Pentax MX, cuter than a button

[shadowfox]

Just want to share some test roll shots from the *black* Pentax MX (yes, these shots will be even lamer if they were from a chrome MX )









... sorry, I only have one lens...

[ChrisN]

What lens? I'm guessing it might be a 100mm?

[shadowfox]

Oops, I thought I mentioned it, it's a beat up 135mm/3.5 (beat up as in dented filter rim).

[Fred]

I still have my old *chrome* MX from when I bought it new back in 1981, I could not afford the black version. An incredible compact SLR. I really ought to dig it out and use it. I also have an old ME Super that I got as a backup a while back. I use RFs most of the time so it's not been used for a couple of years now.

[aad]

I prefer my MX to an M Leica, actually.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Fred

I still have my old *chrome* MX from when I bought it new back in 1981, I could not afford the black version. An incredible compact SLR. I really ought to dig it out and use it.

Tony, was the black finish more expensive for a new camera? Black sure carries a price premium for used ones, more demand.

I just received a black MX yesterday, in fairly clean condition but it'll need a CLA. My chrome one just underexposed a roll of Kodak BCN400 by about 1.5 stops, while trying the 100mm f4 Macro. Not sure what the problem is, there...

Nice handling little camera, for sure. Dig it out and use it!

[Ken Ford]

I had a pair of new black MX bodies with M motors that I bought in 1977 - sadly they were sold for Nikon gear shortly afterward when I got my first newspaper position. (All the pool gear was Nikon.)

IIRC, the black bodies were $18 more than the chrome, and not usually stocked by most dealers.

MXes are great bodies - I would seriously consider getting one again!

[nikon_sam]

I was going to guess that the price difference was about $15-$20...
When I bought my two black body MX's...

11-9-1979 Black Body MX $194.95
11-19-1979 MX Winder $99.95
7-12-1980 Black Body MX $188.00
2-26-1981 MX Winder $91.44

No, not a good memory...just found the receipts

Also found...

4-12-1980 Vivitar Series 1 35-85mm $299.95
1-17-1981 Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm $269.95

I had a full-time job, not married, living at home...

[Doug]

And now, Sam, you have a cute kitty to support, eh. Thanks for the antique pricing!

[wintoid]

From my limited experience of antique SLRs (Canon FTb, Olympus OM4, Pentax ME Super, Pentax MX) the MX is the one I like the best. That said, it makes a lovely pairing with an ME Super

[oftheherd]

Originally Posted by nikon_sam

I was going to guess that the price difference was about $15-$20...
When I bought my two black body MX's...

11-9-1979 Black Body MX $194.95
11-19-1979 MX Winder $99.95
7-12-1980 Black Body MX $188.00
2-26-1981 MX Winder $91.44

No, not a good memory...just found the receipts

Also found...

4-12-1980 Vivitar Series 1 35-85mm $299.95
1-17-1981 Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm $269.95

I had a full-time job, not married, living at home...

How did you like the two Series 1 lenses? I found the 35-85mm to be rather nice, if a bit heavy.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by wintoid

... the MX is the one I like the best. That said, it makes a lovely pairing with an ME Super

Danger! Danger! This pairing concept can lead to full photo cabinets... Next thing you know, one ME-Super seems like a good pairing with another ME-Super, and the same with a pairing of LX's, a chrome MX engenders a black MX, an ES leads to an ESII like a K2 calls for a K2 DMD, a P6x7 non-MLU needs a P6x7 MLU mate, and who can resist a pair of P67II or P645NII? Watch your six, as they say in the infantry!

[nikon_sam]

oftheherd,

I liked them both...might have used the 70-210 more...
The 35-85 is heavy and if I recall was a bit stiff on the zoom...Both lenses were of the One-Touch type...
Never liked the lens hood for the 35-85...it would fall off quite often...
Had to send the 70-210 for repairs...the zoom quit working...
As well as they were made back then...they did have a few plastic parts in there...

I gave the lenses to my wife but she has yet to use them...and that was about ten years ago...I know where they are...!!!

[zuikologist]

Nice photos, especially the spider shot.

IMHO the MX with a 40/2.8 is a great street combo.

The MX was my first "real" camera after an Instamatic and an Oly 35 Trip. Still have it and use it, especially for the wideangles. I have some of the accessories, like the vf magnifier, which will fit the DSLR bodies, as of course will the lenses.

[Marc-A.]

I'm very happy to see other enthusiast users of the Pentax MX. I don't understand why Pentax is less regarded than Canon or Nikon; I don't get why the MX hasn't been a best seller either. It is small (smaller than any Nikon SLR), well designed, well built, reliable ... that's a great SLR. And the lenses are pretty good.

Two pictures both taken with an MX+SMC 50/1.7

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Marc-A.

I'm very happy to see other enthusiast users of the Pentax MX. I don't understand why Pentax is less regarded than Canon or Nikon;

Now, now, don't be hasty

Others here may be Pentax enthusiast, but I still like the OM-1 more. It's more robust and solidly built, and the viewfinder is more spacious and brighter than the MX. Also the 135mm lens, while decent, I don't like the bokeh, it's no match for the Zuiko 85mm/2 for portrait.

Now, I don't want to be sucked into another splitting hair discussions, the MX is one cool camera, it took me by surprise and I end up liking it a lot. This thread is for you Pentax aficionados, enjoy

Oh yes, here's the obligatory shot of the camera itself:

[wintoid]

Originally Posted by Doug

Danger! Danger! This pairing concept can lead to full photo cabinets...

Yeah! I hate it when things are lopsided. I suppose the MX, ME-Super and LX would make quite a nice triangle shape.

[wintoid]

Originally Posted by shadowfox

Others here may be Pentax enthusiast, but I still like the OM-1 more. It's more robust and solidly built, and the viewfinder is more spacious and brighter than the MX.

Interesting. I came to the MX after dissatisfaction with how dark the OM-4 finder is (and just generally not getting on with the OM way of doing things). I'd also have said the MX is better built than the OM-4. Then again, I've never held an OM-1 (probably a good thing!).

Here's a shot from last night taken with my MX

[jbf]

Heh, I have a silver Pentax ME. I'd like to have an MX just because i have os many lenses for it. But oh well.

[nikon_sam]

That black body Pentax MX that I loaned out to a young photo student about three years ago was returned to me today...
Current Pentax count...2 black & 1 chrome MX's and a ME Super...

[Charlie]

I was a big Pentax fan in the mid 70s through the early 80s when I was working for newspapers. Bought an LX when it first came out and it was a total piece of junk. Meter/electronics problems out of the box. Sent it back to Pentax three times under warranty and it never worked right. The warranty ran out and I called Pentax hoping they would either replace or repair for free but they refused. I was stuck with it. Am I bitter after 26+ years? Not really, but I vowed then to never buy any Pentax product and to share my experience with everyone I could. That's all a consumer can do.

Hope you guys enjoy your Pentaxs and never have any problems.

Regards,

Charlie

[Doug]

Originally Posted by nikon_sam

That black body Pentax MX that I loaned out to a young photo student about three years ago was returned to me today...
Current Pentax count...2 black & 1 chrome MX's and a ME Super...

Like getting an additional camera, I expect! Nice that the loanee was honorable in bringing it back after an extended loan. Is it in as good shape as when loaned?

So, your pentax count is now an even number, balanced... Interesting, as I have 1 black and 1 chrome MX and two ME Supers (chrome), pairs as usual...

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Hope you guys enjoy your Pentaxs and never have any problems.

Thanks, Charlie! Nothing quite like bad customer service to stick in the memory like a thorn. I've been using Pentaxes since about 1964 and have never had any chronic service problems. Repairs mostly related to misadventure by previous owners (including my wife who has "used up" a few), never any issue with new gear.

Not to say I can't complain about what I think are design flaws... like the ISO dial around the lens mount on the K2 (it gets sticky, hard to change on both of mine), and a slip-clutch in the film-wind takeup spool of an ME Super that cannot be adjusted for tension except by swapping out the assembly.

With about 24 Pentax SLR bodies in 4 film formats (and I'm fond of them all), (oh, and one that doesn't use film) probably normal to run into a few problems.

[JimG]

Thanks' to Doug's fomenting G.A.S. involving Pentax SLRs I was forced to purchase this LX. Much nicer then my Super-Programable Pentax I bought new 22 years ago. JimG :•]

[nikon_sam]

Originally Posted by Doug

Is it in as good shape as when loaned?

From what I can remember...Yes!!!
I was impressed with the fact that the normally brassed corners where the straps mount weren't brassed...I thought they might have been...
Lens cap and manual are back too...
It just might need a little cleaning here and there...