hello everyone,
my debut here. there many threads dedicated to this model, still i was tempted to compile my feelings into another one..
i've been using film exclusively, mostly slr-s for more than 20 years. i'm not a collector but with many of you i share appreciation for precious mechanics and optics. it has very little to do with photography, but i felt like a little fondling and few clicks with empty leica M3 a day could have some healing properties.. preferring slr-s, obsessed with 'workhorse' attribute, fearing mechanical failure in the terrain, i went mostly with nikons, obviously inspired with history (which is of course not absolute relevant measure). so i have F3,FM,FE, monstrous F4.. and yes, they've never put me down.
but there was a little worn black MX and 3.5/35 K in my possession that, despite using it just a little compared to nikons, i've felt something special towards. it was a magical small package with a feel of fullness, minimalistic and balanced design.. plus those old negatives shot with the lens.. so 'cultivated' sharpness and rich tonality..
combined with finally 'knowing what i really need and don't need' i've ended up with 3 MX bodies, 3.5/35K and 1.8/55K. (ok, there's one 28 sunagor somewhere that i hardly use). i'd wish this to be my only gear and for the first time i feel i'm able to get rid of nikon stuff, but..
again, the reliability. yes, MXs feel wonderful, but that doesn't equal real surviving capabilities. i still don't know how much i can trust them. despite many great reviews, here are my few concerns, based on bugs on my own cameras, as well as seen on the web over and over :
- problems related to shutter release assembly. (lock not functioning properly, advance lever blocking the release while on 'shooting' position, poorly engineered internal meter switch causing notorious problems..always on, always off, batt drain..)
- sticky mirror syndrome. one camera had problems with 1/1000, other with B .. (not the stickiness related to foam deterioration, but rather a mirror return mechanism)
- common issue of mismatch of shutter speed selector and it's viewfinder indicator. again, 2 of my 3 bodies.. (derailed or otherwise flawed 'communication' thread between mentioned two parts)
long and not very smooth advance lever action is something i can live with, despite being used to something different with nikons..
on a positive note - yes, MX is not silent, but most of the sound comes from mirror return, if you put it on B the sound and vibration is really minimal in the opening phase, that's what they presented as a air damping, not needing for lockup, etc.. so i'm not sure, why i've seen multiple complains about a great MX shake, even at 1/125.. i hope these comments are not based on experiments.
so.. i wish i could run around with 1 or 2 MX bodies and 2 my K lenses exclusively, without missing feeling of trust i have in my nikons. it's not happening yet though. but pentaxes really try hard to compensate me with 'the feel' and the gorgeous results on film. maybe i need a little more time with them..
all the best,
misok