Pentax K-mount camera for reliable film advance

blee1996 · Jan 14, 2025

Hi,

I have two K-mount small cameras (MX and ME-Super) and both have issues with film advance intermittently. And this becomes annoying while out taking photos. For whatever reason, I found the cheap and tiny SMC-M 50/1.7 among the sharpest 50mm lenses in my arsenal across all brands. Thus I want to find a compact and reliable body to pair with.

Do you have recommendations for other K-mount models that are small yet reliable?

I already have several M42 bodies (Spotmatic SV) that are very reliable, but they are a bit larger and heavier.

Cholentpot · Jan 14, 2025

blee1996 said:
Hi,

I have two K-mount small cameras (MX and ME-Super) and both have issues with film advance intermittently. And this becomes annoying while out taking photos. For whatever reason, I found the cheap and tiny SMC-M 50/1.7 among the sharpest 50mm lenses in my arsenal across all brands. Thus I want to find a compact and reliable body to pair with.

Do you have recommendations for other K-mount models that are small yet reliable?

I already have several M42 bodies (Spotmatic SV) that are very reliable, but they are a bit larger and heavier.

There's the Promaster plastic body but fully mechanical. I have one in K mount and it's never failed me. Interestingly enough, of all my lenses across a dozen manufacturers my sharpest lens is a SMC-A 50 2.0

MattKing · Jan 14, 2025

There were lots and lots of ME-Supers sold, and many of them were used a lot.
I think those, and the MXs, are still good choices - you just may need to try a few.

Chan Tran · Jan 14, 2025

What kind of issue you have with the film advance?

Disappointed_Horse · Jan 14, 2025

Have you had these cameras serviced? You can probably have Eric Hendrickson service your existing cameras for less than the cost of buying another body in unknown condition.

Disconnekt · Jan 14, 2025

Garry's Camera (located in Illinois) does CLA most pentax camera's (http://www.garryscamera.com/pentax.htm) for $78, may be cheaper in the long run to get the ones you have cla'ed than buying a new one that may have issues & deal with returning it/having to get that one fixed

xkaes · Jan 14, 2025

If you want to get away from the original M series, you might try a NON-auto-focus, auto-focus FILM SLR from Pentax. Give me a second.

I don't own one, but I had a chance to use one, and I wish I had one. It's from Pentax's NEWER M sesries -- the MZ line-up.

The MZ is a line-up of auto-focus cameras, but the MZ-X only uses manual focus lenses. Sounds crazy, but there it is!!! Very light, and small, and very nice features. Check it out.

These are much newer, and hopefully have fewer problems. And this model might even be less expensive -- less demand.

runswithsizzers · Jan 14, 2025

I have owned 3 or 4 Pentax MX bodies over the years, and what few problems I had with them were not related to the film advance.

All of the Pentax cameras which I decided to keep have been serviced by Eric Hendrickson.

In addition to my two MX bodies, I also have a Pentax KX which I have been using for a few years now. I don't like it quite as much as my MX cameras because: a. the KX bigger and heavier, b. KX viewfinder is not quite as bright, and c. it takes 3 actions to get the meter to come on, compared to only one step with the MX. However, the KX certainly looks and feels more robust than my MX bodies, and I suspect it might take more abuse(?)

blee1996 · Jan 14, 2025

Chan Tran said:
What kind of issue you have with the film advance?

The problem with MX is that: sometimes after full film advance, the shutter button is still locked. I have to advance again or at least wiggle the film advance lever forward a tiny bit, then the shutter release button can be pressed. It happened today to about 5 shots out of 36 frames, and I have been taking care of make as long an advance as I can.

blee1996 · Jan 14, 2025

AAlfano said:
Have you had these cameras serviced? You can probably have Eric Hendrickson service your existing cameras for less than the cost of buying another body in unknown condition.

That's a good idea. I had Eric service my Pentax 6x7 and he did a great job. Probably better in the long run to have a fully serviced MX.

Cholentpot · Jan 14, 2025

xkaes said:
If you want to get away from the original M series, you might try a NON-auto-focus, auto-focus FILM SLR from Pentax. Give me a second.

I don't own one, but I had a chance to use one, and I wish I had one. It's from Pentax's NEWER M sesries -- the MZ line-up.

The MZ is a line-up of auto-focus cameras, but the MZ-X only uses manual focus lenses. Sounds crazy, but there it is!!! Very light, and small, and very nice features. Check it out.

These are much newer, and hopefully have fewer problems. And this model might even be less expensive -- less demand.

View attachment 387903

Great, another camera on my Need To Buy list.

4season · Jan 14, 2025

Cholentpot said:
Interestingly enough, of all my lenses across a dozen manufacturers my sharpest lens is a SMC-A 50 2.0

Maybe I just had a bad sample, but I was very underwhelmed by both the optical performance and mechanical design of mine, thought it was designed as a cheap starter lens for casual users who might never move the aperture ring from it's "A" setting, or view enlargements larger than 4x6"

Cholentpot · Jan 14, 2025

4season said:
Maybe I just had a bad sample, but I was very underwhelmed by both the optical performance and mechanical design of mine, thought it was designed as a cheap starter lens for casual users who might never move the aperture ring from it's "A" setting, or view enlargements larger than 4x6"

I was always under the impression that the A series was the higher quality than the M.

Kodachromeguy · Jan 14, 2025

Cholentpot said:
I was always under the impression that the A series was the higher quality than the M.

I think quality is not the right descriptor. The A series came later and offered the A function. Many A lenses had different optical formulas than the equivalent M lenses. But the 50mm f/2 M and A have the same formula, an unusual 5 element air spaced design. My 50 f/2 does really well with colors, quite contrasty and vivid.

Paul Howell · Jan 14, 2025

Chinon made reliable bodies in K mount, the CE and CM 4 were K mount. I have a CP7 in KA mount. will with K, KA, AFK and with an adaptor M42 lens with adaptor. Has integrated motor drive, about 2FPS. Has program, manual and aperture preferred auto exposure, I do miss the shutter speed auto exposure. Viewfinder is bright, the the viewfinder readout is easy to see in bright light. Runs on AA batteries. I use both Chinon K and Pentax KA and KAF along with a Sigma 300 and Tonkia 400 on it, never had any issues with it at all.

Felix Reed · Jan 14, 2025

blee1996 said:
Hi,

I have two K-mount small cameras (MX and ME-Super) and both have issues with film advance intermittently. And this becomes annoying while out taking photos. For whatever reason, I found the cheap and tiny SMC-M 50/1.7 among the sharpest 50mm lenses in my arsenal across all brands. Thus I want to find a compact and reliable body to pair with.

Do you have recommendations for other K-mount models that are small yet reliable?

I already have several M42 bodies (Spotmatic SV) that are very reliable, but they are a bit larger and heavier.

I feel your pain with those intermittent film advance issues! It's the worst when you're out shooting. It's great you've found that sharp 50mm though. I'm also looking for small and reliable K-mounts, so I'll be following this thread closely.

4season · Jan 15, 2025

The wind-on issue with some Pentax models is a pain in the butt, but it also keeps resale prices low. ME appears to be pretty similar to P3/P30, and the latter are plagued by a little rubber dampener which degrades into sticky goo. Replacing the part is straightforward, but requires a fair amount of desoldering, and separating the mirror box from the rest of the body.

I hesitate to recommend MZ/ZX-series cameras: Love the svelte package, and if you get one with an upgraded mirror-return gear, great. But there's no way to know without doing a deep dive, and by that point, you may as well replace the part. They're not particularly quiet cameras.

oxcanary · Jan 16, 2025

What about a Ricoh XR1. Fully manual, has all the MX controls and more (e.g mirror flips up in self timer mode giving less camera shake). Strongly rumoured to be effectively a Nikon FM under the body (apparently the same shutter and parts)

dynachrome · Jan 16, 2025

I have not been in a Pentax phase recently but I have plenty of Pentaxes. The MX is very reliable mechanically but as they age, the LEDs can be difficult to see, especially in bright light. An MX can certainly be serviced and I also recommend Eric Hendrickson. He has serviced many cameras for me. The ME Super is a pleasant camera to use when it is working properly but can't always be repaired. I like the 1/2000 highest shutter speed. Of the larger K mount bodies I think I like the KM best. It's nice to have the depth of field preview button. The MZ-M is a pleasant camera to use but needs to be used gently because it has many plastic internal parts. Batteries for it are expensive so having the AA battery holder is good. I would like to add a K2DMD just to round out my collection but using a motor drive with a film camera today is an expensive proposition. I prefer the older SMC Pentax 55/1.8 and 55/2 to the later 50/1.7 and 50/2 M and A lenses. From my experience the f/1.7 lenses are better than the f/2 models. The A lenses also have a lot more plastic in their construction. If the f/2 lenses are closed down a little, they are decent. My favorite of the K standard lenses? The 50/1.4 SMC Pentax of 1975. It is more sturdy than the later f/1.4 M. When in good condition, both are very sharp.

titrisol · Jan 16, 2025

blee1996 said:
Hi,

I have two K-mount small cameras (MX and ME-Super) and both have issues with film advance intermittently. And this becomes annoying while out taking photos. For whatever reason, I found the cheap and tiny SMC-M 50/1.7 among the sharpest 50mm lenses in my arsenal across all brands. Thus I want to find a compact and reliable body to pair with.

Do you have recommendations for other K-mount models that are small yet reliable?

I already have several M42 bodies (Spotmatic SV) that are very reliable, but they are a bit larger and heavier.

Do you mean advance the film and doesnt shoot?
That needs a CLA, it is a common failure in the M-series due to age and failing of a plastic bumper.

blee1996 · Jan 16, 2025

titrisol said:
Do you mean advance the film and doesnt shoot?
That needs a CLA, it is a common failure in the M-series due to age and failing of a plastic bumper.

Yes I should get it CLA'd sometime. Right now, I find a work-around is to advance film slower and in two strokes instead of a long and single stroke.

titrisol · Jan 17, 2025

blee1996 said:
Yes I should get it CLA'd sometime. Right now, I find a work-around is to advance film slower and in two strokes instead of a long and single stroke.

smacking the camera in the palm of your hand before advancing also does the trick
It's happened to me with the M series, P series (P30) and SuperProgram

M-88 · Jan 17, 2025

No love for Ricoh KR Super II? It's made by Cosina, but unlike several other Ricoh cameras, this one's fully mechanical. I had a lot of fun with it when I owned it. It's very basic but also very cheap.

mgb74 · Jan 17, 2025

The last MX rolled off the assembly line 40 years ago in 1985. In 1985, my knees didn't hurt and my back was fine. Just my irreverent way of saying that the issue may not be a design fault or a weak spot, but that you're expecting too much from a 40-50 year old mechanical device without service.

On top of that, the MX was designed to be very compact. Inevitably that leads to some compromises. So, as many others have said, it's time for service.

Les Sarile · Jan 18, 2025

blee1996 said:
Hi,

I have two K-mount small cameras (MX and ME-Super) and both have issues with film advance intermittently. And this becomes annoying while out taking photos. For whatever reason, I found the cheap and tiny SMC-M 50/1.7 among the sharpest 50mm lenses in my arsenal across all brands. Thus I want to find a compact and reliable body to pair with.

Do you have recommendations for other K-mount models that are small yet reliable?

I already have several M42 bodies (Spotmatic SV) that are very reliable, but they are a bit larger and heavier.

Been fortunate enough to have a acquired fully functional K mount bodies over the years and have not had this problem specifically. What are the chances of two different bodies having the same/similar problems? Given that the bodies you have utilize the "magic needles" take up spool, I wonder if that could be a reason?

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Pentax K-mount camera for reliable film advance

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