Originally posted by jno I use a K70, but would like to have a film camera in the bag.
Something rugged and relatively portable that I can stick my K-mount lenses on. Doesn't have to be easy or great to use, of anything it'll be more frustratingly-fun (and teach me more) if there aren't a ton of aids.
The K1000 is easy to find, but a bit bulky for something that'll spend most of its time on the bag. I'm reading up on the cameras, but thought the forum here might have good suggestions?
Personally I think the K1000 is overpriced due to nostalgia -- you're better off with its predecessor, the KM (which has more features), or better yet the KX (so far my favorite Pentax). Then again, these are all-mechanical cameras with clockwork shutter mechanisms, so they are more likely to need service to work properly.
MX is a smaller, lighter alternative; however I'm not nearly as big a fan as most others. I find the shutter dial difficult to turn (it's stiff and hemmed in by other controls) and I don't like the light-meter display (you get the same indication whether you're 1 stop or 5 stops off proper exposure). I much prefer the ME Super, but I don't think it's very good as a manual camera, as I find the buttons to be a slow and awkward way to set shutter speed.
I would also suggest a third-party camera -- Ricoh is my pick. The KR-10 (not KR-10M or KR-10 Super; just plain KR-10) and XR-2 (or XR-2s) are great cameras with a good feature set and electronically-timed shutters. They are smaller than the Ks and have a lighter (though cheaper-feeling) polycarbonate body. And they are *very* affordable. Cheaper still are the Sears-branded version of these cameras, the KSX (again, no Super) and KS Auto. Last KS Auto I bought came with a Sears (Ricoh) 135/2.8 and cost me around $30 including shipping. I own several Ricoh/Sears cameras and don't think I've ever paid more than $40.
(Why no super? They have an LCD meter display that's difficult to see with a dark subject. KR-10 and XR-2 have match-needle meters like the Pentax KX.)
If you want mechanical, that's the Ricoh XR-1 (Sears KS-1000). I own one but it has bad shutter timing, and I'm not sure where to send it to get it fixed (or if I need bother as I have a KX!).
HTH
Aaron