I have a particular soft spot for this camera as it was the first SLR camera I ever bought. I purchased it in 1976 and have it to this day; the photos on this page are of that very same camera. It is still in perfect working order.

The Pentax MX is a classic 35 mm single-lens reflex camera produced by Asahi Optical Co between 1976 and 1985. It was one of the smallest SLRs ever manufactured.

The MX was solidly built and featured a fully mechanical construction, including a mechanical horizontal cloth shutter. Shutter speeds ranged from 1-1/1000 sec plus B. Only the light metering system was dependent on batteries. Exposure is indicated in the viewfinder by a series of green, amber and red LEDs. In bright sunlight, I find these difficult to see. That is my only real gripe about this camera.

The MX is all manual: it does not feature autofocus or autoexposure modes. Therefore, it does not require batteries to operate (except for the light meter).

Like on most SLRs, the lens can be changed. It used the K lens mount.

Overall, the Pentax MX is a highly regarded film camera cherished by photographers for its simplicity, reliability, and excellent image quality. Its compact size and full manual control make it a popular choice for beginners and experienced photographers. It is an excellent camera for learning photography.

A photo of the Ashai Pentax MX film camera looking down.
The Pentax MX camera with the Asahi SMC 1:1.7 50mm lens that came with the camera
A photo of the Ashai Pentax MX film camera.
The Pentax MX camera

Sample photos

A black-and-white film photo of a narrow street in a Spanish White village. This photo was taken with the Pentax MX camera.
A narrow street in a Spanish White village
A black-and-white film photo of Yedra castle in Spain. This photo was taken with the Pentax MX camera.
Yedra castle in Cazorla
A black-and-white film photo dried grass in seed by the roadside. This photo was taken with the Pentax MX camera.
Dried grass by the roadside
A black-and-white night film photo of a narrow street in a Spanish White village. This photo was taken with the Pentax MX camera.
A village street at night
A colour film photo of a cactus. This photo was taken with the Pentax MX camera.
Cactus
A colour film photo of poppies against a blue sky. This photo was taken with the Pentax MX camera.
Red poppies