Originally posted by PhilRich A little research on the internet indicates that the mx suffers from sticky mirror syndrome. Is this something that can be fixed with a normal maintenance cleaning?
Who can the camera be sent to for cleaning?
That is strange. When I did a search on "Pentax MX sticky mirror syndrome", I got results related to the LX camera.
I do get MX results with "Pentax MX sticky mirror" (no syndrome)
That said, when SLR mirror bumper foam gets old and sticky, it is not unusual for the mirror to get stuck in the
up position. This occurs across brands and models for SLR with foam or rubber bumpers. There are also reports on this site and others for various model Pentax cameras where the mirror is stuck in
up position due to degraded lubricants in the return mechanism. Sadly, the search results I found were for being stuck in the up position. Your problem (mirror sticks in down position) may be related, though it should be pointed out that the shutter is not supposed to fire if the mirror is down, hence, it is likely that the interlock did not get reset. This would be a matter of putting the mechanism back in order with cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment as needed.
Translation: Most techs will fix this sort of thing as part of a CLA, unless parts are required.
A little more explanation might help. A CLA usually involves complete or near-complete disassembly of the camera to allow thorough inspection and cleaning. Unless something has been damaged by abuse or wear, full cleaning and application of fresh lube, along with adjustments are usually enough to put things back to full working condition. While the MX is complex, its workings should be fairly transparent to an experienced repair tech, especially if they have Pentax experience.
Steve
Last edited by stevebrot; 06-13-2020 at 05:04 PM.