Want to Buy WTB: Pentax MX with working exposure/light meter

[PGraham3]

Howdy, APUG!
I've been on the lookout for an excellent-looking-and-working PENTAX MX for a little while, and ya know what, despite all these ones for sale on ebay, japanese auction sites, etc, there are so many of these out there without working exposure/light meters or some other malfunction (Is this normal?), and I found that many advertised as "mint" or "excellent" are without a working meter. Sure, I can shoot without the meter, but just the convenience sometimes ya know. I did indeed find a few with all apparently working, but price was super-exuberant, and sellers appeared to be a little shady.

APUG has been super awesome to me amid purchasing and selling several items, so I just thought I'd ask:

Does anyone have a excellent-looking-and-working Pentax MX (with or without lens) that they would like to sell?

Thanks!
-Paul

 

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[georg16nik]

The Pentax mx lightmeter thingy Is easy to fix - unscrew the bottom plate (3 screws) and check that the electrical contacts (switch) is not slightly bent-away - 1 minute fix.

The other issue, which is a bit more hassle to fix, is when the DOF preview disengages from the self-timer lever (which governs the DOF preview when pressed), so you will need to partially disassemble the body.

Besides from these two issues, it's pretty nice camera with an awesome and quite big screen...

I put Pentax MX second to Ricoh XR-1, which imho is marvelous K mount body that adds features MX lacks - multi-exposures, mirror lock(wen using the self timer feature), mechanical metal blade Seiko shutter, which can run without battery and is more reliable in sub zero temperatures ~ -25 °C, etc.

 

[nick_clark]

Hi Paul, I was in a similar boat.

Ended up finding a clean looking black paint MX and had the seller send it straight to Eric Hendrickson for a CLA. Came back working and looking flawless (with a working light meter). Up side of this approach is that I know it's been reliably serviced...

 

[PGraham3]

Hello, Georg. Yeah, I bought a Ricoh XR-2 amid a venture to Japan a few years ago and used it for a little awhile until the lightmeter completely crapped-out. After that, the camera started getting whacky. Good camera, though.

Hey, Nick. Great tip. Never had heard of Eric Hendrickson before, and this may be a good idea. He seems very kind and reliable. However, as I live and work in Seoul, it would be a little more costly to go this route, but doable. Thanks!

 

[EarlJam]

Interestingly, one of these just showed up on Rangefinder Forum:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...oduct/52799/title/black-paint-pentax-mx/cat/3

 

[Jeff Bradford]

I bought my MX in marginal condition and sent it in for CLA. The overall cost seems to be about the same as buying one reported to be in "mint condition", but I know mine will be fully functional for years to come.

 

[GRHazelton]

The Pentax mx lightmeter thingy Is easy to fix - unscrew the bottom plate (3 screws) and check that the electrical contacts (switch) is not slightly bent-away - 1 minute fix.

The other issue, which is a bit more hassle to fix, is when the DOF preview disengages from the self-timer lever (which governs the DOF preview when pressed), so you will need to partially disassemble the body.

Besides from these two issues, it's pretty nice camera with an awesome and quite big screen...

I put Pentax MX second to Ricoh XR-1, which imho is marvelous K mount body that adds features MX lacks - multi-exposures, mirror lock(wen using the self timer feature), mechanical metal blade Seiko shutter, which can run without battery and is more reliable in sub zero temperatures ~ -25 °C, etc.

The light meter issue isn't always that simple. I have two MXs, one in gorgeous black. Both drain the meter cells in a matter of weeks, although the meter works properly. The chrome body worked perfectly for several years (both I bought used) and then the cell drain problem began. A nearby repair facility failed to fix it, although I told them to keep the camera for several weeks. I've removed the base plate on each; the switch in question works properly, according to my digital VOM. There is a tiny current drain somewhere in the metering circuits of these otherwise perfectly functioning cameras. This is the sort of issue which a purchaser would have real difficulty in detecting. Time for a trip to Eric Hendrickson, alas.

One other fact which may or may not concern you is that on my examples the shutter speed dial is stiff enough to make changing speeds with only one finger very difficult. Other users have also mentioned this. Should you buy that black MX, watch for the matching winder. I find that it greatly improves the handling of the camera, especially in shooting verticals. As always, YMMV!

 

[PGraham3]

Thanks for the info! Much appreciated! I don’t use RFF at all, but sent a PM to the seller to possibly work out a deal. However, there appears to be several guys ahead of me, so probably no luck on this one. The search continues...

 

[nick_clark]

Thanks for the info! Much appreciated! I don’t use RFF at all, but sent a PM to the seller to possibly work out a deal. However, there appears to be several guys ahead of me, so probably no luck on this one. The search continues...

Have you looked over at https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/ ? Great community and the place to be looking for Pentax gear. You'll see a lot more MX's over there than here or RFF (or anywhere actually).

 

[PGraham3]

Thanks for the info! I’ve always been a Nikon shooter, and I love Nikon, but simply been experimenting with a few different rangefinders and SLR brands last couple of years. Pentax in my sights now, and from what I’ve heard and read, the MX is a pretty good place to start for an analog-style amateur-pro small-solid camera. I primarily shoot with my Nikon F3, and it’s awesome, but it’s a tank. The LX appears really cool as well, but prices seem super-inflated everywhere. Thanks again! Will look into Pentax Forums.

 

[nick_clark]

Pentax in my sights now, and from what I’ve heard and read, the MX is a pretty good place to start for an analog-style amateur-pro small-solid camera. I primarily shoot with my Nikon F3, and it’s awesome, but it’s a tank. The LX appears really cool as well, but prices seem super-inflated everywhere.

The MX is a lovely bit of kit and definitely a good way to dip your toes in the world of Pentax. Get one with a Pentax-M 50/f1.4 and you're set

The LX is a beast but expensive and prone to needing expensive CLA's...

 

[PGraham3]

Yeah, that's what I hear about the LX, which turns me off from pursuing one. The LX was the top-of-the-line Pentax of it's day, just like the F3 was for Nikon; and in fact both were released in the same year: 1980. Nick, as you mentioned, the MX woujld be a good way to dip my toes in the world of Pentax, which is what I'll probably do. And while it's a whole different ballpark conversation, I wonder how the Pentax LX compares to the Nikon F3... and I'm sure this has been conversed a hundred times over before. Heh heh.

 

[georg16nik]

The light meter issue isn't always that simple. I have two MXs, one in gorgeous black. Both drain the meter cells in a matter of weeks, although the meter works properly. The chrome body worked perfectly for several years (both I bought used) and then the cell drain problem began. A nearby repair facility failed to fix it, although I told them to keep the camera for several weeks. I've removed the base plate on each; the switch in question works properly, according to my digital VOM. There is a tiny current drain somewhere in the metering circuits of these otherwise perfectly functioning cameras. This is the sort of issue which a purchaser would have real difficulty in detecting. Time for a trip to Eric Hendrickson, alas.

One other fact which may or may not concern you is that on my examples the shutter speed dial is stiff enough to make changing speeds with only one finger very difficult. Other users have also mentioned this. Should you buy that black MX, watch for the matching winder. I find that it greatly improves the handling of the camera, especially in shooting verticals. As always, YMMV!

I got a chrome and black MXs;
The funny thing is that I rarely put batteries - I just shoot them as I shoot my Barnack Leicas.
Meters on both of my MX are fine but the funny thing is that my Ricoh XR-1 meter is much more precise and to my liking - after hundred if not thousands of rolls in all these cameras. Although, the huge screen of the MX is spectacular...

 

[Jean Poitiers]

Howdy, APUG!
I've been on the lookout for an excellent-looking-and-working PENTAX MX for a little while, and ya know what, despite all these ones for sale on ebay, japanese auction sites, etc, there are so many of these out there without working exposure/light meters or some other malfunction (Is this normal?), and I found that many advertised as "mint" or "excellent" are without a working meter. Sure, I can shoot without the meter, but just the convenience sometimes ya know. I did indeed find a few with all apparently working, but price was super-exuberant, and sellers appeared to be a little shady.

APUG has been super awesome to me amid purchasing and selling several items, so I just thought I'd ask:

Does anyone have a excellent-looking-and-working Pentax MX (with or without lens) that they would like to sell?

Thanks!
-Paul

Bonjour / Hi,

I am not very active here at APUG, but quite so on Pentax Forums as "Jean Poitiers" as well. I have a very nice chrome MX that has been CLA'ed by Eric Hendrickson and I also have a nice black MX that I could sell, too. I can sell with lens if you have a preference for something sppecific ... I have a few "double copies" sitting around.

Cheers, John - my real name and an ex-pat American living in France.

 

[PGraham3]

Howdy, John.
Just sent ya a PM.

 

[Jean Poitiers]

Howdy, John.
Just sent ya a PM.

Hi ... just sent a response PM. Salut, J

 

[Diana Melissa]

The Pentax mx lightmeter thingy Is easy to fix - unscrew the bottom plate (3 screws) and check that the electrical contacts (switch) is not slightly bent-away - 1 minute fix.

The other issue, which is a bit more hassle to fix, is when the DOF preview disengages from the self-timer lever (which governs the DOF preview when pressed), so you will need to partially disassemble the body.

Besides from these two issues, it's pretty nice camera with an awesome and quite big screen...

I put Pentax MX second to Ricoh XR-1, which imho is marvelous K mount body that adds features MX lacks - multi-exposures, mirror lock(wen using the self timer feature), mechanical metal blade Seiko shutter, which can run without battery and is more reliable in sub zero temperatures ~ -25 °C, etc.

HI, Can you please expand on your second point regarding the DOF preview being disengaged with the self timer lever? as i think this might be my problem. I was playing with the self timer lever and suddenly my light meter stopped working.
thank you!