Pentax bodies

[Ian Grant]

As a Pentax user of 27 years I'd recommend an MX, it's by far the nicest to use, unfortunately mine needs repair, as does my KX, both great cameras.

If you can find one a Spotmaic F is a great buy and there's plenty of good Takumar lenses on e-bay to fit. The Sp F was my first of many Pentax's and a 21st birthday present, sold it to go bayonet and always regretted it. Recently bought a mint model at a gallery, it had been donated to help raise funds - turned out I knew the original owner, just acquired an early 60's Sp on ebay alongside a Chinon CE4 & 5 excellent lenses.

The Spotmatics will get used, they are real - no Av, Tv, AE or Program rubbish jusy choose the f stop or speed and adjust the other. It's time manufacturers realised photographers want simplicity again.

 

[anyte]

Nikon is out simply because figuring out which lenses and which accessories work with which bodies seemed to confusing for me. I tend to stick with that which is nearly self explanitory. Which is why I bought a Maxxum as my first SLR - Maxxum lenses for Maxxum cameras. It's cut and dry - I can't goof and get something that won't work.

Even the Pentax K-mounts are confusing for me, but I've found it's not so bad that I can't live with it.

 

[Elox]

If you get a manual K-mount like the K1000, KX or the various other all manual K-mounts (Ricoh, Chinon, Vivitar) ANY k-mount lens (non-autofocus)) will work on ANY of the bodies. I have K-mount bodies from Ricoh, Pentax and Chinon and lens from all of those makers plus Kiron and Vivitar and all work interchangeable. The problems come in when you are using program or aperture-priority bodies and them you need the proper K-mount variation.

 

[titrisol]

Most Nikorr lenses work with all cameras. They haven;t changed the mount in decades.
If you get manual focus lenses AI/AIS will be the most common and work with all the manul focud bodies and with most of the AF bodies
Auto focus lenses will work with the manual bodies as long as they have the focusing and aperture rings.

I have only pentax screw mount bodies, with takumar lenses, a few Fujinons, Yashinons, and Sears/JCPenney/KMart brand leses. Beware of the T-mount lenses, you'll need an adaptor.

Nikon is out simply because figuring out which lenses and which accessories work with which bodies seemed to confusing for me. I tend to stick with that which is nearly self explanitory. Which is why I bought a Maxxum as my first SLR - Maxxum lenses for Maxxum cameras. It's cut and dry - I can't goof and get something that won't work.

Even the Pentax K-mounts are confusing for me, but I've found it's not so bad that I can't live with it.

 

[Brac]

If you get a manual K-mount like the K1000, KX or the various other all manual K-mounts (Ricoh, Chinon, Vivitar) ANY k-mount lens (non-autofocus)) will work on ANY of the bodies. I have K-mount bodies from Ricoh, Pentax and Chinon and lens from all of those makers plus Kiron and Vivitar and all work interchangeable. The problems come in when you are using program or aperture-priority bodies and them you need the proper K-mount variation.

I think you mean shutter-priority. The earliest K bayonet lenses will give aperture priority on a suitable body but they can't give program or shutter priority because they lack the extra coupling found on the KA series lenses.

 

[anyte]

Most Nikorr lenses work with all cameras. They haven;t changed the mount in decades.
If you get manual focus lenses AI/AIS will be the most common and work with all the manul focud bodies and with most of the AF bodies
Auto focus lenses will work with the manual bodies as long as they have the focusing and aperture rings.

I have only pentax screw mount bodies, with takumar lenses, a few Fujinons, Yashinons, and Sears/JCPenney/KMart brand leses. Beware of the T-mount lenses, you'll need an adaptor.

"Most" is a word that leaves room for a lot of confusion for me. Pentax K-mount bodies use K-mount lenses - though those lenses vary from manual to AF to I don't know what else. There's a very indepth source on the internet that breaks down all the different Pentax bodies and accessories.

Perhaps some day when I have matured more and feel more confident I can take the leap to using a Nikon.

I haven't given much consideration to any Pentax screw mount bodies as that too is a bit too confusing for me.

Thank you all for the continued input.

 

[BradS]

I bought a KX brand new in 1978 - it was my first "real" camera so, I may be just a little biased. I am a self confessed equipment junkie so, I have also owned and used lots and lots of different cameras including the K1000. That good old Pentax KX is still my favorite for many purposes.

One important difference between the Kx and the K-1000 / KM is the light meter. The KX light meter can be turned on/off while the K1000/KM light meter is "alway on" it draws very little current when the lens cap is on but, make no mistake, it is always on. The KX meter is also technically superior. It uses two light sensing devices (silicon photo diodes ?) where the K1000/KM use one CDS cell. I've owned both and never really liked the K1000 for this reason. You loose your lens cap, your battery is done.

Finally, I have to agree with previous posters. The K1000 is generally over priced on the used market. The later production units were made of plastic and quality is nowhere near what it was in the mid 1970's to early 1980's.

 

[titrisol]

ANYTE:
Nikon AI/AIS will work in any mnaul body (built after 1980) like the FM, FE, FE2....
not sure if those work in the F amd F2
the mount has not been changed in decades

 

[Carol]

I'm so glad I popped in here tonight as I am looking to buy a s/hand camera body. As I already have a Ricoh, it needs to be a K-mount so all your comments have been very helpful for me as well. Thanks Anyte for the question and thanks to you all for the info.

 

[anyte]

I'm so glad I popped in here tonight as I am looking to buy a s/hand camera body. As I already have a Ricoh, it needs to be a K-mount so all your comments have been very helpful for me as well. Thanks Anyte for the question and thanks to you all for the info.

Welcome to APUG Carol. I'm glad my question and everyone's input was of help to someone besides myself.

 

[fparnold]

As other Nikonistas will refine, modern AI/AIS lenses can be used on the old F/F2/Nikkormats, but not always vice-versa. My wife's FG can't take non-AI, while some of the other bodies can. This is good, as you can use the modern 14mm 2.8 without having to upgrade from your classic F. (not on my budget, but I'm sure on somebody's)

Always thought it was nice that Pentax kept the same mount for so long, so that lenses you bought for a K1000 can still be used on a modern body.

 

[Ian Grant]

I'm so glad I popped in here tonight as I am looking to buy a s/hand camera body. As I already have a Ricoh, it needs to be a K-mount

Any K mount Pentax that has a manual mode is better than a K1000, So KM, KX, LX, MX, (ME Super if you must- I did have one) after that watch out I nave a P30 and its DX coding only for film speedand no external flash sync, just a hot-shoe.

 

[Nige]

I'm so glad I popped in here tonight as I am looking to buy a s/hand camera body. As I already have a Ricoh, it needs to be a K-mount...

Why not another Ricoh? Going to be cheaper than a Pentax and same functionality. What model have you got? My 1st SLR was a KR-10

Also, back to the Nikons for a sec, from what I understand, Nikons with the flip up index tab (FE,FM, FE2?) can mount just about any Nikkor (one or two exceptions regarding fisheyes that need proper mirror lock up), and earlier F cameras (F, F2, Nikormat, etc) can mount anything but require the rabbit ears meter coupling for the meter to work with it. I have a pre Ai lens that my FE can use but only with stopped down metering (you need to stop the lens down to working aperture to meter as it doesn't meter with the diaphram at full open), but my FM2n can't mount it as it doesn't have the flip up tab thingy. The mir site linked above probably explains all this accurately!

 

[Carol]

Thanks for the welcome Anyte and good luck with your purchase. If it's any help I use Pentax, Sigma and Ricoh K-mount lenses on my trusty old Ricoh.

Looks like you might be right Nige. I 'phoned the shop I usually deal with in Adelaide today and they have a Ricoh KR10 available. I already have a KR5 SuperII which is completely manual, but I'd like to be able to leave B&W in one and colour in the other. I also like to take some night sky pics and basic is best for those. Darn, I really would have liked to see DOF preview just once.

 

[bmac]

Any K mount Pentax that has a manual mode is better than a K1000, So KM, KX, LX, MX, (ME Super if you must- I did have one) after that watch out I nave a P30 and its DX coding only for film speedand no external flash sync, just a hot-shoe.

What makes you think any cam in manual is better?

 

[Elox]

Ask around for a Ricoh XR-1 or XR-2. Both are manual cameras and have DoF preview and mirror prefire (mirror up on self-timer). I have an XR-1 that I used before I switched to mostly medium format and it is a very nice camera. And I have found the older Ricoh mechanical cameras to be very reliable. My TLS (M42) is still going strong after 30 years.

 

[bmac]

Just remember the more bells and whistles these old manual bodies have, the more things you have that can go wrong. That for me is the beauty of the k1000. You can also simulate DOF preview by partially taking the lens off the body.

 

[David Ruby]

I started out with a Pentax PZ-70 (no longer made), then picked up an ME Super after I gave up trying to find a K-1000, so I could have two cameras. I had to fight the temptation to switch to Nikon or Canon simply due to all the advertisements etc., but I had already invested in a nice lens and flash so staying with Pentax was an easy decision. I love the ME but to be honest I really don't use it all that much. I love how small it is though, and I plan to keep it for my kids first real camera when they are ready. I had thought about selling the ME on Ebay, but from what I could tell they were pretty cheap, so you might get a better deal. They are a bit more automatic than the K-1000, but not to much.

I also have never used DOF preview.

 

[TPPhotog]

I used the Pentax LX for a very long time and it was a beautiful camera that never gave me any problems. I still regret letting it go on a trade in. I'll get some complaints but I think the Ashi glass was some of the best around.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

I really like the old pentax bodies, having cut my teeth on my fathers spotmatic, which never seems to show signs of age! I like the ME series because they are so dinky and smoother to fire IMHO compared to clunkier larger NIkon FMs etc. To chage direction a little, I felt when I had 3 models to play with (FM2n, OM1n,ME Super) that the Olympus OMs were simply beautiful. Small, well made and so much smoother to fire. Outright winners for me. As much as I respect the manual Nikons, it was so crude in comparison (almost agricultural) that it was the least appealing, although if the test had been which would survive a nuclear blast I'm sure it would have won. I have seen extremely clean ME Supers here in the UK with 50mm f1.7 for £80. What a steal. The lenses are as cheap as chips too. The manual Nikons seemt ot be at least twice as expensive used and I cannot see what the extra money is for. Wise choice the Pentax and the optics will be every bit as good as the Nikons on prime lenses. The old primes on my fathers screw M42 lenses are sharper by far than my modern zooms. They can be had for peanuts.

Tom

 

[Carol]

Thanks all for the advice. The Ricoh XR-1 sounds very tempting. I didn't know about mirror prefire which would be ideal if I ever get to take pics through my telescope as any vibration at all is unacceptable. The odds are against me finding one of those at the shop I use, but I trust them and they give a 3 month guarantee on s/hand gear.

 

[Brac]

The Ricoh XR-1 is a very solid camera but the shutter is very loud. The whole world knows when you've taken a photo! I don't know whether later models are quieter as I haven't used any. The XR-1 was the first of their K-bayonet series.

 

[Elox]

XR sound

The Ricoh XR-1 is a very solid camera but the shutter is very loud. The whole world knows when you've taken a photo! I don't know whether later models are quieter as I haven't used any. The XR-1 was the first of their K-bayonet series.

The metal-bodied Ricoh manual cameras are somewhat loud. But the Copal shutter they use seems to be completely reliable and very durable. When the went to the later Cosina-made body (KR-5 Super II) they were much quitere but far less durable. The electronic shutters were quieter than the mechanical bodies. Persoanlly, I find the noise from a Mamiya M645 to be more noticable even though it is quieter.

 

[Nige]

for noise, try a MD12 on a Nikon... chunka...chunka.. chunka...

 

[eatfrog]

Hello people, this is my first post here at apug.

I just love pentax cameras, I have three bodies and several prime lenses and i love them all.
For a manual, durable camera I would definately recommend the MX. It's just such a wonderful camera, small and light, but still a great feel to it.
The battery only runs the lightmeter so everything is mechanical.

They can be found pretty cheaply today, although not as cheaply as a K1000.

/Henri