Pentax MX Film SLR - that VF was a huge surprise

Matt_Dodwell_UK · 02-01-2018, 01:44 AM

My MX came back last week from CLA and it's fantastic. This is definitely a camera I am going to be using a lot. The VF is really nice and clear, the focusing screen is nice a bright, but I expected it to be a little brighter when I compare it against the SP500 I have. I think that might be the fact it is a 3rd part focusing screen and not an original.

I currently have the 50mm 1.4 attached and am just waiting for a good day (light wise) to start shooting with it. Sadly indoors is just too dark at the moment, and outdoors has been too wet, or I am tied up at work when it's been nice.

**grhazelton** · 03-14-2018, 04:12 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by cooltouch

In defense of the plain ground glass screen that came with this MX -- I have for many years preferred plain ground glass screens. I got into the habit of using them back in the mid-80s because of a few optics I owned that were rather slow, rendering a split screen with micro prisms virtually useless, and an annoyance since it was in the middle of the screen, thus blocking my view. It did take some getting used to, using a plain screen, but I managed, and finally got to where I preferred it, regardless of the aperture and focal length of the lens I was using. To find correct focus, I rock the focusing ring back and forth, such that I'm going in and out of focus in both directions. I decrease the amount of travel as I rock the ring until I've found best focus with little if any focus rocking at all. It's not so difficult when using my method.

I can second Jon Goodman as being the source for light seals. The instructions he includes with the kit are themselves worth the price of the kit. My experiences with Jon are, when I contact him about a seal kit I need, his response typically is that he'll send them out right away and he's trusting his customers to be prompt paying him for the kits. Not too many businesses like that left in this world. The above link shows an email address for Jon that I don't believe is valid anymore. The one that he most likely will respond to is: JGood21967@aol.com

Another vote for Jon Goodman! I contacted him for seals for an Olympus OM 4 and, as you described, he sent the kit out before I sent the cash. His name is his description: a Goodman.

Eyewanders · 03-19-2018, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by Matt_Dodwell_UK

My MX came back last week from CLA and it's fantastic. This is definitely a camera I am going to be using a lot. The VF is really nice and clear, the focusing screen is nice a bright, but I expected it to be a little brighter when I compare it against the SP500 I have. I think that might be the fact it is a 3rd part focusing screen and not an original.

I currently have the 50mm 1.4 attached and am just waiting for a good day (light wise) to start shooting with it. Sadly indoors is just too dark at the moment, and outdoors has been too wet, or I am tied up at work when it's been nice.

With a 50/1.4 and a roll of Super 800 or Tri-x or many other faster films, you have all the light you need. Get taking picture of your coffee table. The world needs more of those.

Gratz on the find. I've said time and again, the MX isn't my favorite camera, but it's the one I'd keep.

---------- Post added 03-19-18 at 12:20 AM ----------

Originally posted by grhazelton

Another vote for Jon Goodman! I contacted him for seals for an Olympus OM 4 and, as you described, he sent the kit out before I sent the cash. His name is his description: a Goodman.

Yet another here. His kits have re-sealed at least 5 various bodies of mine over the last 5 or so years. And he's just more than pleasant to communicate with.

cooltouch · 03-24-2018, 06:51 AM

Ain't it nice that there are still people like him left in the world?

LGAWSKY · 03-05-2019, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by Matt_Dodwell_UK

I have just contacted a UK specialist in film Pentax cameras and they have told me that it has a specialist focusing screen attached to it, probably something to aid astrophotography.

If you wouldn't mind letting me know the details of this UK Pentax film camera specialist I would much appreciate it! I am UK based and have just bought a Pentax MX myself

RustyT · 03-06-2019, 01:23 AM

Originally posted by LGAWSKY

If you wouldn't mind letting me know the details of this UK Pentax film camera specialist I would much appreciate it! I am UK based and have just bought a Pentax MX myself

I had my Pentax MX serviced by Robin @ Harrow Technical (harrowtechnical.co.uk). I was about to post that he had retired but it appears that he is doing a mail order repair service. He did a fantastic job on mine and is a pleasure to deal with.

Asahi Photo are the other Pentax specialists who get recommended a lot.

LGAWSKY · 03-06-2019, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by RustyT

I had my Pentax MX serviced by Robin @ Harrow Technical (harrowtechnical.co.uk). I was about to post that he had retired but it appears that he is doing a mail order repair service. He did a fantastic job on mine and is a pleasure to deal with.

Asahi Photo are the other Pentax specialists who get recommended a lot.

Originally posted by RustyT

I had my Pentax MX serviced by Robin @ Harrow Technical (harrowtechnical.co.uk). I was about to post that he had retired but it appears that he is doing a mail order repair service. He did a fantastic job on mine and is a pleasure to deal with.

Asahi Photo are the other Pentax specialists who get recommended a lot.

Thank you very much! I will look into these

abruzzi · 03-06-2019, 04:38 PM

Going back to the original post, my MX had the standard split screen, but after using my SV, SP, and 67, all which have just a microprism screen, I've come to like them a lot. I found someone in Canada with a new microprism screen for the MX for $30 shipped. So I bought it, and I love it.

LesDMess · 03-06-2019, 08:30 PM

From what I have seen, I believe the Pentax MX has the biggest viewfinder magnification of any non-interchangeable viewfinder SLR cameras. Of course this dates back to the original Asahi Pentax that had a lifesize viewfinder and I appreciate that Pentax continued this practice as opposed to the other brands.

**monochrome** · 03-06-2019, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

From what I have seen, I believe the Pentax MX has the biggest viewfinder magnification of any non-interchangeable viewfinder SLR cameras. Of course this dates back to the original Asahi Pentax that had a lifesize viewfinder and I appreciate that Pentax continued this practice as opposed to the other brands.

The AP viewfinder is remarkable for the age of the camera.

Astro-Baby · 03-14-2019, 03:40 PM

Another shout for Jon Goodmans seals here as well, the door channel seals he sells are waaaaay better than the sticky back junk on ebay, dead simple to fit plus he really knows his stuff. Some of the seal kits on ebay are missing parts. The one I spotted is the door latch end felts missing from the first kit I bought off ebay. Jon also does good quality velvet if you need any for cameras that need velvet seals plus he does the double sided sticky stuff for leatherette.

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02-01-2018, 01:44 AM	#16
Matt_Dodwell_UK Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: South West England Posts: 34 Original Poster	My MX came back last week from CLA and it's fantastic. This is definitely a camera I am going to be using a lot. The VF is really nice and clear, the focusing screen is nice a bright, but I expected it to be a little brighter when I compare it against the SP500 I have. I think that might be the fact it is a 3rd part focusing screen and not an original. I currently have the 50mm 1.4 attached and am just waiting for a good day (light wise) to start shooting with it. Sadly indoors is just too dark at the moment, and outdoors has been too wet, or I am tied up at work when it's been nice.

03-14-2018, 04:12 PM - 1 Like	#17
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by cooltouch In defense of the plain ground glass screen that came with this MX -- I have for many years preferred plain ground glass screens. I got into the habit of using them back in the mid-80s because of a few optics I owned that were rather slow, rendering a split screen with micro prisms virtually useless, and an annoyance since it was in the middle of the screen, thus blocking my view. It did take some getting used to, using a plain screen, but I managed, and finally got to where I preferred it, regardless of the aperture and focal length of the lens I was using. To find correct focus, I rock the focusing ring back and forth, such that I'm going in and out of focus in both directions. I decrease the amount of travel as I rock the ring until I've found best focus with little if any focus rocking at all. It's not so difficult when using my method. I can second Jon Goodman as being the source for light seals. The instructions he includes with the kit are themselves worth the price of the kit. My experiences with Jon are, when I contact him about a seal kit I need, his response typically is that he'll send them out right away and he's trusting his customers to be prompt paying him for the kits. Not too many businesses like that left in this world. The above link shows an email address for Jon that I don't believe is valid anymore. The one that he most likely will respond to is: JGood21967@aol.com Another vote for Jon Goodman! I contacted him for seals for an Olympus OM 4 and, as you described, he sent the kit out before I sent the cash. His name is his description: a Goodman.

03-19-2018, 12:18 AM	#18
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by Matt_Dodwell_UK My MX came back last week from CLA and it's fantastic. This is definitely a camera I am going to be using a lot. The VF is really nice and clear, the focusing screen is nice a bright, but I expected it to be a little brighter when I compare it against the SP500 I have. I think that might be the fact it is a 3rd part focusing screen and not an original. I currently have the 50mm 1.4 attached and am just waiting for a good day (light wise) to start shooting with it. Sadly indoors is just too dark at the moment, and outdoors has been too wet, or I am tied up at work when it's been nice. With a 50/1.4 and a roll of Super 800 or Tri-x or many other faster films, you have all the light you need. Get taking picture of your coffee table. The world needs more of those. Gratz on the find. I've said time and again, the MX isn't my favorite camera, but it's the one I'd keep. ---------- Post added 03-19-18 at 12:20 AM ---------- Originally posted by grhazelton Another vote for Jon Goodman! I contacted him for seals for an Olympus OM 4 and, as you described, he sent the kit out before I sent the cash. His name is his description: a Goodman. Yet another here. His kits have re-sealed at least 5 various bodies of mine over the last 5 or so years. And he's just more than pleasant to communicate with.

03-24-2018, 06:51 AM	#19
cooltouch Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 982	Ain't it nice that there are still people like him left in the world?

03-05-2019, 04:07 PM	#20
LGAWSKY New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 8	Originally posted by Matt_Dodwell_UK I have just contacted a UK specialist in film Pentax cameras and they have told me that it has a specialist focusing screen attached to it, probably something to aid astrophotography. If you wouldn't mind letting me know the details of this UK Pentax film camera specialist I would much appreciate it! I am UK based and have just bought a Pentax MX myself

03-06-2019, 01:23 AM	#21
RustyT New Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 17	Originally posted by LGAWSKY If you wouldn't mind letting me know the details of this UK Pentax film camera specialist I would much appreciate it! I am UK based and have just bought a Pentax MX myself I had my Pentax MX serviced by Robin @ Harrow Technical (harrowtechnical.co.uk). I was about to post that he had retired but it appears that he is doing a mail order repair service. He did a fantastic job on mine and is a pleasure to deal with. Asahi Photo are the other Pentax specialists who get recommended a lot.

03-06-2019, 02:43 PM	#22
LGAWSKY New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 8	Originally posted by RustyT I had my Pentax MX serviced by Robin @ Harrow Technical (harrowtechnical.co.uk). I was about to post that he had retired but it appears that he is doing a mail order repair service. He did a fantastic job on mine and is a pleasure to deal with. Asahi Photo are the other Pentax specialists who get recommended a lot. Originally posted by RustyT I had my Pentax MX serviced by Robin @ Harrow Technical (harrowtechnical.co.uk). I was about to post that he had retired but it appears that he is doing a mail order repair service. He did a fantastic job on mine and is a pleasure to deal with. Asahi Photo are the other Pentax specialists who get recommended a lot. Thank you very much! I will look into these

03-06-2019, 04:38 PM	#23
abruzzi Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: New Mexico Posts: 788	Going back to the original post, my MX had the standard split screen, but after using my SV, SP, and 67, all which have just a microprism screen, I've come to like them a lot. I found someone in Canada with a new microprism screen for the MX for $30 shipped. So I bought it, and I love it.

03-06-2019, 08:30 PM	#24
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	From what I have seen, I believe the Pentax MX has the biggest viewfinder magnification of any non-interchangeable viewfinder SLR cameras. Of course this dates back to the original Asahi Pentax that had a lifesize viewfinder and I appreciate that Pentax continued this practice as opposed to the other brands.

03-06-2019, 08:32 PM	#25
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by LesDMess From what I have seen, I believe the Pentax MX has the biggest viewfinder magnification of any non-interchangeable viewfinder SLR cameras. Of course this dates back to the original Asahi Pentax that had a lifesize viewfinder and I appreciate that Pentax continued this practice as opposed to the other brands. The AP viewfinder is remarkable for the age of the camera.

03-14-2019, 03:40 PM	#26
Astro-Baby Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reigate, Surrey Posts: 764	Another shout for Jon Goodmans seals here as well, the door channel seals he sells are waaaaay better than the sticky back junk on ebay, dead simple to fit plus he really knows his stuff. Some of the seal kits on ebay are missing parts. The one I spotted is the door latch end felts missing from the first kit I bought off ebay. Jon also does good quality velvet if you need any for cameras that need velvet seals plus he does the double sided sticky stuff for leatherette.