Pentax MX vs Nikon FM

[flavio81]

I would agree that if OP wants to shoot fast glass or say a 180 or a PC lens then Nikon lens are more common.

There are currently seven 200/2.5 available on ebay too.

 

[voceumana]

I wanted to get a Pentax KX in excellent condition a few years ago--I was unable to find one, and ended up switching to the Nikon F3. No regrets.

 

[Huss]

I wanted to get a Pentax KX in excellent condition a few years ago--I was unable to find one, and ended up switching to the Nikon F3. No regrets.

KX has a better exposure read out in the VF than the F3. That's one of the things that bugs me about my F3s.

 

[Paul Howell]

The KX was only made for 2 years, finding a nice body in good condition will be harder than finding a MX which had a 9 year run. The KX was the pro-consumer model the K2 is described as the flagship model replaced by the MX as the pro level body until the LX which had a 20 year run. The KM was a stripped down KX which evolved into the
K 1000. The K2 had auto exposure but the shutter would work without batteries from 1/125th to 1/1000.

 

[flavio81]

KX has a better exposure read out in the VF than the F3. That's one of the things that bugs me about my F3s.

X2

 

[BradS]

The KX was only made for 2 years, finding a nice body in good condition will be harder than finding a MX which had a 9 year run. The KX was the pro-consumer model the K2 is described as the flagship model replaced by the MX as the pro level body until the LX which had a 20 year run. The KM was a stripped down KX which evolved into the
K 1000. The K2 had auto exposure but the shutter would work without batteries from 1/125th to 1/1000.

Except that the KM has the same light meter circuit as the K1000 which is quite different from that of the KX. I tend to think of the KM as a K1000 with a couple of added features (DoF preview & mirror lock up).

 

[BobD]

Yes of course there will be more listings for nikkor lenses, I agree.

THAT was my only point!

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

If I could find a couple of KXs in great condition I'd be tempted to trade in my FEs and move to Pentax entirely.

 

[Paul Howell]

If you're willing to buy from Japanese Ebay sellers you can good quality K bodies just be prepared to pay a peruimun

Near MINT DHL] Pentax KX 35mm SLR Film Camera + SMC 50mm F1.4 + Case From JAPAN

Condition:
Used

“Total Condition;Near MINT Appearance;Appearance is beautiful.tiny scuffs from normal use. It shows ”

... Read more

 

[mehguy]

That's another interesting thought, how come there are so many film cameras being sold on ebay from japan? Its the first thing that comes up when you find almost any model on ebay.

 

[CMoore]

That's another interesting thought, how come there are so many film cameras being sold on ebay from japan? Its the first thing that comes up when you find almost any model on ebay.

I wonder the same.....
Seems like there would have been way more camera sold in Europe and usa than in Japan.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Where were most of these kinds of cameras made to begin with? What kind of culture is most likely to collect them. That makes the answer more obvious.

 

[MattKing]

One of the other answers is, what was the distribution like where you are?
Pentax was really successful in Canada, and the MX was well supported here.
Nikon was available.
The stores I worked in sold a lot more Pentax than Nikon. In some cases, they sold no Nikon. My sense is that the Nikon distribution was much less effective here.
Even on international marketplaces, local sellers have a real advantage.

 

[mehguy]

Another contender might be the Olympus om-2, but the viewfinder info isn't nearly as good as the MX or FM.



Ah, too many good cameras man

 

[Les Sarile]

Another contender might be the Olympus om-2, but the viewfinder info isn't nearly as good as the MX or FM.

Ah, too many good cameras man

True masterpieces of industrial art! Well at least some of them are . . .

 

[flavio81]

If you're willing to buy from Japanese Ebay sellers you can good quality K bodies

Lol... I only buy from japanese eBay sellers... unless the item, unfortunately, is only found somewhere else.

 

[CMoore]

Lol... I only buy from japanese eBay sellers... unless the item, unfortunately, is only found somewhere else.

Probably 50% of my camera stuff came from Ebay-Japan.

If something were to go wrong, it could be a bummer, but i always had good luck

 

[mehguy]

I was watching this video and it mentions that the meter is "twitchy". Is this common among all MX or is it possible that just his MX meter is defective?

 

[BradS]

I was watching this video and it mentions that the meter is "twitchy". Is this common among all MX or is it possible that just his MX meter is defective?

jeeeez, these are 40 year old cameras....anything could be wrong with an individual specimen. Don’t try to extrapolate from sample size of one.

 

[mehguy]

jeeeez, these are 40 year old cameras....anything could be wrong with an individual specimen. Don’t try to extrapolate from sample size of one.

I guess what I'm asking is whether all the meters are naturally like this or they don't normally act like that.

 

[BradS]

I guess what I'm asking is whether all the meters are naturally like this or they don't normally act like that.

No. They do not act like that. That one needs to be serviced. The same will likely be the case with any 40 year old camera that hasn’t ever been serviced (and that hasn’t been tossed out with trash by now). They all will need or benefit from some routine maintenance service.

 

[mgb74]

I was watching this video and it mentions that the meter is "twitchy". Is this common among all MX or is it possible that just his MX meter is defective?

This seems to be relatively common in the MX at this point in their lifecycle. More than would be expected just based on age. From what I've seen described, the most common cause is a contact under the baseplate.

 

[Huss]

True masterpieces of industrial art! Well at least some of them are . . .

What, no Rollei QZ35 W or T?

For shame!

 

[Les Sarile]

I was watching this video and it mentions that the meter is "twitchy". Is this common among all MX or is it possible that just his MX meter is defective?

Guy starts by saying, "I got my MX at a thrift store, I probably paid $25 . . . and it has a twitchy meter . . ."
As you can see at about 2:11, he meters a scene and changes the aperture rapidly and the LED's didn't act "twitchy" - just immediate response to the quick changes in aperture. And again at 4:17 he changes the aperture quickly and the LEDs respond very quickly. This is called realtime changes and not "twitchy".

 

[Les Sarile]

What, no Rollei QZ35 W or T?

For shame!

I hang my head in shame . . .
Believe it or not, most of my acquisitions have been impulse buy from local CL listings so I am sure I have not seen many other industrial works of arts!