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01-09-2018, 03:48 AM   #1
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Pentax MX Film SLR - that VF was a huge surprise

Hi All,

I picked up a SP500 with group of lenses over the weekend from a charity shop, and in discussion about it with my father-in-law pulled out and gave me his Pentax MX which had been stored since the 80's. Lovely looking piece of kit.

Not one to turn down a new film camera I looked it over and it is really good nick, the VF glass is really bright and clean and the seals are intact. I immediately ordered a Takumar 50mm 1.4 online which arrived this morning.

I have just attached the lens, brought it to my eye as was initally very puzzled, I thought I had made a mistake as I was seeing the lens in the VF i.e. it was vignetting. Then I suddenly realised it was actually magnifying the centre of the lens and to my shock and surprise it had a completely clear focusing screen, i.e. no split screen etc.

I have never seen this before, this is going to take some getting used to focus properly. I love that film images are not so clean and sharp life modern digital cameras are, but I do like my images to be in focus, and I am not sure how accurate it's going to be to nail focus on this camera.

---------- Post added 01-09-18 at 04:12 AM ----------

I have just realised (I think) that the MX is an interchangeable focusing screen so I could (if I can find one) change out the screen for a split screen etc.

---------- Post added 01-09-18 at 04:32 AM ----------

I have just contacted a UK specialist in film Pentax cameras and they have told me that it has a specialist focusing screen attached to it, probably something to aid astrophotography.

I guess i need to be on the hunt for a new focusing screen :-)

01-09-2018, 04:47 AM - 1 Like   #2
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Try ebay. Get a non working MX being sold for parts and it is an easy job to swap the screen out. Check with the seller that the screen is in good nick first.
01-09-2018, 04:57 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by pschlute Quote
Try ebay. Get a non working MX being sold for parts and it is an easy job to swap the screen out. Check with the seller that the screen is in good nick first.
Good Plan
01-09-2018, 07:00 AM   #4
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And ask your father-in-law what he used it for. Maybe he has more special and rare gear store away.

01-09-2018, 07:38 AM   #5
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I put a split prism from an LX in mine. Check eBay for those. You will not find an MX one but you will find LX ones.
01-09-2018, 03:13 PM   #6
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Thanks for all the comments.

I have found a split focusing screen (not official Pentax) but one that seems highly rated and is made for the MX. I have ordered one so will see how it goes.

I have worked out that the focusing screen is significantly magnifying the VF, so it is magnifying the internal lens barrel which is what I am seeing as the vignette. I have no idea what this would have been used for.

Failing self replacing the focusing screen (or it is a crap screen) I will send it to Harrow Technical or Asahi Photo for CLA, new focusing screen and repair of the depth of field preview button (which i won't ever use but might as well get it fixed in CLA).

---------- Post added 01-09-18 at 03:24 PM ----------

And I might get a LX as a supporting body :-)
01-09-2018, 03:30 PM - 1 Like   #7
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Robin at Harrow Technical does a great job, he did a CLA on my original Asahi Pentax to bring it back to full working condition.

01-09-2018, 07:27 PM   #8
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Is there a spherical bulge on the focussing screen? There is a special variant of the basic Pentax ME/MG called the MF that was used with endoscopes and the like and that has this type of screen. Apparently there was also an MX version (MX medical) although it may not be anything more than a special focussing screen. There a a couple shown here, but it is hard to tell if there is anything different to a regular MX.
01-10-2018, 01:02 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paul Ewins Quote
Is there a spherical bulge on the focussing screen? There is a special variant of the basic Pentax ME/MG called the MF that was used with endoscopes and the like and that has this type of screen. Apparently there was also an MX version (MX medical) although it may not be anything more than a special focussing screen. There a a couple shown here, but it is hard to tell if there is anything different to a regular MX.
Yes, I think that it is a spherical bulge. When I look through the viewfinder with a lens attached it looks like I'm looking through a tunnel as I can see the inner barrel which creates a circle in the VF. What glass you can see is magnified.

I have also just noticed etched into the side of the camera the name Eric (father in law's dad's name) followed by what looks like a serial number. So it could be that this is a medical version or focusing screen.

Hopefully if it is, it is just the focusing screen that is different and Pentax didn't make and changes to the body itself. Once I get the split screen I can change it up and it will be good.
01-10-2018, 01:42 AM - 1 Like   #10
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If that is the case let me know if you would like to sell the screen. I collect all of the MX bits and bobs and would love to add it to my collection.
01-10-2018, 03:28 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paul Ewins Quote
If that is the case let me know if you would like to sell the screen. I collect all of the MX bits and bobs and would love to add it to my collection.
Sure, no problem.

Let me change the focusing screen and I will let you know.

I have had a look online (not ebay) for another MX body in a condition ready to shoot (and not too expensive) but I can't find anything I want. If I did, i'd probably just sell the camera with the focusing lens in it.
01-10-2018, 08:24 PM   #12
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PM sent rather than clog the thread up any further.
01-24-2018, 03:27 AM   #13
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Matt - whilst the seals are in good condition it still might be worth replacing them if they're sticky as using the camera might cause them to deteriorate and it can make a real mess inside the camera.

Good suggestions above re. buying a 'parts' mx for the focusing screen but just to let you know the screens do occasionally come up for sale on eBay UK.
01-24-2018, 06:26 PM   #14
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100% right, IMHO the best seals were the ones from Jon Goodman!
Instructions on how to apply them, and how to order here:
Favorite Classics / Jon Goodman's Seal Replacement Instructions
QuoteOriginally posted by RustyT Quote
Matt - whilst the seals are in good condition it still might be worth replacing them if they're sticky as using the camera might cause them to deteriorate and it can make a real mess inside the camera.

Good suggestions above re. buying a 'parts' mx for the focusing screen but just to let you know the screens do occasionally come up for sale on eBay UK.
01-29-2018, 08:31 AM   #15
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In defense of the plain ground glass screen that came with this MX -- I have for many years preferred plain ground glass screens. I got into the habit of using them back in the mid-80s because of a few optics I owned that were rather slow, rendering a split screen with micro prisms virtually useless, and an annoyance since it was in the middle of the screen, thus blocking my view. It did take some getting used to, using a plain screen, but I managed, and finally got to where I preferred it, regardless of the aperture and focal length of the lens I was using. To find correct focus, I rock the focusing ring back and forth, such that I'm going in and out of focus in both directions. I decrease the amount of travel as I rock the ring until I've found best focus with little if any focus rocking at all. It's not so difficult when using my method.

I can second Jon Goodman as being the source for light seals. The instructions he includes with the kit are themselves worth the price of the kit. My experiences with Jon are, when I contact him about a seal kit I need, his response typically is that he'll send them out right away and he's trusting his customers to be prompt paying him for the kits. Not too many businesses like that left in this world. The above link shows an email address for Jon that I don't believe is valid anymore. The one that he most likely will respond to is: JGood21967@aol.com

Last edited by cooltouch; 01-29-2018 at 08:40 AM.
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