As a fully manual camera, there is no need for an exposure compensation dial either: in fact, the design of the viewfinder enables the photographer to see how much compensation is applied, by a clever system of a constant versus a flashing light; most modern cameras only tell you if you have exposure compensation on or off in the viewfinder. I have found the film transport system to be totally dependable. Akron Mobile Mechanic

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Cheap,Dont need to worry if breaks of someone steals.Works well,batery last forever,...Works well with nice daylight situations specially shadows and black and white film.... I have taken great pictures with it. Henderson semi truck repair

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. This looks like a pretty thorough trashing of the winder but I wouldn't be without it. Restaurant Fire Prevention

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. This looks like a pretty thorough trashing of the winder but I wouldn't be without it. Restaurant Fire Prevention

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Wow! this is very nice product! sushi hyde park cincinnati

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Fine grain Great tonal range under sunlight Excellent for scanning. | Fence contractor

Kodak's attempts to lead you to the dark side with the Max 800 propaganda.S

Compact, Lightweight. Classic good looks, DofF preview. Takes winder or motorwind. Wide range of reasonably priced lenses available. tough and reliable. Good ergonomics. Viewfinder data. Interchangeable viewfinder screens

Shutter dial stiff and a bit fiddly

I bought mine in the summer of 2007 for £125 which included 50mm f2 lens, winder and the original boxes, for my collection. I had previous nearly bought one in 2000 for use when I needed to replace a broken camera, but at that time did not like the feel of it and opted instead for a Minolta x700. Upon revisiting the MX 7 years later, I found my tastes had changed and I was using this little gem more and more.
What you get with this camera is what you would expect from a mechanical shutter SLR - simple easy to use exposure control, toughness and reliability, but with lots of extras that were "must haves" on serious cameras of the seventies and eighties -DofF preview, Aperture & shutter info displayed in the viewfinder, interchangeable finder screens, All wrapped up in a small package. If you match it to the Pentax 40mm f2.8 it is small enough to fit in a coat pocket or wear under a jacket quite comfortably and discreetlyt. I think it was Pentax's answer to the Olympus OM1n.
You can attach a very ergonomic winder or motordrive to it which helps handling and balance with zooms and telephoto lenses. It accepts a huge array of k, ka,kaf lenses, though I would try and get ka ones as they work very well with Pentax DSLRs.
The strongest assets of this camera in my opinion though are its size - for an SLR it is very small, only marginally bigger than the Pentax MESuper, and its reliabilty. I took mine to British Columbia in January 2008, where it experienced some very extreme conditions. It functioned down to about -20c, but did frieze up at -30c! Nevermind, it thawed out again and continued to work just fine afterwards.
It handles very well indeed, but to my mind not quite as nicely as the MESuper. The MX is a little less smooth on winding film on and the shutter a little clunkier. The shutter dial is quite stiff to operate and and its not that easy to change the shutterspeed with your eye pressed to the viewfinder as a consequence, but these are really very minor critisisms and very easy to live with.
Would I recommend one to someone else? Definitely, if they are after a small versatile go anywhere SLR, although if extreme conditions are not likely to be encountered, tripods not going to be used, DofF not required the MESuper may represent slightly better value for money

Similar Products Used:

Pentax MESuper, Pentax SuperA, Pentax MZ5n, Pentax ist, Minolta Sr1, Minolta Srt101 Minolta XG1, Minolta XE1, Minolta XD7, Minolta X700, Minolta XK. Nikon FM2n, Nikon F3, Nikon F4. Olympus Om1n

Small and lightweight (but robust and with very good ergonomics) camera body; wonderful viewfinder (big, bright and with aperture/shutter speed indication); self-timer/DOF preview lever; indication of cocked shutter; trigger/light meter lock which works also as "T" shutter setting

Weak wind lever- shaky action, unequal distances between frames; meter tends to underexposure (and has small EV range); ASA setting only up to 1600; shutter speed dial rotates tightly

Perfect travel camera with mechanical shutter (battery independent). Only function this camera lacks is a MLU.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000, Pentax SP 1000, Praktina IIA, Praktica MTL 5, Praktica BMS, Olympus OM 2 S/P, Olympus OM 10

Simplicity, elegance, fullness of controls.

Requires film.

A camera is only a tool, a means to an end.

The MX is simple, well thought out, sturdy, light, and adaptable. When you hold it you are not doing camera. Rather, you are looking at the scene and thinking of the light. The rest is up to you.

I have never held a better camera. I only wish there were digital film.

Customer Service

Never needed factory service. One overhaul in 30 years.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Canon, Zenit SLRs.
Canon, Pentax P&S.
ME Super.

Easy to use, compact, good looking, great range of lenses commonly available. batteries seem to last forever. Hard wearing, durable, a pleasure to be with. Its like my best friend. Dof preview

Viewfinder is quite dim, but the focus prism helps, most models i have seen have specks in the viewfinder. erm.. not much else, no auto focus but im not bothered by that.

My favourite of all my classic cameras, it has the most beautiful compact design I have ever witnessed in an slr. I first borrowed one from college and instantly fell in love with it. Stunning results everytime. For me its my perfect companion if i'm doing some serious work.

Customer Service

its vintage, so no customer service available

Similar Products Used:

k1000, p30, nikon fm2 and various d-slrs.