most robust K mount camera

**MrclSchprs** · 03-24-2023, 05:03 AM

Which K mount camera is, in your opinion, the most robust?

I think it is fair to make a distinction between most robust including the light meter and most robust ignoring the electronics related to the light meter.

My vote goes to the MX but I do not have any knowledge or insights to support it.

What do you think?

gylfimag · 03-24-2023, 05:35 AM

The MX was probably the most robust K mount camera ever when new. Now the surviving cameras are approximately 40 years old (it was marketed from 1976 to 1985) so they are probably considerably less robust. My copy still works though!

Dartmoor Dave · 03-24-2023, 05:37 AM - **4 Likes**

Well, my K1000 is now in its 43rd year of use with who-knows-how-many thousands of frames on the clock, and it still works as well as the day I first got it. And that's with no servicing at all over the years.

It's tough enough to be an essential part of my zombie apocalypse survival kit. Whack a semi-undead brain muncher over the head with a K1000 and they'll sure as heck go down and stay down. Plus you can take a photo afterward as the all-important proof of kill.

**UncleVanya** · 03-24-2023, 05:44 AM

Most robust also may need to qualify if routine maintenance is involved in the equation. The old mechanical bodies work well but may need periodic fine tuning. Something like the pz-1 needs batteries and seals but little else. Tough to decide between these if you don’t personally have the skills for the all mechanical body adjustments.

**StigVidar** · 03-24-2023, 05:50 AM - **1 Like**

I have an old Program A and a MZ-5 which is never used. But my *istDS is 19 years and is still in use.

Wheatfield · 03-24-2023, 05:52 AM - **3 Likes**

I'm thinking the early K1000s before they started cost cutting on them.

**FozzFoster** · 03-24-2023, 08:11 AM

+1 for the K1000
Check out my thoughts at the beginning of my tutorial video around 00:45 and my proof at the end at 10:55

Youtu.be

Last edited by FozzFoster; 03-24-2023 at 08:48 AM.

**KoenR** · 03-24-2023, 08:42 AM - **1 Like**

My Pentax KX film reflex is still in working order. One vote for the KX!

Wasp · 03-24-2023, 10:41 AM - **1 Like**

My vote goes to the LX. I have one and it is a really solid piece of kit. The K1000 feels kinda tinny next to it. The MX that I had long ago was quite solid, but the LX was a step up.

Sadly, the electronics in the LX has not aged that well. Mechanically, it is in a league of its own
.

**gofour3** · 03-24-2023, 10:46 AM - **1 Like**

Any fully mechanical camera like the KM, KX, K1000 or the MX.

Phil.

JoeUrban · 03-24-2023, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by gofour3

Any fully mechanical camera like the KM, KX, K1000 or the MX.

Phil.

I second that vote, especially the first 3. The miniaturization in the MX for me knocks it slightly lower but it is still solid.

pid · 03-24-2023, 11:06 AM

the K1000 is very robust and doesn't even need batteries or any kind of electronic to work. There is a little batterie for the lightmeter, but the cam works well without it too.

Lord Lucan · 03-24-2023, 11:46 AM

Originally posted by pid

the K1000 is very robust and doesn't even need batteries or any kind of electronic to work.

That goes for most of the cameras mentioned so far, including the KM, KX, MX, and LX. Also for almost any SLR camera made before 1976 (when the K1000 was introduced).

**jopenmx** · 03-24-2023, 12:34 PM

One vote more for Pentax KX. While my black KX is still in perfect working order, my MX has problems with the LED´s , therefore it needs a CLA .

**FozzFoster** · 03-24-2023, 12:51 PM

My MX had the little aperture reflector prism fall out of place.
Was able to dissemble and reattach the prism (which chipped a bit, but some black felt marker and you can barely see the chip).
Still the MX is the best manual film camera in my collection.

03-24-2023, 05:03 AM	#1
MrclSchprs Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 110	most robust K mount camera Which K mount camera is, in your opinion, the most robust? I think it is fair to make a distinction between most robust including the light meter and most robust ignoring the electronics related to the light meter. My vote goes to the MX but I do not have any knowledge or insights to support it. What do you think?

03-24-2023, 08:42 AM - 1 Like	#8
KoenR Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Gent - Belgium Posts: 45	Pentax KX My Pentax KX film reflex is still in working order. One vote for the KX!

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03-24-2023, 05:35 AM	#2
gylfimag Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 90	The MX was probably the most robust K mount camera ever when new. Now the surviving cameras are approximately 40 years old (it was marketed from 1976 to 1985) so they are probably considerably less robust. My copy still works though!

03-24-2023, 05:37 AM - 4 Likes	#3
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,882	Well, my K1000 is now in its 43rd year of use with who-knows-how-many thousands of frames on the clock, and it still works as well as the day I first got it. And that's with no servicing at all over the years. It's tough enough to be an essential part of my zombie apocalypse survival kit. Whack a semi-undead brain muncher over the head with a K1000 and they'll sure as heck go down and stay down. Plus you can take a photo afterward as the all-important proof of kill.

03-24-2023, 05:44 AM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Most robust also may need to qualify if routine maintenance is involved in the equation. The old mechanical bodies work well but may need periodic fine tuning. Something like the pz-1 needs batteries and seals but little else. Tough to decide between these if you don’t personally have the skills for the all mechanical body adjustments.

03-24-2023, 05:50 AM - 1 Like	#5
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 705	I have an old Program A and a MZ-5 which is never used. But my *istDS is 19 years and is still in use.

03-24-2023, 05:52 AM - 3 Likes	#6
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	I'm thinking the early K1000s before they started cost cutting on them.

03-24-2023, 10:41 AM - 1 Like	#9
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	My vote goes to the LX. I have one and it is a really solid piece of kit. The K1000 feels kinda tinny next to it. The MX that I had long ago was quite solid, but the LX was a step up. Sadly, the electronics in the LX has not aged that well. Mechanically, it is in a league of its own .

03-24-2023, 10:46 AM - 1 Like	#10
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	Any fully mechanical camera like the KM, KX, K1000 or the MX. Phil.

03-24-2023, 10:56 AM	#11
JoeUrban New Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 25	Originally posted by gofour3 Any fully mechanical camera like the KM, KX, K1000 or the MX. Phil. I second that vote, especially the first 3. The miniaturization in the MX for me knocks it slightly lower but it is still solid.

03-24-2023, 11:06 AM	#12
pid Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 567	the K1000 is very robust and doesn't even need batteries or any kind of electronic to work. There is a little batterie for the lightmeter, but the cam works well without it too.

03-24-2023, 11:46 AM	#13
Lord Lucan Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: South Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,963	Originally posted by pid the K1000 is very robust and doesn't even need batteries or any kind of electronic to work. That goes for most of the cameras mentioned so far, including the KM, KX, MX, and LX. Also for almost any SLR camera made before 1976 (when the K1000 was introduced).

03-24-2023, 12:34 PM	#14
jopenmx Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: vigo Photos: Gallery Posts: 137	One vote more for Pentax KX. While my black KX is still in perfect working order, my MX has problems with the LED´s , therefore it needs a CLA .

03-24-2023, 12:51 PM	#15
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	My MX had the little aperture reflector prism fall out of place. Was able to dissemble and reattach the prism (which chipped a bit, but some black felt marker and you can barely see the chip). Still the MX is the best manual film camera in my collection.