Pentax MX - which mount is it?

szk71 · 01-21-2008, 09:00 PM

I'm a bit new to pentax yet. I've purchased a pentax mx kit with some lenses I was after. I'd love to know what lens mount the MX is (I'll have it in a couple of days). Want to get an adapter to use the lenses on my digital canon.

Thanks.

MikeH · 01-21-2008, 09:15 PM

It's a K-mount, like all other bayonet mount Pentax bodies.

Finn · 01-21-2008, 09:21 PM

It is a K mount, like all modern Pentaxes. Unlike most camera makers, Pentax has stuck to one lens mount (with minor variations for auto-exposure, etc.) since the early 1970's. The MX is a GREAT camera. It's very compact, but it has the biggest, brightest viewfinder of any Pentax SLR, ever. It is all manual with viewfinder LED's indicating the exposure, so no aperture-priority or shutter-priority shortcuts -- just the basics, done to perfection.

Mantisman · 01-21-2008, 10:51 PM

I agree. The MX is a great, tough little camera. I have three of them(one is a black body!). I have used all three for over 25 years and have had one jammed shutter in one of them. I recently took one with me on a cruise using Velvia (along with various digital stuff). It was nice using my old 28mm on both the MX and my IstDL. The slides look great. Digital is really fun, but there is still something about handling a good film unit (and WHAT a viewfinder!)

christinelandon · 01-22-2008, 01:32 AM

szk71, I hope your new/old MX brings you joy. I'd just like to add a little comment to those from Mike and Finn; the mount on the MX is the original K mount, not any of the later evolutions that added automation features, such as the KA, KAF, and current KAF2 mounts.

szk71 · 01-22-2008, 09:43 AM

Are you all trying to talk me into keeping the MX? LOL

I had planned to resell it with the motor winder and some of the lenses it comes with. I figured I have enough with 1 film cam, a spotmatic.

Maybe I should have added that the lens I purchased the kit for is a pentax 50mm f1.2. Want to use it on digital.

Sprags · 01-22-2008, 05:59 PM

I'll trade the Nikon FM2 I have for an MX.
That was my favorite camera I had in the 80's.

Ivan Glisin · 01-22-2008, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by szk71

Maybe I should have added that the lens I purchased the kit for is a pentax 50mm f1.2. Want to use it on digital.

1:2 or 1:1.2 ? Also, is it "PENTAX", "PENTAX-M" or "PENTAX-A" version?

See here for details:
Pentax "Normal" Prime Lenses

szk71 · 01-22-2008, 10:51 PM

Originally posted by Ivan Glisin

1:2 or 1:1.2 ? Also, is it "PENTAX", "PENTAX-M" or "PENTAX-A" version?

The f1:1.2 version. I don't have it in my hands yet, but it looks to have the white button instead or yellow.

Which of the versions is more desirable?

Finn · 01-23-2008, 10:03 AM

Originally posted by szk71

Which of the versions is more desirable?

Put it this way: if it is the Pentax-A version, the f/2 is worth about $30. The f/1.2 version is worth about $500.

So you did good.

Peter Zack · 01-23-2008, 10:57 AM

Arrg. One of Pentax's best lens going on another brand. Congrats on the purchase. So make me whine. How much did you get it for?

szk71 · 01-24-2008, 06:44 AM

When I say which is more desirable, I meanth pentax-A or Pentax-M or just Pentax.

Once I'll sell the mx, then the price I paid for the 50mm will be very reasonable.

Finn · 01-24-2008, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by szk71

When I say which is more desirable, I meanth pentax-A or Pentax-M or just Pentax.

Once I'll sell the mx, then the price I paid for the 50mm will be very reasonable.

Ah, well generally Pentax-A lenses are more valuable because they have an electronic aperture coupling, so they are easier to use on a Pentax DSLR. Pentax-M are usually worth less, similar to just plain Pentax (aka K-series lenses) are the oldest. That does, of course, depend on rarity, reputation, etc. as well.

Jodokast96 · 01-24-2008, 08:42 AM

As I understand it, the IQ doesn't change between an M, A, or FA, but between the 1.2, 1.4, 1.7, etc.

amateur6 · 01-24-2008, 09:26 AM

Originally posted by Jodokast96

As I understand it, the IQ doesn't change between an M, A, or FA, but between the 1.2, 1.4, 1.7, etc.

I'm sure we'll find some people who will dispute that... Consider the fact that you can find LOTS of M and FA 50/1.4s out there, but very, very few A and Ks (rumored to be be the best, from what I can glean). I don't think it's just an issue of production numbers and age, but I could be wrong.

On the other hand, it's all subjective anyhow -- aside from resolving power, which is probably the least important factor...

01-21-2008, 09:00 PM	#1
szk71 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 46	Pentax MX - which mount is it? I'm a bit new to pentax yet. I've purchased a pentax mx kit with some lenses I was after. I'd love to know what lens mount the MX is (I'll have it in a couple of days). Want to get an adapter to use the lenses on my digital canon. Thanks.

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01-21-2008, 09:15 PM	#2
MikeH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 273	It's a K-mount, like all other bayonet mount Pentax bodies.

01-21-2008, 09:21 PM	#3
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	It is a K mount, like all modern Pentaxes. Unlike most camera makers, Pentax has stuck to one lens mount (with minor variations for auto-exposure, etc.) since the early 1970's. The MX is a GREAT camera. It's very compact, but it has the biggest, brightest viewfinder of any Pentax SLR, ever. It is all manual with viewfinder LED's indicating the exposure, so no aperture-priority or shutter-priority shortcuts -- just the basics, done to perfection.

01-21-2008, 10:51 PM	#4
Mantisman New Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orland Park, Illinois Photos: Gallery Posts: 6	I agree. The MX is a great, tough little camera. I have three of them(one is a black body!). I have used all three for over 25 years and have had one jammed shutter in one of them. I recently took one with me on a cruise using Velvia (along with various digital stuff). It was nice using my old 28mm on both the MX and my IstDL. The slides look great. Digital is really fun, but there is still something about handling a good film unit (and WHAT a viewfinder!)

01-22-2008, 01:32 AM	#5
christinelandon Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 812	szk71, I hope your new/old MX brings you joy. I'd just like to add a little comment to those from Mike and Finn; the mount on the MX is the original K mount, not any of the later evolutions that added automation features, such as the KA, KAF, and current KAF2 mounts.

01-22-2008, 09:43 AM	#6
szk71 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 46 Original Poster	Are you all trying to talk me into keeping the MX? LOL I had planned to resell it with the motor winder and some of the lenses it comes with. I figured I have enough with 1 film cam, a spotmatic. Maybe I should have added that the lens I purchased the kit for is a pentax 50mm f1.2. Want to use it on digital.

01-22-2008, 05:59 PM	#7
Sprags Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Maine Posts: 218	I'll trade the Nikon FM2 I have for an MX. That was my favorite camera I had in the 80's.

01-22-2008, 08:23 PM	#8
Ivan Glisin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgrade Posts: 656	Originally posted by szk71 Maybe I should have added that the lens I purchased the kit for is a pentax 50mm f1.2. Want to use it on digital. 1:2 or 1:1.2 ? Also, is it "PENTAX", "PENTAX-M" or "PENTAX-A" version? See here for details: Pentax "Normal" Prime Lenses

01-22-2008, 10:51 PM	#9
szk71 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 46 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ivan Glisin 1:2 or 1:1.2 ? Also, is it "PENTAX", "PENTAX-M" or "PENTAX-A" version? The f1:1.2 version. I don't have it in my hands yet, but it looks to have the white button instead or yellow. Which of the versions is more desirable?

01-23-2008, 10:03 AM	#10
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	Originally posted by szk71 Which of the versions is more desirable? Put it this way: if it is the Pentax-A version, the f/2 is worth about $30. The f/1.2 version is worth about $500. So you did good.

01-23-2008, 10:57 AM	#11
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Arrg. One of Pentax's best lens going on another brand. Congrats on the purchase. So make me whine. How much did you get it for?

01-24-2008, 06:44 AM	#12
szk71 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 46 Original Poster	When I say which is more desirable, I meanth pentax-A or Pentax-M or just Pentax. Once I'll sell the mx, then the price I paid for the 50mm will be very reasonable.

01-24-2008, 08:05 AM	#13
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	Originally posted by szk71 When I say which is more desirable, I meanth pentax-A or Pentax-M or just Pentax. Once I'll sell the mx, then the price I paid for the 50mm will be very reasonable. Ah, well generally Pentax-A lenses are more valuable because they have an electronic aperture coupling, so they are easier to use on a Pentax DSLR. Pentax-M are usually worth less, similar to just plain Pentax (aka K-series lenses) are the oldest. That does, of course, depend on rarity, reputation, etc. as well.

01-24-2008, 08:42 AM	#14
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	As I understand it, the IQ doesn't change between an M, A, or FA, but between the 1.2, 1.4, 1.7, etc.

01-24-2008, 09:26 AM	#15
amateur6 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Gallery Posts: 177	Originally posted by Jodokast96 As I understand it, the IQ doesn't change between an M, A, or FA, but between the 1.2, 1.4, 1.7, etc. I'm sure we'll find some people who will dispute that... Consider the fact that you can find LOTS of M and FA 50/1.4s out there, but very, very few A and Ks (rumored to be be the best, from what I can glean). I don't think it's just an issue of production numbers and age, but I could be wrong. On the other hand, it's all subjective anyhow -- aside from resolving power, which is probably the least important factor...