Pentax has an amazing lineup of film cameras to choose from for anyone already shooting film and looking for something outside their collection or looking to get into it for the first time or back at it after a break away. The MX is an excellent choice from their lineup. Nice video, Stephen!
This was my first real camera. Loved it!! The light meter eventually died but I just used the sunny 16 rule. B&W film was reasonably forgiving. I had three other viewfinder screens for it (as they were replaceable) and the motor drive. Stopped working after many years. I still have some Pentax lenses in storage. Seeing this video makes me want to go and find a working copy.
Thx for this video ! I do a lot of photography with a modern camera, and i found that pentax in my house, excited to try this in real condition. Your video save me a lot of time !
I love the Pentax mx. I have one and it's nearly twice my age. I never had any camera that feels the same. Also the whole mechanical aspect blows my mind every single time. I make machines for a living that makes me really appreciate the thought that must have gone into it's construction. It would be impossible to build something similar to such a camera for a reasonable price nowadays. To me it feels like the camera has everything that you need and nothing more. There is not a single compromise. And that's really hard to find in a product.
i know nothing about cameras and am looking to buy one, but is this still good in 2024? are the lens hard to get? is this better than one of the fairly priced dslrs out today?
I recently acquired a Pentax MX and your video is a great guide for what is sure to be a fun little camera! However, my film indicator is stuck at 35 shots and the shutter will not dial back. There is no film in the camera. Am I missing something simple here or am I due for a servicing? Thanks a bunch!
Thanks for the video. A couple of points you mentioned don't seem to function the same way on my MX. I have an M mount lens and when I adjust the aperture manually and have the shutter pressed halfway, I don't see the exposure meter updating. It only seems to update with aperture values when I have the depth preview lever pulled. The other thing I noticed is that I can't leave the exposure meter running with the film advance pulled halfway after holding down the shutter button the way you mentioned. The only way to activate the exposure meter seems to be by having the shutter button pressed half way. Curious if there are different versions of the MX where these behaviors are different or could it be a mechanical fault in my camera?
I think there may be a small fault with your camera. The camera and lens have two connectors together. One is the bigger lever that stops down the lens. The other is a smaller little bar used to read out to the light meter the current position of the aperture. I bet the connector on your camera body has bent back a bit and is missing its contact with that little bar. Try bending it back into position. Also, setting the film advance lever to the standoff position will not activate the light meter, but it will keep it on. A half press of the shutter is the only way to turn it on. Then the standoff position can keep it on instead of having to constantly half hold down the shutter
Neither. Just by taking off the lens. If you look in the mount there is two couplers. One is on the left (near the release switch; if you toggle the depth of preview switch you can watch it move) and the other is on the right top corner. I bet the one on the right top corner is bent a bit and isn’t making contact with your lens.
Great video, Stephen! Like its big brother (the LX), this MX is a serious Pentax SLR film camera, but so much smaller, more manageable and simpler. Very fun and easy to use! Sadly, my first MX was destroyed a few years back, along with a box of other cameras and equipment, when my storage unit was flooded; but thankfully, I recently found and purchased a replacement on ebay -- and in excellent condition! Now, with my "new" MX in hand, I can start shooting film again! I will be sure to protect this one (and the lenses) from harm by keeping it in my apartment in plain sight near my bed. 😉 Your video was a good refresher. Thank you! 🙏
Hi, you look like you know how film cameras work and just got an MX and wanted to know which film should I buy because I have no clue how it works and if it needs a specific film. thank you for your response !
@@ophelielalande9855 You can use any film, black-and-white, color or slide, between 25 and 1600 ISO, according to the measuring range of the built-in light meter if you want to use it. Otherwise you can of course use any film available on the market, but if it has more than 1600 ISO or is pushed, i.e. you want to expose with more than 1600 ISO, you must use an external light meter.
Great video! I inherited my grandfathers ME recently and am trying to learn all I can. If you could do a video on good lenses for these generation of cameras it would be amazing. Thanks for making such a thorough video. It is really appreciated.
i remember my first time looking down the mx's viewfinder and almost being thrown back coming from much darker viewfinders. no youtube comparisons or written descriptions can do it justice, you gotta try it yourself
I have it for so many years I can't remember when I got it, with the 40 pancake and the nice 20mm. my sister and dad had also one, so to silver and one black MX. my dad still had all the old lenses and gave it to me, so I got the Pentax K1 markII and I'm still using these nice lenses, think I only have one autofocus lens but most of the time I grab my old glass. only one of all the lenses is not working properly, the 85 has stiff aperture blades, but the rest is still going very strong
Excellent video. I have a Pentax MX that I used for many years and it never let me down. Like everyone else, I have a digital camera at the moment, but I would like to return to using my Pentax MX, which, unfortunately, has its photometer inoperative. Could you tell me if there is somewhere I can get it fixed? I live in São Paulo, Brazil, but I frequently travel to Texas, in the city of Dallas.
The hot shoe does not come off on this model. Is that what you’re asking? Or the little plastic cover on top of the hot shoe? That guy just slides off backwards
for some reason, moving the aperture ring on the lens doesn't change the light meter LED readout. The DOF preview works properly and it's a K mount lens. For example, it will be green, but when I press the DOF preview it could turn red. I'm trying to understand what's going on here and whether there's something wrong with the light meter.
There are two levers on the back of the lens. One is very small but rotates when the aperture ring is moved. That little lever actuates a small coupler on the camera body. I bet that little coupler on the camera body is bent and not connecting with the lens correctly.
Hi!! So I'm shooting my first ever roll of film on this and I'm having a bit of trouble with the take up spool - the first couple of photos were taken just perfect and the take up spool spinned every time, but after a while it stopped spinning despite the film seeming to be inserted correctly (the counter on top that numbers the pics was going correctly and I believe the film had wound up enough to not get loose inside the cam). Could it be okay?
The MX is my favourite pentax. I posses K1000 / ME SE / ME Super & MX - I also own 4 Canon AE1+P cameras, my primary shooters. I would be equally satisfied with 4 MX bodies. Colour / B&W / Transparency and 3200 😉
@@apistosig4173 thx ; i've been using a K1000 for year and just bought an MX and like the size very much ; I'm about to go on vacation tomorrow (already a lot of heavy gear with me) and i'm torn between bringing either my K1000, the MX (but didn't have time to test it), or my trusted eos 300...
@@hugomalpeyre best advice I can give you - choose your lens, lenses wisely. K1 or MX will each serve you well. if you spent a year with the K1 - take the MX, I am sure you will come to adore it - enjoy
Pentax has an amazing lineup of film cameras to choose from for anyone already shooting film and looking for something outside their collection or looking to get into it for the first time or back at it after a break away. The MX is an excellent choice from their lineup. Nice video, Stephen!
Great video. Learned a few valuable things about my mx. Excellent description of stop down metering. Thanks.
This was my first real camera. Loved it!! The light meter eventually died but I just used the sunny 16 rule. B&W film was reasonably forgiving. I had three other viewfinder screens for it (as they were replaceable) and the motor drive. Stopped working after many years. I still have some Pentax lenses in storage. Seeing this video makes me want to go and find a working copy.
Thx for this video !
I do a lot of photography with a modern camera, and i found that pentax in my house, excited to try this in real condition.
Your video save me a lot of time !
I love the Pentax mx. I have one and it's nearly twice my age. I never had any camera that feels the same. Also the whole mechanical aspect blows my mind every single time. I make machines for a living that makes me really appreciate the thought that must have gone into it's construction. It would be impossible to build something similar to such a camera for a reasonable price nowadays. To me it feels like the camera has everything that you need and nothing more. There is not a single compromise. And that's really hard to find in a product.
i know nothing about cameras and am looking to buy one, but is this still good in 2024? are the lens hard to get? is this better than one of the fairly priced dslrs out today?
@@wolfmode69 Man, you are asking if a camera built from 1976 to 1985 is better than a current dslrs. I think you are going at this the wrong way.
@@nenemydog sometimes old is gold so wasn't 100% sure, but based on your response seems like the mx doesn't hold up which gives me my answer, thanks.
@@wolfmode69 you're trying to compare apples to oranges.
Excellent video as always. Keep up the good work.
perfect overview, great explanation
我刚刚买了一台Pentax mx, 看了你的视频学到很多知识。非常感谢🙏！
我很高兴你喜欢它们
I recently acquired a Pentax MX and your video is a great guide for what is sure to be a fun little camera! However, my film indicator is stuck at 35 shots and the shutter will not dial back. There is no film in the camera. Am I missing something simple here or am I due for a servicing? Thanks a bunch!
**advance lever
This link may help: www.pentaxforums.com/forums/8-film-slrs-compact-film-cameras/401396-pentax-mx-advance-lever-stuck.html
Thanks for the video. A couple of points you mentioned don't seem to function the same way on my MX. I have an M mount lens and when I adjust the aperture manually and have the shutter pressed halfway, I don't see the exposure meter updating. It only seems to update with aperture values when I have the depth preview lever pulled. The other thing I noticed is that I can't leave the exposure meter running with the film advance pulled halfway after holding down the shutter button the way you mentioned. The only way to activate the exposure meter seems to be by having the shutter button pressed half way. Curious if there are different versions of the MX where these behaviors are different or could it be a mechanical fault in my camera?
I think there may be a small fault with your camera. The camera and lens have two connectors together. One is the bigger lever that stops down the lens. The other is a smaller little bar used to read out to the light meter the current position of the aperture. I bet the connector on your camera body has bent back a bit and is missing its contact with that little bar. Try bending it back into position.
Also, setting the film advance lever to the standoff position will not activate the light meter, but it will keep it on. A half press of the shutter is the only way to turn it on. Then the standoff position can keep it on instead of having to constantly half hold down the shutter
@@PentaxTips Thanks for your response! Can I do all this by just taking the bottom plate off or do I need to take off the hood as well?
Neither. Just by taking off the lens.
If you look in the mount there is two couplers. One is on the left (near the release switch; if you toggle the depth of preview switch you can watch it move) and the other is on the right top corner. I bet the one on the right top corner is bent a bit and isn’t making contact with your lens.
Great video, Stephen! Like its big brother (the LX), this MX is a serious Pentax SLR film camera, but so much smaller, more manageable and simpler. Very fun and easy to use! Sadly, my first MX was destroyed a few years back, along with a box of other cameras and equipment, when my storage unit was flooded; but thankfully, I recently found and purchased a replacement on ebay -- and in excellent condition! Now, with my "new" MX in hand, I can start shooting film again! I will be sure to protect this one (and the lenses) from harm by keeping it in my apartment in plain sight near my bed. 😉 Your video was a good refresher. Thank you! 🙏
Hi, you look like you know how film cameras work and just got an MX and wanted to know which film should I buy because I have no clue how it works and if it needs a specific film. thank you for your response !
@@ophelielalande9855 You can use any film, black-and-white, color or slide, between 25 and 1600 ISO, according to the measuring range of the built-in light meter if you want to use it. Otherwise you can of course use any film available on the market, but if it has more than 1600 ISO or is pushed, i.e. you want to expose with more than 1600 ISO, you must use an external light meter.
My favorite camera since I was young, I have also a 40mm, all become pocketable.......I love this Pentax.
Very informative video, this is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you.
Great video! I inherited my grandfathers ME recently and am trying to learn all I can. If you could do a video on good lenses for these generation of cameras it would be amazing. Thanks for making such a thorough video. It is really appreciated.
i remember my first time looking down the mx's viewfinder and almost being thrown back coming from much darker viewfinders. no youtube comparisons or written descriptions can do it justice, you gotta try it yourself
that tiny key-chain black Pentax MX is lovely! but the video talks about it as if it's a real camera! 🙂
A thorough review of the MX.
Thank you so much! This is so informative
Thanks, very informative and complete!
I have it for so many years I can't remember when I got it, with the 40 pancake and the nice 20mm. my sister and dad had also one, so to silver and one black MX. my dad still had all the old lenses and gave it to me, so I got the Pentax K1 markII and I'm still using these nice lenses, think I only have one autofocus lens but most of the time I grab my old glass. only one of all the lenses is not working properly, the 85 has stiff aperture blades, but the rest is still going very strong
The MX was my second and last SLR. I used for over 20 years until it fell apart. My next camera was digital, wasn't as good.
This is exactly my travel combo: MX and the 2.8/40. Verly light and compact. Usually I take an additional 2.8/100 with me and that's it...
Excellent video. I have a Pentax MX that I used for many years and it never let me down. Like everyone else, I have a digital camera at the moment, but I would like to return to using my Pentax MX, which, unfortunately, has its photometer inoperative. Could you tell me if there is somewhere I can get it fixed? I live in São Paulo, Brazil, but I frequently travel to Texas, in the city of Dallas.
I still think of the MX which I used with M 50mm/1.7, M 135/3.5 and Soligor 28mm/2.8, even now. I am using the lenses on my DSLRs and Mirrorless.
How do you take the hot shoe cover off?
The hot shoe does not come off on this model. Is that what you’re asking? Or the little plastic cover on top of the hot shoe? That guy just slides off backwards
lol thank you. I wasnt being hard enough with it@@PentaxTips
for some reason, moving the aperture ring on the lens doesn't change the light meter LED readout. The DOF preview works properly and it's a K mount lens. For example, it will be green, but when I press the DOF preview it could turn red. I'm trying to understand what's going on here and whether there's something wrong with the light meter.
There are two levers on the back of the lens. One is very small but rotates when the aperture ring is moved. That little lever actuates a small coupler on the camera body. I bet that little coupler on the camera body is bent and not connecting with the lens correctly.
You're amazing, thank you.
Hi!! So I'm shooting my first ever roll of film on this and I'm having a bit of trouble with the take up spool - the first couple of photos were taken just perfect and the take up spool spinned every time, but after a while it stopped spinning despite the film seeming to be inserted correctly (the counter on top that numbers the pics was going correctly and I believe the film had wound up enough to not get loose inside the cam). Could it be okay?
Love it. Thx
My love MX!
The Pentax ME is slightly smaller than the MX !
The MX is shorter in height. The ME is shorter in width.
where can I buy this camera in Saudi Arabia?
The MX is my favourite pentax. I posses K1000 / ME SE / ME Super & MX - I also own 4 Canon AE1+P cameras, my primary shooters. I would be equally satisfied with 4 MX bodies. Colour / B&W / Transparency and 3200 😉
Why do you prefer the mx over the k1000?
@@hugomalpeyre simple - its size. More comfortable in my hands.
@@apistosig4173 thx ; i've been using a K1000 for year and just bought an MX and like the size very much ; I'm about to go on vacation tomorrow (already a lot of heavy gear with me) and i'm torn between bringing either my K1000, the MX (but didn't have time to test it), or my trusted eos 300...
@@hugomalpeyre best advice I can give you - choose your lens, lenses wisely. K1 or MX will each serve you well. if you spent a year with the K1 - take the MX, I am sure you will come to adore it - enjoy
@@apistosig4173 got to try to fix some foam first but i'll try to save it and bring it, thx a lot ;)
Angry gang of Pentax lens😊
It's pronounced "Ashai".
ua-cam.com/video/XR4-rHmOLp8/v-deo.htmlsi=J-H0buHSoYBSpdVZ