Great to hear back from the OP and that the solution was found.
Its capping very badly at 1/1000 and fairly badly at 1/500. I didn't see anything at 1/250. Thanks for this and indeed all the help. I can now tell my camera repair guy so he can give me a price.
..The camera is well into negative equity but it is too nice to drop in a skip. Any advice would be gratefully received
Who serviced it so we can avoid them? A proper service should last for a decade or two. Not two years.
FYI unless a camera is worth thousands, pretty much any would be in negative equity once a decent service has been performed.
I had Sover Wong service my F2 a few years ago. I understand that now he charges $400 (?). You’ll never get that back if you ever sell the camera. Same thing for an MX here you can buy one for $100, but a decent service is +- $200. Value of the camera after that? $120.
We do this so we know we have a decent camera, and hopefully are going to keep it.
Does this look like a camera fault or have I not loaded the spool properly.
Camera, as others have outlined. If the film is touching other film on the spool, you'll get big purplish/blueish spots that go outside the frame. Here's an extreme example:
Film edges and the writing on it are good indicators of problems. If the edge writing looks fine and the image problems are limited to the photo frame, it's usually a problem with the camera mechanism (ie shutter). If the edge writing is affected, or dark spots extend to the sprockets, that indicates a light leak or a problem that happened outside of the camera.
I think someone gave you the tip of pushing the film into the reel and seeing if it moves or resists -- that's a great way to tell if the film is stuck. I also recommend doing some winding in the light (with a scrap roll of film) to get a feel for it. I practiced with a "burner" roll of film before I got back into developing.
As for the repairs to your MX: If you had the shutter fixed two years ago, it should not be giving you problems. A properly CLAd Pentax should go a couple decades. MXs are wonders of miniaturization and really do require specialist repair. Send it to Eric at pentaxs.com, his prices are very reasonable and he knows how to repair these fiddly cameras. I own several old Pentaxes and I think there are a few tell-tales that they have been repaired by someone who wasn't specially trained to fix them.
Aaron
B***** Pentax MXs lolI had to have my MX repaired (shutter trouble) -- I thought it was because the camera was pretty well beat up, but apparently this is A Thing!
I've been a long-time Pentax fan (started with a KX and MG) and always wanted an MX -- but now that I have one, I've never really taken to it. I think the shutter dial is too stiff and I don't like the meter display. The KX is more user friendly, but it's so darn heavy! Truth be told I've never quite found a Pentax camera with the features I want. (If only the ME Super had a proper shutter dial...)
Anyway, £75 isn't too bad but it's a lot to put into a camera that might break again. $85 will buy you a KX but as it has a clockwork mechanism it might well need a CLA as well. And of course it's heavier. A K2 has an electronic shutter so is less likely to need a CLA, but again, weight.
If you can deal with a non-mechanical camera, can I suggest (as I so often do) the Ricoh XR-2/XR-2x or KR-10? They are lighter than the Pentax Ks, use Pentax K-mount lenses, and are pretty cheap (under $40, and I picked up a couple of Sears-branded equivalents for less than $20). Not as refined as a Pentax and a bit more plastic feeling (they used polycarbonate cases 20 years before Canon), but very good cameras nonetheless.
Aaron
Yah, I sold my MX a while ago. The idea was great, the execution poor. Did not like the invisible in daylight meter display, the ridiculously stiff shutter speed dial, and the way too long film advance throw.
Yeah, I have struggled with the meter several times whereas I have had no such problems with the P30. Its funny how some people see the MX as a marvel and others hate it. Same with the LX. To some people its the best camera ever, until you try and get one fixed. I like using the MX but have found the metering an issue. I may well find that once I have saved enough cash to get it fixed, I will realise that I just haven't missed it at all.
I loved my P30T! The only bummer, IIRC, was the DX only film speed setting. I liked how it handled, super easy to load, loved the impossible to lose battery cap, loved the meter readouts, and it had exposure lock! Something my LX was sorely missing.
I used it much more than my MX.
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