Pentax MV-1 Anyone have experience with this camera?

harlequin · Apr 24, 2017

Dear APUG Members,

Just acquired this clean black MV1 Pentax 35mm camera.
For Shutter speed it has, Bulb, X100 and Auto, perfect for someone
really getting back into film.. Any pitfalls to this camera or its operation, I probably
will set it at the X100 shutter speed and manipulate the aperture as light and mood suggest.

It has a feel of a lightweight K1000, just curious if anyone has had good results with this
or should I keep saving up for the Pentax LX?

Thanks

Harlequin

ctrout · Apr 24, 2017

The MV-1 is a very basic camera that limits the creative capabilities of the shooter. It is similar to the ME and my experience with the ME type cameras is that they usually develop a problem in the linkage on the mirror box resulting in a stuck mirror. I have repaired several ME Supers with this problem.

When you begin to look for a more capable film Pentax, I would steer clear of the LX unless you really want the low light metering capabilities or other exclusive features that the LX offers. Don't get me wrong, I have one and it is one of my favorite Pentaxes but it's getting older and finding someone willing to work on them is getting harder and harder because the parts are getting so scarce.

That being said, I would recommend that you look at the KX or the MX. They are both very robust cameras with many of the features that most of us want including self timer, DOF preview, and MLU. I like the KX and the MX so much that I have two of each.

Ian Grant · Apr 24, 2017

My mother had an MV with the Pancake lens, it was a very capable little SLR perfect for someone who wants something simple but giving high quality results. The MV1 wasn't that different.

I'd second the looking for an MX they are my favourite K mount Pentax cameras.

Ian

G1DRP · Apr 24, 2017

I had an MV-1 and I recall that the viewfinder isn't as bright as it is on an ME Super.

cobbu2 · Apr 24, 2017

I really like the MV-1 for basic walkaround shooting, very minimalistic and somewhat liberating to use in my view; I don't find myself getting bogged down in exposure adjustments. See this thread for more info:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/8-pentax-film-slr-discussion/341182-mv1-guilty-pleasure.html

Cheers, Allan

Eric Rose · Apr 24, 2017

I have an MV and love it. To bias the exposure I just adjust the ISO up or down. It has the pancake lens on it which turns out is very sharp.

GarageBoy · Apr 25, 2017

Why does everyone have an aversion to AE? Just use it, and exposure compensate accordingly vs guessing with 1/100

jtk · Feb 18, 2019

re "jamming" MESuper... my "new one" did on the second roll...I put it aside for a day, picked it up again, and gave it a whack with the heel of my hand. Maybe the same situation as with old Chevrolets, which call for brute force...anyway, it started right up. My guess is that there's a film chip floating around somewhere in the shutter tracks. Next chance I get I'll blast the shutter tracks etc with canned air.

Paul Howell · Feb 18, 2019

I have one, don't use it much, think of it as a MF point and shoot, with a pancake 40mm or 35 to70 a very light camera. Just need to watch backlite exposure.

M-88 · Feb 19, 2019

jtk said:
re "jamming" MESuper... my "new one" did on the second roll...I put it aside for a day, picked it up again, and gave it a whack with the heel of my hand. Maybe the same situation as with old Chevrolets, which call for brute force...anyway, it started right up. My guess is that there's a film chip floating around somewhere in the shutter tracks. Next chance I get I'll blast the shutter tracks etc with canned air.

All of the M series Pentax bodies have the same issue that develops over time - winding lever winds the film but not the shutter. So it needs second throw. If the problem is severe then it refuses to wind on entirely and it needs an overhaul in that case. Second common issue with those is lubricant "failure" in mirror box that can sometimes be "fixed" with brute force, but is still unadvised. I like ME Super a lot, but refrain from acquiring one specifically because of that issue.

R.Gould · Feb 19, 2019

I have an MV, it was given to me by a member of my Classic vehicle club, with the pancake lens, I haven't used it much, nothing wrong with the camera, I just don't use SLR's that much, but it seems capable of good results, nothing wrong with AE cameras, when I used Slr's on a regular bascis I would use AE or program 90% of the time

M-88 · Feb 19, 2019

R.Gould said:
I have an MV, it was given to me by a member of my Classic vehicle club, with the pancake lens, I haven't used it much, nothing wrong with the camera, I just don't use SLR's that much, but it seems capable of good results, nothing wrong with AE cameras, when I used Slr's on a regular bascis I would use AE or program 90% of the time

You were GIVEN an MV with pancake lens? THE pancake lens? Some people are so lucky...

R.Gould · Feb 20, 2019

Yes the pancake lens and the camera was mint, hadn't been used for a good few years, the chap who gave it to me said he had put just 1 film though it from new,

Chan Tran · Feb 20, 2019

The Pentax pancake lens is quite new if I am not mistaken. I think it was introduced after they discontinued the MV. So I wonder how the guy could buy the new MV with the pancake lens.

R.Gould · Feb 20, 2019

The Pentax lpancake lens was made from 1976 to 1984 and the MV came out in 1979, untill 1980, when the MV1 came out,

abruzzi · Feb 20, 2019

There are several pancake lenses, but the Pentax-M 40mm ƒ2.8 is probably what was on the camera. The others are from the autofocus era: Pentax FA 43mm ƒ1.9 Limited, and two 40mm ƒ2.8 lenses designed for crop sensor digital cameras (no aperture ring) but that work fine on the 35mm sized frames (I've shot the DA 40mm ƒ2.8 Limited on my Pentax SuperProgram just fine, though I needed to use shutter priority or program mode.)

The M40/2.8 is not that expensive a lens on the used market. Usually $80-140.

Pentax MV-1 Anyone have experience with this camera?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency