentaprism, and can be awkward to operate if you have big fingers.
G