1.Compact size. 2.Compatible with any PK mount lenses. 3.Batteries not required if you can guesstimate exposure. 4.Pentax LX focus screens usable on the MX- with some metering compensation required. 5.Self timer 6.Depth of field preview 7.Rugged, solid build. 8.Being fully mechanical, it's easy to repair. 9.Simple to use. 10.Information shown clearly in the viewfinder, especially the LEDs for the exposure- green when correct, yellow when under or over slightly, red when exposure chosen it totally incorrect.

1.centre weighted metering only 2.slow sync for flash shooters 3.Batteries required for the meter (harhar) 4.1/1000 top shutter speed could be too slow for some people. 5. Again the shutter, the cloth material used could deteriorate with time, though some experienced technicians can replace it without a problem. 5. The film frame spacing, on my example anyway, is erratic every 20 shots. 6. Spare parts could be impossible to source as the camera is out of production (as has been for more 12 years). But like the Nikon FM2, it's easy to repair. 11. While I like the viewfinder, I find it a bit hard to see the aperture through the tiny window at the top in difficult light.

Here's a subjective review. I've started out SLR photography with the Pentax MZ50. Still using it when I need the AF, and have a large assortment of Pentax and 3rd party PK mount lenses. Other Pentax cameras include the LX and ME Super. I recently acquired Nikons FE2 and FM2 as well- out of curiousity for it's superior flash sync and shutter speed. I bought mine in summer 2002 from ebay.co.uk. It was a cosmetically ugly example, the previous owner having used it primarily in coal mines for his record shots. It came with an ugly looking original case, where the bottom part is, the camera is pristine, where the top part is, the camera body is ugly and scarred. The camera was serviced before it was auctioned off. Verdict? It works just like it would have 20 years ago. Other than the broken self timer, that is. The speed dial is a bit too stiff (which I understand shouldn't be) when compared to the Nikon FM2, but for the price and generation difference (the MX is released some 4 years before), it's acceptable. I also acquired the MX Winder for it. The battery cover is horrid, a half baked design. When attached to the camera body the grip makes it awkward to operate the self timer and depth of field preview lever (same lever). The 2fps provided must have been great in the early 80s, but a norm today. It is an unfair comparison anyway. Still, I don't see the point for attaching the winder- the MX's main strength is it's compact size- the winder only adds bulk and weight to it. (Note: I love ergonomics of the ME2 winder on the ME Super though). The camera would make a fantastic backup to any existing modern Pentax setup- it can use all types of PK lenses (even autofocus lenses but without the AF function), including the M42 screw mount lenses with the correct adapter. The MX can even take over to become the main body for assignments/journeys into the wilderness when batteries are rarer than the dodo. The meter is amazingly accurate, but most centre weighted meters should be. It would require some basic knowledge to handle when the photographer is faced with awkward lighting conditions. I am not sure if most of the new generation of camera users (like me) would know how for all the automation in modern AF and digital cameras. The 1/1000 top speed is fine (typical of it's era), the seemingly flash sync of 1/60 is fine too (about the same as the Pentax LX- reputedly the best Pentax SLR ever) but do you really want to use a flash gun on this camera? My favourite combo is with a 28mm lens. Simply a joy to use.

Customer Service

Haven't used Pentax's service.

Similar Products Used:

Batteries not required type camera: Nikon FM2. While the FM2 is superior (unfairly so for it's a younger design), the FM (similar spec to MX) is bulkier and heavier against the MX. Other electronic s

Small, compact. Excellent handling. Exceptional viewfinder, bright and large image.

Shutter tops out at 1/1000 and that speed can be unreliable as the camera ages. The autowinder works OK but its battery door is a really weak design. Most probably are held on with black electrical tape!

Tiny body, very easy handling. A delight to use. Full information in viewfinder, which has a much larger image than current-production SLR cameras. Interchangable screens are a bonus. Availability of many lenses in the Pentax K-mount is a real boon. I own two Pentax MX, one well-used black and one well-preserved chrome.

Customer Service

Never needed repair but have ordered accessories and extra screens from Pentax. Good, friendly service when this was done.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax LX, Pentax Spotmatic, Nikon FM2, Olympus OM-1

Small size, quiet, accurate metering system and interchangeable screens.

Slow sync speed and no mirror lock-up.

A great wee camera that does the job. I''m on to my third body (also have a K2 for mirror lock-up)and so easy to use.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K2, EOS 600, Mamiya C330F and RB67 ProSD

Solid camera, especially with the winder. Great lenses available, probably still out there on eBay. Very important, you did not need the batteries to run the camera, no lost rewinds due to dead batteries.. If you had a hand meter and film, you could forget batteries if you want. Most important was the depth of field preview. Most people learning on auto everything cameras with no DOF preview miss out on an important photographic tool I used a Canon with a zoom lens, a 6x6 MF camera, and my wife''''''''s old K-1000. But for the type of shooting I do, I find the Pentax MX with its changable focusing screens and other versatile (and professional) features, it was an excellent workhorse for a working photographer

No spot metering function, if you want to spot meter you need to walk up to the bit of the subject you want to meter.

When all the rich shooters were getting the gratest big bucks Nikon or Hasselblad, those of us who had to put food on the table and needed top quality equipement that did not deprive you of rent or a car. That meant that we needed a camera that would produce professional grade images without needing a snob appeal rig. We dealt with a customer base that did not care what we used as long as we got results! Thus I used a couple of MX cameras for publicity and public relations jobs, portraits, weddings, and other jobs, We did not pull out the medium format unless we were shooting large grops of 250 to 300 subjects who had to all the faces clear on the final print. I used an 8x10 for some of those. Back to the point, the MX was solid, I used to run through hospital hallways with the cameras swinging around my neck and they hit the walls quite hard on occasion but there was only one time that I had to get the prisim and ground glass adjusted. The cameras took my abuse and came out on top. There wer3e also some great lenses out for them,.I make a lot of use of an 85mm f/1.8 that was tack-sharp on portraits. I got hold of a Vivitar 135mm close focus lens which would be called "macro" these days by the marketing morons. I also had come across a 28mm f/2.8 that was sharp and distortion free - still have it, never found anything to beat it. Used a black one and a silver one so I could tell the different kinds of film apart very quickly

Customer Service

At the time I needed it, they were very plesant and went out of their way to get the camera serviced, a rare occurence. d

Similar Products Used:

Contax from the 1940''''''''s, Nikon F (the original one). Canon A70. Old Kodak rangefinder. RB67 (no, it''''''''s not THAT similar) 8x10 sheet film in view camera. Currently I use an Olympus E-1

It is small and versatile, has a great finish and feel to its controls. Works well in cold weather. Large wiewfinder image.

Winder is crap. Shortest time only 1/1000. Slow sync.

3 months after purchase it stopped working on _longer_ times than 1/60. This was a warranty repair. The mirror doesn''t go up on some exposures. Shutter release button fell off, the flash contact was unreliable. It is now in for repair as it has stopped working on _shorter_ times than 1/60. My local repairman loves this camera. I have had it for 7 years.

Customer Service

Pentax does not supply parts any more. I would recommend a service from time to time.

Good metering system. Many inexpensive PENTAX lenses available, if you are looking for 28 mm or 50mm. Simple to load like the ME.

Winder is hard to find, expensive used, no longer serviced by Pentax and not really very well made. Hard to find any variety in used SMC line up of lenses.

Simple, dependable manual camera. What the K1000 should have been. Has winder capabilities, if you can find one. Circular shutter speed dial in view-finder is unsual. View-finder display shows f-stops like the Nikons. Extremely accurate metering. Very cool camera.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000, Nikon FE2, FM2, Leica M6.

Very simple to use. Robust. Compact.

Shutter button can stick in "meter on" position unless the shutter lock is used. Causes battery to flatten.

One of the best manual cameras on the market. No gimmicks or gadgets. Excellent build quality. I have had this camera for ~15 years in regular use and it still performs well. I always carry a spare battery in an inside pocket for cold work although the shuuter is manual and will work in any conditions. It is an excellent camera either for the keen amateur or semi-professional. I use it either with the standard f1.4 SMC or a range of Tamron Adaptall 2 lenses. It generally lives with a 35-70 Tamron one-touch zoom on it for general work. I would not wish to swap it for any of the modern cameras currently on sale.

Customer Service

Had it serviced by an independent to fix the sticking button problem otherwise no problems or experience.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax SP1000 , Canon AE1p, Canon A1, Rolleiflex V

Professional qualities: interchangeable focusing screens, 5 fps motordrive available, removable back so you can attach a back that holds 10 meters of stock film for 250 exposures (very useful when shooting at 5 fps). Besides the x-contact it even has an FP-contact for use with long burning flash bulbs for that special light you can't get with an electronic flash. Shutter is designed to last for at least 100.000 exposures.
All the info you need is in the viewfinder: shutter speed, aperture, over/right/under exposure and DOF preview.
Very accurate metering.
Mechanical shutter; all speeds available when battery fails.
Small; with 40 mm f/2.8 attached it easily fits in your pocket.
Film loading with "magic needles" is easiest I've ever seen in a fully manual camera.
Pentax SMC (Super Multi Coated) lenses can compete effortlessly with Nikon and Canon Lenses.

Maybe a bit to small for people with big hands, but they can add the winder or motordrive.

I bought my first MX (chrome) in 1978 and the second one (black) several years later. These cameras and the lenses and winders mentioned above never let me down in over 20 years. Even after being dropped on concrete floors they just kept on going. I worked with them in rain and snow without any problems. Even at temperatures as low as -25 degrees centigrade the MX's just continued to do the job, while the Nikon FE's and other battery-dependable cameras my friends used had by then long ceased to function properly or had just stopped working at all. But also in hot and humid climates there were never any problems.
I think the bottom line here is reliability; this is a camera that just keeps on doing what it's designed for under any circumstances.
I think you won't be surprised I give it a five star rating.

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax MX black.
Pentax MX winders.
Pentax SMC 28 mm f/2.8.
Pentax SMC 50 mm f/1.7.
Pentax SMC 135 mm f/3.5.

I'm committed to the Nikon system, but for a while I had both Nikon and P-K systems. The MX was the gem of the Pentax system. Tiny, light-weight, superb handling, and the best - and I mean THE best - in-camera exposure meter I've ever used, bar none.

Controls were smooth, with a "ripping silk" feel to the wind lever that was unique - very different from the slick smoothness of the Nikon FM series. Not better or worse, just different.

The little clear disk that holds the shutter speeds can get knocked out of alignment fairly easily. Other than that, this is one SLR with no flaws that I can think of. I wish I had one back.

One of the best manual-focus, manual-exposure SLR bodies made, in certain respects (particularly ergonomic and viewfinder) better than the vaunted Nikon FM2n. Certainly lower-priced on the used market than the Nikon FM-series. Match it with a tiny, superb 50/1.7 SMC-M and enjoy!

Customer Service

Not needed. Getting it repaired, though, was problematic for me.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM, FM2/T, F3.

Also similarly sized, but primarily AE cameras: Nikon EM, FG, FG-20.

Small and light! Built very well.

I hate Pentax's white "spindle" take up spool!!! Doesn't grab the film sometimes. I dislike the meter readout in the finder. I'd rather have the little needle. Film advance lever feels cheap.

Perfect size for people photography. Having the black version would be good for street photography. I recommend the K1000 in the used market. It is a bit larger in weight and size but has the build quality the MX lacks. Also look at the Super Program camera, as long as it doesn't have the white take-up spool. The Olympus OM-1 is very similar in size and weight.

Customer Service

none used

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000, Leica M4, Konica S2, Yashica Electro, Konica T, and Pentax SF10.