Well, I’m a bit bummed.
I collected 4 35mm Pentax Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras, and sent them to a well known YouTuber (who will remain anonymous here) for a Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust (CLA) and replacement of light seals. The YouTuber has a lot of information on camera repair, and Pentax SLRs, so I was confident I’d have a great set of cameras to work with. Upon receipt, he e-mailed me that he had the cameras, and would get to them the following week.
I waited a month, and hadn’t heard a thing. So I e-mailed him and asked him how the repairs were going. There was no reply. He continues to provide content on YouTube, including cleaning and fixing several cameras he gets as non-working examples from e-Bay, but nothing on the 4 cameras I’d sent him (an MX, Super Program, Program A, and Super A). At this point, I have to assume a loss. Bummer.
But I still like the MX, and of the other three I had, I feel the Super Program is the one model I’d really want to use. So back to eBay I go.
I bought another MX. After the first time I fired the shutter, the mirror got stuck in the up position, blocking the viewfinder. I found really good deals on the Super Program, so I bought two. They both seem to operate mechanically well, but the mode selector dial is very stiff, and the LCD display in the viewfinder doesn’t work. Frankly, I’m tired of this. Every camera seems to need something. Frankly, I’ve had better luck with those Eastern Block cameras everyone warns you about, like Praktica SLRs and Kiev Rangefinder cameras! So no. No more Pentax SLRs for me.
On the other hand… Last fall I found a really good deal on a Pentax 645Z. I already had the Pentax 645N, and aside from the usual problem with the battery compartment self destructing (3D replacements abound on eBay), it’s been a great camera. It’s my favorite Medium Format film camera. I get to use all the lenses I have for the 645N now with my 645Z, and get 50 Megapixel images out of the camera. I’ll still shoot film with the 645N, but I now have the option to shoot digital with the 645Z.
So while I’ve sworn off Pentax 35mm SLRs, I’m still a Pentaxian. Oh, and did I mention I also bought the tiny Pentax Q-S1 last year? A great little camera that seems perfect for “railfan photography” on HO scale model railroad layouts.
Thanks for visiting.