Bought a lot of Pentax film cameras

Sluggo · 01-31-2013, 07:32 PM

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

I don't understand why the MX seems so popular....

Others have replied to this, but I wanted to add a couple of pennies' worth.

Some people really prefer to shoot in manual exposure mode, for various reasons both aesthetic and practical. Anyone who has this mindset will grab the MX over the ME Super in a second, because the MX is really made for manual exposure, and the ME Super only supports it rather clumsily, as an afterthought. Mind, I say this as someone who also loves the ME Super (and owns three of them!). But going between an auto-exposure and dedicated manual-exposure camera turns me into a different photographer, working at a different pace, thinking differently about subjects, getting different shots. When I look back at photos I have taken with the MX (example), there are number that I know wouldn't have happened with an auto-exposure camera, because I wouldn't have seen them in that particular way.

Kerran_156 · 02-01-2013, 12:16 AM

Hey guys, first off, amazing photo sluggo. I dont really understand the hype on the me super , I just picked one up yesterday for $10, mostly for the lens. A pentax m 50mm f/1.4, but i am still wondering whether or not I want to try out the auto exposure. Although a pro is definitely the size of the me super, which is almost dwarfed by a k1000, the manual mode of the me super is also definitely a after thought and on my particular camera, very hard to tell what shutter speed you have chosen when in daylight. Despite what sluggo said i would go with the mx. It will improve your photography.

Kerran

ChopperCharles · 02-01-2013, 06:21 AM

I don't think the me's way is an afterthought. I actually very much like being able to adjust the shutter speed and aperture without having to remove my eye from the finder.

Charles.

titrisol · 02-01-2013, 08:38 AM

The MX has the speed selector in a dial, not with button.
Plus the viewfinder is somehow nicer. The light meter is as useful as the ME Super and it has no uto modes... which for some old dudes like me is awesome.

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

I don't understand why the MX seems so popular. It's not significantly different from the ME Super that I can tell, other than having a less useful light meter and no auto mode. The MV-1 at least is a sexy black, even if it is the most basic of this bunch.

Charles.

titrisol · 02-01-2013, 08:41 AM

The spotmatics are really great cameras, the lever on the left is the DOF/meter switch.
The Sp-F can use either this mehod or fully opened metering with the SMC lenses
you can find the manuals for all of these at pentax-manuals.com

and if you are going to do something like that art, you'd have much better luck/fun selling the cameras back in the forum ....

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

The Spotmatcis are interesting. What does the lever do on the left side of the camera, near where the AF/MF switch would be on a dSLR? DOF preview? I don't have any screw mount lenses.

I'm both really surprised and slightly disheartened about this haul. I mean, it's awesome to pick up 8 working cameras for a song... but I wanted 8 broke-ass cameras for a song. Now I feel like I shouldn't use three of them on an art project, because they're good cameras. Hrmph.

Charles.

ChopperCharles · 02-01-2013, 08:54 AM

Anybody have a line on some M50 f/2s? or 28mm or anything really, to go on these cameras cheaply.

I plan to keep one for myself, *possibly* use three to make a lamp, and the remaining four I'll replace the light seals and mirror foam and give them to my univeristy's camera club.

Note that even when I do make the lamp, I will not be damaging the cameras in any way. Hrm... Hrmmm.... I just had an idea. If, instead of screwing them all together with the hot-shoe->tripod adapters... I could build a holster system where the camera is supported by the base, but held in place by the hot shoe mount. It'd be a simple matter to weld some brackets to a metal tube, and mount the metal tube in a nice wood base... then I can keep three cameras for myself, fully operational and working, and use the lamp base as a holster. AND the best part is, my girlfriend will think it's a unique piece of art, not me owning three more fully operational cameras! Why didn't I think of this before!?!

Charles.

**boriscleto** · 02-01-2013, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

Anybody have a line on some M50 f/2s? or 28mm or anything really, to go on these cameras cheaply.

Check shopgoodwill.com, M50s come up all the time there. There's an A50/2 there currently at $5.00 with three days left.

klaatu3 · 02-02-2013, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

So, I've been looking for dead, broken, junk cameras for an art project. I found a guy on eBay selling 8 Pentax bodies, marked as non-working, for parts, for $40 Buy It Now, so I jumped on it.

I received the bodies today, and.... they're not junk. Every single body works! No sticky shutters, several of them had good batteries and working light meters, and all the bodies are in pretty nice shape, actually.

Here's my score: 2 ME's, 1 ME Super, one MX, one MG, one black MV1, one Spotmatic (no hotshoe) and one Spotmatic-F (with hotshoe).

I think I want to run a roll through each of these to make sure there are no light leaks or meter issues, and then give a few to my local university's photography classes.

My question is... out of all of these, which is the one I should keep and use for myself? I've got my eye on the ME-Super, as it appears to be the only one with both auto and manual controls. I don't see a lot of difference between the ME, MG, and MV-1. The MX is obviously full manual, just like the K-1000, but with a better focusing screen and light meter.

Charles.

What a great find, OP! To find so many classic, working bodies for that price--it must have felt like Christmas morning! It's also cool that you're thinking of donating most of them, so another generation can learn film photography.

Given a choice between keeping the MX and the ME Super, I'd say the ME Sup; it's more versatile and has that metal 1/2000 sec shutter. The batteries for it are still cheap and widely available, so just keep a spare set in your bag for emergencies.

womble · 02-02-2013, 02:16 PM

I'm afraid that lamp just makes me want to cry!

K.

**grhazelton** · 02-02-2013, 03:28 PM

Keep the ME Super and the MX. Then watch for the winders, they are different for each camera. They add just enough bulk to make the tiny cameras more fitting to the hand, at least for me, and they aid in shooting verticals. The depth of field preview in the MX is invaluable for serious work. While I have both cameras and like them immensely, the MX would be one to keep for me if made to choose.

And yes, keep the Spotmatics. What a haul you got!

ChopperCharles · 12-01-2013, 05:05 PM

FYI, I did eventually make a lamp using the cameras. Except, I made it non-destructive. All of the cameras can be removed (only the bottom camera - the MX - can be removed easily though), and are not modified or damaged in any way.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/230045-lamp...x-cameras.html

Charles.

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01-31-2013, 07:32 PM	#16
Sluggo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ames, Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 774	Originally posted by ChopperCharles I don't understand why the MX seems so popular.... Others have replied to this, but I wanted to add a couple of pennies' worth. Some people really prefer to shoot in manual exposure mode, for various reasons both aesthetic and practical. Anyone who has this mindset will grab the MX over the ME Super in a second, because the MX is really made for manual exposure, and the ME Super only supports it rather clumsily, as an afterthought. Mind, I say this as someone who also loves the ME Super (and owns three of them!). But going between an auto-exposure and dedicated manual-exposure camera turns me into a different photographer, working at a different pace, thinking differently about subjects, getting different shots. When I look back at photos I have taken with the MX (example), there are number that I know wouldn't have happened with an auto-exposure camera, because I wouldn't have seen them in that particular way.

02-01-2013, 12:16 AM	#17
Kerran_156 New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 8	Hey guys, first off, amazing photo sluggo. I dont really understand the hype on the me super , I just picked one up yesterday for $10, mostly for the lens. A pentax m 50mm f/1.4, but i am still wondering whether or not I want to try out the auto exposure. Although a pro is definitely the size of the me super, which is almost dwarfed by a k1000, the manual mode of the me super is also definitely a after thought and on my particular camera, very hard to tell what shutter speed you have chosen when in daylight. Despite what sluggo said i would go with the mx. It will improve your photography. Kerran

02-01-2013, 06:21 AM	#18
ChopperCharles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Durham, nc Photos: Albums Posts: 946 Original Poster	I don't think the me's way is an afterthought. I actually very much like being able to adjust the shutter speed and aperture without having to remove my eye from the finder. Charles.

02-01-2013, 08:38 AM	#19
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,613	The MX has the speed selector in a dial, not with button. Plus the viewfinder is somehow nicer. The light meter is as useful as the ME Super and it has no uto modes... which for some old dudes like me is awesome. Originally posted by ChopperCharles I don't understand why the MX seems so popular. It's not significantly different from the ME Super that I can tell, other than having a less useful light meter and no auto mode. The MV-1 at least is a sexy black, even if it is the most basic of this bunch. Charles.

02-01-2013, 08:41 AM	#20
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,613	The spotmatics are really great cameras, the lever on the left is the DOF/meter switch. The Sp-F can use either this mehod or fully opened metering with the SMC lenses you can find the manuals for all of these at pentax-manuals.com and if you are going to do something like that art, you'd have much better luck/fun selling the cameras back in the forum .... Originally posted by ChopperCharles The Spotmatcis are interesting. What does the lever do on the left side of the camera, near where the AF/MF switch would be on a dSLR? DOF preview? I don't have any screw mount lenses. I'm both really surprised and slightly disheartened about this haul. I mean, it's awesome to pick up 8 working cameras for a song... but I wanted 8 broke-ass cameras for a song. Now I feel like I shouldn't use three of them on an art project, because they're good cameras. Hrmph. Charles.

02-01-2013, 08:54 AM	#21
ChopperCharles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Durham, nc Photos: Albums Posts: 946 Original Poster	Anybody have a line on some M50 f/2s? or 28mm or anything really, to go on these cameras cheaply. I plan to keep one for myself, possibly use three to make a lamp, and the remaining four I'll replace the light seals and mirror foam and give them to my univeristy's camera club. Note that even when I do make the lamp, I will not be damaging the cameras in any way. Hrm... Hrmmm.... I just had an idea. If, instead of screwing them all together with the hot-shoe->tripod adapters... I could build a holster system where the camera is supported by the base, but held in place by the hot shoe mount. It'd be a simple matter to weld some brackets to a metal tube, and mount the metal tube in a nice wood base... then I can keep three cameras for myself, fully operational and working, and use the lamp base as a holster. AND the best part is, my girlfriend will think it's a unique piece of art, not me owning three more fully operational cameras! Why didn't I think of this before!?! Charles.

02-01-2013, 09:13 AM	#22
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,242	Originally posted by ChopperCharles Anybody have a line on some M50 f/2s? or 28mm or anything really, to go on these cameras cheaply. Check shopgoodwill.com, M50s come up all the time there. There's an A50/2 there currently at $5.00 with three days left.

02-02-2013, 11:07 AM	#23
klaatu3 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 75	Originally posted by ChopperCharles So, I've been looking for dead, broken, junk cameras for an art project. I found a guy on eBay selling 8 Pentax bodies, marked as non-working, for parts, for $40 Buy It Now, so I jumped on it. I received the bodies today, and.... they're not junk. Every single body works! No sticky shutters, several of them had good batteries and working light meters, and all the bodies are in pretty nice shape, actually. Here's my score: 2 ME's, 1 ME Super, one MX, one MG, one black MV1, one Spotmatic (no hotshoe) and one Spotmatic-F (with hotshoe). I think I want to run a roll through each of these to make sure there are no light leaks or meter issues, and then give a few to my local university's photography classes. My question is... out of all of these, which is the one I should keep and use for myself? I've got my eye on the ME-Super, as it appears to be the only one with both auto and manual controls. I don't see a lot of difference between the ME, MG, and MV-1. The MX is obviously full manual, just like the K-1000, but with a better focusing screen and light meter. Charles. What a great find, OP! To find so many classic, working bodies for that price--it must have felt like Christmas morning! It's also cool that you're thinking of donating most of them, so another generation can learn film photography. Given a choice between keeping the MX and the ME Super, I'd say the ME Sup; it's more versatile and has that metal 1/2000 sec shutter. The batteries for it are still cheap and widely available, so just keep a spare set in your bag for emergencies.

02-02-2013, 02:16 PM	#24
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,267	I'm afraid that lamp just makes me want to cry! K.

02-02-2013, 03:28 PM	#25
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,946	Keep the ME Super and the MX. Then watch for the winders, they are different for each camera. They add just enough bulk to make the tiny cameras more fitting to the hand, at least for me, and they aid in shooting verticals. The depth of field preview in the MX is invaluable for serious work. While I have both cameras and like them immensely, the MX would be one to keep for me if made to choose. And yes, keep the Spotmatics. What a haul you got!

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12-01-2013, 05:05 PM	#26
ChopperCharles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Durham, nc Photos: Albums Posts: 946 Original Poster	FYI, I did eventually make a lamp using the cameras. Except, I made it non-destructive. All of the cameras can be removed (only the bottom camera - the MX - can be removed easily though), and are not modified or damaged in any way. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/230045-lamp...x-cameras.html Charles.