KX Quandary

beachboy2 · 06-28-2016, 10:34 PM

I have recently bought 2 Pentax KX film cameras on ebay.

The first (KX_1) is in good condition overall but has pentaprism issue such that viewfinder view is less than perfect. Also the exposure calibrates at +1.3, which is worked around by adjusting ASA value. So usable camera with workarounds.

The second camera (KX_2) is in very nice condition. Mirror is pristine. Pentaprism is fine. Shutter curtain looks pristine. However, exposure meter doesn't work. I have opened up camera and resoldered a dodgy connection but with my limited experience can't find a problem. Power is getting to circuit from batteries (new). Battery indicator does not work as upper contact piece is absent. This camera has possibly been serviced in the past? Otherwise where has that upper contact gone?

So should I move good pentaprism from KX_2 to KX_1 and have one very nice KX and keep KX_2 for future source of spare parts?

Last edited by beachboy2; 06-28-2016 at 11:35 PM. Reason: Added bit about shutter curtain.

Wild Mark · 06-28-2016, 10:59 PM

send both to Eric and have both services and made good. He is a very clever repairman.

beachboy2 · 06-28-2016, 11:25 PM

Originally posted by Wild Mark

send both to Eric and have both services and made good. He is a very clever repairman.

I'm in Australia, and cost is probably too much allowing for freight both ways. Japan repair is perhaps an option. I'm sure Eric doesn't repair (resilver) penta prisms so I would still end up with only one KX. I'm capable of switching penta prisms so that is a nil cost option for me.

Wild Mark · 06-28-2016, 11:48 PM

No Eric simply replaces them (prisms)

pathdoc · 06-29-2016, 02:08 AM

Your pentaprism switch plan will give you a fully working body (apart from the meter issue) in the first instance, so my suggestion is that if you can do it, do it - then hunt around for someone who can fix the other issues at leisure.

Xmas · 06-29-2016, 08:32 AM

I normally use both my SPs and both K1000s without batteries.

You don't need a perfect finder, problems don't show on the pictures.

beachboy2 · 06-29-2016, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by Xmas

I normally use both my SPs and both K1000s without batteries.

You don't need a perfect finder, problems don't show on the pictures.

Well that's the source of the dilemma. If I do nothing, KX_1 is ok to use and KX_2 is fine to use without batteries. But the idea of having a KX was that it had advantages over the KM which I also have. I also have a SP1000 which also works well.

A KX without batteries seems a waste as the advantage of using meter matching is not attained and there is no reason to hold onto that camera.

I'm leaning towards prism switching to have one fully operating KX. Then KX_2 would be be used for parts and/or training in attempting to repair the meter??

RR84 · 07-02-2016, 06:55 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by beachboy2

I'm in Australia, and cost is probably too much allowing for freight both ways. Japan repair is perhaps an option.

I was in your position not too long ago, and you're absolutely right. Freight is terribly expensive from AUS to USA, especially when you need to re-send gear that wasn't fixed properly the first time around.

Shipping to Japan is much cheaper. There's a film Pentax specialist in Tokyo - Hasegawa Repair - and from what I've heard he does a good job. He can repair corroded prisms as mentioned on the homepage of his website.

Only thing is, he may not be accepting international orders directly. But what you can do is send your camera to a Japanese forwarding service such as Benly Express who can organise to send it to him domestically and return it to you when it's done.

If you need any help let me know.

06-28-2016, 10:34 PM	#1
beachboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 222	KX Quandary I have recently bought 2 Pentax KX film cameras on ebay. The first (KX_1) is in good condition overall but has pentaprism issue such that viewfinder view is less than perfect. Also the exposure calibrates at +1.3, which is worked around by adjusting ASA value. So usable camera with workarounds. The second camera (KX_2) is in very nice condition. Mirror is pristine. Pentaprism is fine. Shutter curtain looks pristine. However, exposure meter doesn't work. I have opened up camera and resoldered a dodgy connection but with my limited experience can't find a problem. Power is getting to circuit from batteries (new). Battery indicator does not work as upper contact piece is absent. This camera has possibly been serviced in the past? Otherwise where has that upper contact gone? So should I move good pentaprism from KX_2 to KX_1 and have one very nice KX and keep KX_2 for future source of spare parts? Last edited by beachboy2; 06-28-2016 at 11:35 PM. Reason: Added bit about shutter curtain.

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06-28-2016, 10:59 PM	#2
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	send both to Eric and have both services and made good. He is a very clever repairman.

06-28-2016, 11:25 PM	#3
beachboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 222 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wild Mark send both to Eric and have both services and made good. He is a very clever repairman. I'm in Australia, and cost is probably too much allowing for freight both ways. Japan repair is perhaps an option. I'm sure Eric doesn't repair (resilver) penta prisms so I would still end up with only one KX. I'm capable of switching penta prisms so that is a nil cost option for me.

06-28-2016, 11:48 PM	#4
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	No Eric simply replaces them (prisms)

06-29-2016, 02:08 AM	#5
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Your pentaprism switch plan will give you a fully working body (apart from the meter issue) in the first instance, so my suggestion is that if you can do it, do it - then hunt around for someone who can fix the other issues at leisure.

06-29-2016, 08:32 AM	#6
Xmas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 617	I normally use both my SPs and both K1000s without batteries. You don't need a perfect finder, problems don't show on the pictures.

06-29-2016, 09:18 AM	#7
beachboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 222 Original Poster	Originally posted by Xmas I normally use both my SPs and both K1000s without batteries. You don't need a perfect finder, problems don't show on the pictures. Well that's the source of the dilemma. If I do nothing, KX_1 is ok to use and KX_2 is fine to use without batteries. But the idea of having a KX was that it had advantages over the KM which I also have. I also have a SP1000 which also works well. A KX without batteries seems a waste as the advantage of using meter matching is not attained and there is no reason to hold onto that camera. I'm leaning towards prism switching to have one fully operating KX. Then KX_2 would be be used for parts and/or training in attempting to repair the meter??

07-02-2016, 06:55 AM - 1 Like	#8
RR84 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 161	Originally posted by beachboy2 I'm in Australia, and cost is probably too much allowing for freight both ways. Japan repair is perhaps an option. I was in your position not too long ago, and you're absolutely right. Freight is terribly expensive from AUS to USA, especially when you need to re-send gear that wasn't fixed properly the first time around. Shipping to Japan is much cheaper. There's a film Pentax specialist in Tokyo - Hasegawa Repair - and from what I've heard he does a good job. He can repair corroded prisms as mentioned on the homepage of his website. Only thing is, he may not be accepting international orders directly. But what you can do is send your camera to a Japanese forwarding service such as Benly Express who can organise to send it to him domestically and return it to you when it's done. If you need any help let me know.