The Pentax MX tricky trickster tricks

Eyewanders · 06-22-2018, 03:21 PM - **3 Likes**

Just thought I'd post up a couple of extremely short videos I made today on two MX operation topics that come up now and again.

First, the stiff shutter dial. Yes, it's is more of a chore than many shutter dials out there, but using it one-fingered is certainly not impossible (or even all that difficult) as some might have you think. And second, the mysterious mirror lock-up "flick" trick. Quite a bit easier than you might think if you've never tried it. Works pretty much every time once you get the hang of it.

Youtu.be

Youtu.be

Youtu.be

That is all. Cheers.

officiousbystander · 06-22-2018, 11:03 PM

Thanks for this. I'll practice the single index finger technique. But I can't work out what you're doing with the mirror lockup.

LensBeginner · 06-22-2018, 11:41 PM

Originally posted by officiousbystander

Thanks for this. I'll practice the single index finger technique. But I can't work out what you're doing with the mirror lockup.

I think he's hitting the shutter button with enough force to trigger the "mirror up", but not enough to make the shutter fire.
Neat.

Eyewanders · 06-23-2018, 12:46 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by officiousbystander

Thanks for this. I'll practice the single index finger technique. But I can't work out what you're doing with the mirror lockup.

@LensBeginner has it. That's about all there is to it. It works on the K1000 as well which also doesn't have a proper MLU. It takes less finesse than it looks.

You just "flick" the shutter release without actually pushing it - the mirror will go up but the rest of the shutter sequence won't complete and it'll remain that way until you actually press the shutter button to expose the image, and then the mirror comes back down normally, e.g. a little mirror lock-up hack for long exposure and what not.

**TwoUptons** · 06-23-2018, 06:31 AM

If I could figure out how to do it through a cable release I’d really feel special 🙂

But I’m either not that coordinated or it doesn’t work...

-Eric

Eyewanders · 06-23-2018, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by TwoUptons

If I could figure out how to do it through a cable release I’d really feel special 🙂

But I’m either not that coordinated or it doesn’t work...

-Eric

Haha - I've never tried that but I bet it could work if you thread the release on *very* carefully after locking it up. Alternatively, use the self timer.

**ChrisPlatt** · 06-23-2018, 12:27 PM

There's no need to practice stupid camera tricks!

If you often find yourself in need of mirror lockup get a model that has that feature.
FWIW Pentax made several...

Chris

rickxx · 06-23-2018, 08:57 PM

thanks! i'll have to give these a try.

Eyewanders · 06-23-2018, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

There's no need to practice stupid camera tricks!

If you often find yourself in need of mirror lockup get a model that has that feature.
FWIW Pentax made several...

Chris

Ah, but there's no *need*.

That's just it though - I don't often find myself in need. On the MX I believe I've used a grand total of *once*.
Nearly every long-exp I do is on medium-format of some flavor. But it's nifty to the have the option.

**TwoUptons** · 06-24-2018, 08:59 AM

Those tricks are great for annoying Nikon FM owners...

Self timer? Sure. It just screws in here...

DoF preview? Just dismount the lens a little...

Mirror lock up? Sure. See?

But the Nikon did have an optional motor drive. I couldn’t figure out a trick for that...

For some reason they were never impressed 🙂

-Eric

LensBeginner · 06-24-2018, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by TwoUptons

Those tricks are great for annoying Nikon FM owners...

Self timer? Sure. It just screws in here...

DoF preview? Just dismount the lens a little...

Mirror lock up? Sure. See?

But the Nikon did have an optional motor drive. I couldn’t figure out a trick for that...

For some reason they were never impressed 🙂

-Eric

Doesn't the MX have one as well?

Eyewanders · 06-24-2018, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

Doesn't the MX have one as well?

DoF preview - Yes.
Motordrive - Yes. (very rare - the "Winder" is common though)
Self-timer - Yes.
Mirror lockup - sort of; see above.

lol

Swift1 · 06-24-2018, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by TwoUptons

Those tricks are great for annoying Nikon FM owners...

Self timer? Sure. It just screws in here...

DoF preview? Just dismount the lens a little...

Mirror lock up? Sure. See?

But the Nikon did have an optional motor drive. I couldn’t figure out a trick for that...

For some reason they were never impressed 🙂

-Eric

The Nikon FM has all those features... why would FM owners be annoyed?

LensBeginner · 06-24-2018, 02:15 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Swift1

The Nikon FM has all those features... why would FM owners be annoyed?

Because they couldn't mount Pentax lenses on it! take that, Nikon owners!

**ChrisPlatt** · 06-24-2018, 02:49 PM

My simple solution was to buy both.

Chris

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06-22-2018, 11:03 PM	#2
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	Thanks for this. I'll practice the single index finger technique. But I can't work out what you're doing with the mirror lockup.

06-22-2018, 11:41 PM	#3
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by officiousbystander Thanks for this. I'll practice the single index finger technique. But I can't work out what you're doing with the mirror lockup. I think he's hitting the shutter button with enough force to trigger the "mirror up", but not enough to make the shutter fire. Neat.

06-23-2018, 12:46 AM - 1 Like	#4
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Originally posted by officiousbystander Thanks for this. I'll practice the single index finger technique. But I can't work out what you're doing with the mirror lockup. @LensBeginner has it. That's about all there is to it. It works on the K1000 as well which also doesn't have a proper MLU. It takes less finesse than it looks. You just "flick" the shutter release without actually pushing it - the mirror will go up but the rest of the shutter sequence won't complete and it'll remain that way until you actually press the shutter button to expose the image, and then the mirror comes back down normally, e.g. a little mirror lock-up hack for long exposure and what not.

06-23-2018, 06:31 AM	#5
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,213	If I could figure out how to do it through a cable release I’d really feel special 🙂 But I’m either not that coordinated or it doesn’t work... -Eric

06-23-2018, 11:28 AM	#6
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Originally posted by TwoUptons If I could figure out how to do it through a cable release I’d really feel special 🙂 But I’m either not that coordinated or it doesn’t work... -Eric Haha - I've never tried that but I bet it could work if you thread the release on very carefully after locking it up. Alternatively, use the self timer.

06-23-2018, 12:27 PM	#7
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	There's no need to practice stupid camera tricks! If you often find yourself in need of mirror lockup get a model that has that feature. FWIW Pentax made several... Chris

06-23-2018, 08:57 PM	#8
rickxx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: michigan Posts: 181	thanks! i'll have to give these a try.

06-23-2018, 09:04 PM	#9
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt There's no need to practice stupid camera tricks! If you often find yourself in need of mirror lockup get a model that has that feature. FWIW Pentax made several... Chris Ah, but there's no need. That's just it though - I don't often find myself in need. On the MX I believe I've used a grand total of once. Nearly every long-exp I do is on medium-format of some flavor. But it's nifty to the have the option.

06-24-2018, 08:59 AM	#10
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,213	Those tricks are great for annoying Nikon FM owners... Self timer? Sure. It just screws in here... DoF preview? Just dismount the lens a little... Mirror lock up? Sure. See? But the Nikon did have an optional motor drive. I couldn’t figure out a trick for that... For some reason they were never impressed 🙂 -Eric

06-24-2018, 01:00 PM	#11
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by TwoUptons Those tricks are great for annoying Nikon FM owners... Self timer? Sure. It just screws in here... DoF preview? Just dismount the lens a little... Mirror lock up? Sure. See? But the Nikon did have an optional motor drive. I couldn’t figure out a trick for that... For some reason they were never impressed 🙂 -Eric Doesn't the MX have one as well?

06-24-2018, 01:28 PM	#12
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Originally posted by LensBeginner Doesn't the MX have one as well? DoF preview - Yes. Motordrive - Yes. (very rare - the "Winder" is common though) Self-timer - Yes. Mirror lockup - sort of; see above. lol

06-24-2018, 02:08 PM	#13
Swift1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,079	Originally posted by TwoUptons Those tricks are great for annoying Nikon FM owners... Self timer? Sure. It just screws in here... DoF preview? Just dismount the lens a little... Mirror lock up? Sure. See? But the Nikon did have an optional motor drive. I couldn’t figure out a trick for that... For some reason they were never impressed 🙂 -Eric The Nikon FM has all those features... why would FM owners be annoyed?

06-24-2018, 02:15 PM - 2 Likes	#14
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by Swift1 The Nikon FM has all those features... why would FM owners be annoyed? Because they couldn't mount Pentax lenses on it! take that, Nikon owners!

06-24-2018, 02:49 PM	#15
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	My simple solution was to buy both. Chris