To be fair the Canon made before their EOS were not that great. Too complicated and not very reliable. But they have made great improvements since the EOS due to the fact they swiched electronic interfacing. I like Pentax too but I never can like an auto focus Pentax SLR.
I think it's great that you found something you're happy with. Of course, every brand has its fans and all cameras have their pros and cons. I'm very happy with my Nikons(FMsFEs,N70 and D800) plus all the lenses. Mostly love their exposure accuracy and the lensquality,; but horses for courses.
Earlier this year, I bought an SV and am really enjoying that one as well. The camera shows almost no wear and has been a joy to shoot. It's a bit of a relief to shoot a 60s era camera with zero thought about whether or not the meter is accurate. It came mated with a Super-Takumar 50mm f1.8 lens that has that nice, radioactive amber cast to it. It's like finding a 64 Barracuda that had never been driven and was properly stored.
If you mean the 55mm f/1.8 Super Takumar lens, the ones in the 1971 era did have at least one thorium element. My wife's 1971 Spotmatic included such a lens. It has amazing resolution. I do not know if the thorium formulation extended into the production of SMC lenses in 1972 or 1973. I have a late 55 1.8 SMC that has remained clear, so no thorium element.Did not know that the 50 1.8 has a thorium element.
My first camera was a Canon A-1 bought in about 1980. Every camera I've bought before 2024 was a Canon. When I got back into film photography, I bought an F-1N to replace my original A-1, which I had given to my youngest son. I bought a flurry of Canon's last fall with 2 FX's, 3 FTs, 3 FTbs, another F-1, AL-1, T-70 and 8 A-1s. I do like Canons.
In January of this year, I spotted a decent looking Pentax Spotmatic IIA in the inop camera bin at the local camera shop for $10. I bought it and fixed it but was not overly impressed at that time. Then, I saw a black KX in the bin on one trip and it had beautiful brassing, so I thought that it needed saved. I did a CLA on it and very quickly came to like how it shot. After that, I picked up another Spotmatic, 2 MXs and an SV and I have to say that I love every one of those. My go-to camera for every day use is now one of the MXs with the KX stepping in from time to time. The MX usually sports a 40mm f2.8 Pancake which is a really nice combination. The SV and Spotmatics are generally shot through some beautiful old Takumars. The KX generally carries an f1.4 50mm SMC that I really like. My camera cabinet may be a radioactive hot spot between all of the Pentax and early Canon glass.
I'm actually a bit soured on the Canon's right now after the Pentax experience. All of the Pentax cameras have been beautifully reliable after a basic clean and lube with fresh light seals. Most of my older Canon's have needed shutter capping issues addressed before joining the active shooter group. BTW, I need to find a better name for the camera's that I actively shoot. My early F-1 has had issues despite sending it out for a professional CLA in frame spacing and recently, a mid-roll film jam that required unloading and reloading in a darkroom. The new F-1N just went down last week too. I thought it was just due for a battery but I find that with a battery installed, the camera is completely dead. With a battery removed, I have the standby 1/60 shutter speed working. I have not opened that one up to diagnose what went wrong. It's had about 15 rolls of flawless performance since I added that and I've always considered it to be my go-to for times when I really need to have a working camera.
Faith in Canon's has taken a hit. The pure reliability of the all mechanical Pentax's I own gives me a level of confidence that I've lost in my Canon's. I still love my fleet of A-1s and I really do enjoy shooting them, but truth be told, it's the MX that gets the nod most of the time now.
Did not know that the 50 1.8 has a thorium element.
For example—Canon lenses turn the wrong way when focusing and setting aperture. My Pentax, Nikkor, and Bronica lenses all turn the correct way. (Though the Nikkor turn the wrong way to mount the lens bayonet…)
I'm actually a bit soured on the Canon's right now after the Pentax experience. All of the Pentax cameras have been beautifully reliable after a basic clean and lube with fresh light seals. Most of my older Canon's have needed shutter capping issues addressed before joining the active shooter group. BTW, I need to find a better name for the camera's that I actively shoot. My early F-1 has had issues despite sending it out for a professional CLA in frame spacing and recently, a mid-roll film jam that required unloading and reloading in a darkroom. The new F-1N just went down last week too. I thought it was just due for a battery but I find that with a battery installed, the camera is completely dead. With a battery removed, I have the standby 1/60 shutter speed working. I have not opened that one up to diagnose what went wrong. It's had about 15 rolls of flawless performance since I added that and I've always considered it to be my go-to for times when I really need to have a working camera.
Faith in Canon's has taken a hit. The pure reliability of the all mechanical Pentax's I own gives me a level of confidence that I've lost in my Canon's. I still love my fleet of A-1s and I really do enjoy shooting them, but truth be told, it's the MX that gets the nod most of the time now.
Did not know that the 50 1.8 has a thorium element.
yeeaaaahhh my new to me MX arrived!! And guess what, the shutter dial is not bad at all! It's actually better than my Nikon FM although it is more stubborn than Nikon FE.
Now I need to replace the mirror bumper but it seems unlike 1 piece bumper on Nikon FM this one has 4 pieces. Anyone has pictorial guide on how to replace mirror bumper?
My first camera was a Canon A-1 bought in about 1980. Every camera I've bought before 2024 was a Canon. When I got back into film photography, I bought an F-1N to replace my original A-1, which I had given to my youngest son. I bought a flurry of Canon's last fall with 2 FX's, 3 FTs, 3 FTbs, another F-1, AL-1, T-70 and 8 A-1s. I do like Canons.
In January of this year, I spotted a decent looking Pentax Spotmatic IIA in the inop camera bin at the local camera shop for $10. I bought it and fixed it but was not overly impressed at that time. Then, I saw a black KX in the bin on one trip and it had beautiful brassing, so I thought that it needed saved. I did a CLA on it and very quickly came to like how it shot. After that, I picked up another Spotmatic, 2 MXs and an SV and I have to say that I love every one of those. My go-to camera for every day use is now one of the MXs with the KX stepping in from time to time. The MX usually sports a 40mm f2.8 Pancake which is a really nice combination. The SV and Spotmatics are generally shot through some beautiful old Takumars. The KX generally carries an f1.4 50mm SMC that I really like. My camera cabinet may be a radioactive hot spot between all of the Pentax and early Canon glass.
I'm actually a bit soured on the Canon's right now after the Pentax experience. All of the Pentax cameras have been beautifully reliable after a basic clean and lube with fresh light seals. Most of my older Canon's have needed shutter capping issues addressed before joining the active shooter group. BTW, I need to find a better name for the camera's that I actively shoot. My early F-1 has had issues despite sending it out for a professional CLA in frame spacing and recently, a mid-roll film jam that required unloading and reloading in a darkroom. The new F-1N just went down last week too. I thought it was just due for a battery but I find that with a battery installed, the camera is completely dead. With a battery removed, I have the standby 1/60 shutter speed working. I have not opened that one up to diagnose what went wrong. It's had about 15 rolls of flawless performance since I added that and I've always considered it to be my go-to for times when I really need to have a working camera.
Faith in Canon's has taken a hit. The pure reliability of the all mechanical Pentax's I own gives me a level of confidence that I've lost in my Canon's. I still love my fleet of A-1s and I really do enjoy shooting them, but truth be told, it's the MX that gets the nod most of the time now.
...And another KX followed me home today. This one needs a CLA and light seals but looks good otherwise.
My first SLR was the Canon EOS3 that served me really well until I got a hold of the Pentax MX.
Yes, it is documented in Gerjan vanOosten book, some of the lenses that have thorium glass:Sorry, I just rechecked that and it's the 55, not the 50. Sorry for the confusion there.
Is that tiny one a 110 camera? I used to just shoot plastic disposable 110 cameras back in the day!
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