Second thoughts re Pentax/Ricoh

[@rickrowell8465]

I sold Ricoh cameras at Miko Photo in Santa Monica during the early 80's. NEVER had a problem with returns and shutter issues and I sold A LOT of Ricoh KR mechanical but mostly the electronic XR7 cameras. The XR7 was a work horse camera with a metal inner body and plastic outer shell. Metal shutter and the K mount were the big selling features. I have collected a few of these Ricohs over the years. Yes they still work perfectly. So I'm not sure where the 90% fail came from. Maybe the store I worked for back then got all of the best Ricoh cameras available. Miko Photo was the biggest camera store in Santa Monica at the time. Silvio's in Torrance was the closest big dealer on the west side of the L.A. area. You're right about the lenses of course. The SMC Pentax lenses were the best available for these Ricohs. But not to many customers could afford these lenses back then. So the Vivitar series 1 lenses were a good bargain for most customers. I'm a professional photographer now with 36 years experience and I've used just about ever major brand of camera in all formats, film and digital. I started with the Olympus OM 1 etc.... in 1975 and used Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Minolta, Hasselblad, Bronica, Speed Graphic, Toyo, etc...... And I now use Sony mirror less A9's. Surprisingly, the only trouble I've had with any of these brands was with the Hassleblad 500 C/M and the mirror getting locked up sometimes. I would have to carry a small screw driver with me to reset the mirror. There were times in the middle of a studio shoot when that was a MAJOR pain in the ass! Yes, I collect Ricoh cameras. They are the most under rated 35mm film SLR's on the market IMHO.

[@dedclownsRfunny]

What’s your opinion on the reliability of Ricoh XR-Ps?

[@kahl452]

I just found a camera website that said, "Ricoh cameras got in Finland a reputation of rather unreliable camera. A possible reason is the brand name which in Finnish translates as Break it !" so that's interesting :D

[@DominicRulikowski]

Pentax ME Super (& it's variants), ES II & P30. The ES II was the last M42 model. Descendant of the Electro Spotmatic.The ME Super is actually smaller than an OM-1.

[@davidpostma9862]

Good presentation today. I recently bought two lenses for Pentax 645 pretty cheap but they were hard to come by. An SMC 50mm “A” MF for $35 and an SMC “FA” AF 75mm for $165 , normally $400.

[@Shelbington]

Have you thought about adapting a M42 100mm lens to your Ricoh? M42 screw mount 100mm lenses are kinda expensive, but not as bad as the K-mount. The added cost of a M42 to K-mount adapter isn't at all bad, especially since it opens up a lot of possibilities for lenses. Using M42 lenses stopped down all the time is slow, but I don't know many photographers that use telephoto lenses for quick photography anyway.

[@dinoredross]

Pentax 85mm lenses are going to be expensive (but hold their value well) because they are rare best bet is to get 100mm or 135mm. 100mm are a little harder to come by, but browsing KEH from time to time you can find a good deal. You can build a nice lineup of lenses (35, 50, and 135) with around $350. And to be honest what other focal lengths do you need? Maybe some macros or longer telephoto lenses for more niche stuff, but for most people you should be more than set with those.

[@flowermaze___]

I’m curious to know your thoughts on the Pentax MX and LX if you ever get them!

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I've heard only good things about those cameras, though I've never used one.

[@walterarroyo5220]

You can still build a full system have maybe like a 50mm f/1.4 and the 28mm f2.8 from Pentax then you can build from Ricoh vivitar cosina and third party lenses. There is plenty to choose from.

[@PolishTomato]

Hey Brian, just wanted to thank you for the content you've been putting up. After doing my research I decided to invest in the K mount family - got the Ricoh XR1 for 60 bucks, great condition, nice 50mm rikenon lens - this camera handles amazingly. Already got my second body, the Pentax KX (basically a heavier Ricoh, sadly no Copal shutter). Both look and feel sturdy and are great fun to use. Keep up the good work!

[@movieman95]

I think Chinon made a few mechanical SLRs, but most of their offerings seem to be electronic. The Chinon DSL is one of them and while it’s basic and somewhat plasticky, it does seem to be fairly well built with a metal focal plane shutter and relatively large and bright viewfinder. They also made the CS which I believe is mechanical, but I do not own one myself

[@borderlands6606]

Chinon made a number of mechanical cameras, but are best known as a budget own-brand manufacturer, titled GAF, Argus, Review, Sears, Alpa and Albinar in different markets. The CS and CX somewhat resembled the Canon FT/FTb. Also the innovative Chinon CE Memotron (1974), the only camera to offer open aperture exposure automation on any M42 screw mount lens*. The CEII Memotron (1976) was one of if not the most sophisticated M42 cameras, keeping faith with screw mount some time after other manufacturers had embraced bayonet mounts. The reputation of Chinon lenses has grown in recent years, and they kept pace with leading makers in multi-coating. Chinon's plastic bodied K-mount cameras were generic, entry level models, often sold with autowinders, flash, a case and other accessories as AF cameras made market in roads. *Yashica Electro AX also offered exposure automation on any lens, but stopped down to the working aperture whenever the shutter was cocked, and didn't accept all M42 lenses including some of Yashica's own.

[@aod_shadowjester]

Pentax KM and M-mount lenses. The A series of lenses are sought after as Av supported manual focus lenses for digital, and the K series lenses are sought after for their legendary quality. The KM is often overlooked vs the KX, K2, K1000, MX, ME, and LX cameras and can be had for great prices, typically. Alternatively, something a little more electronic like the Super Program, and going for the A50 f1.7, the A135 f2.8, and the A35 f2.8 or A28 f2.8 you'd have a good three prime system for a fairly low cost.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

In terms of optical quality, how do the K, M and A series lenses compare? I heard the A series lenses have plastic lens barrels whereas the others are metal. Is that so?

[@dukenukem5768]

The K1000 was a KM with some features removed for cheapness (notably the self-timer and DoF preview). The KM was a better camera therefore, but they were both basically Spotmatics with K-mounts, and were dated even when they were introduced.

[@bmfitz2647]

Although dated, it was a tank built for the new guy. Because of this, the K1000 had the longest running production in Pentax history. 76-97 I think 🤔. I have had great success with all M-series and A-series lenses. The difference IS mostly build quality and the introduction of more plastic. In return makes them harder to work on/repair. As far as taking pictures. The average person’s eye is not going to pick up on glass difference between these two lines.

[@itdm5j21]

Hi Brian, I too have a Ricoh XR-1 and a KR-10 and really enjoy these cameras . This may have been mentioned before by someone else, though I have a Chinon CM-5 and that has a Seiko shutter that works mechanically without batteries - two button cells are needed only for metering. A plastic body but quite a neat & compact camera which takes nice images with a Chinon 50mm MC f1.7 lens.

[@trotomas]

just bought one today for 16 eu with the xr 50mm f2...long story short, i ordered a pentax mx and arrived defective (1s wasn't working), replaced with another one from the same seller and 2 days ago the shutter release button fell off. I've never loaded a roll in this camera and barely used since now i can't go out home (due period of isolation needed to defeat the covid). By the way i also won an auction for a pentax Kx (pretty much untested) and luckily only the mirror lock up isn't working. To be honest i think i i'm going to love more the kx over the mx (i prefer the needle over the leds in the viewfinder, and i think mx is too small for k series lenses what i'm aiming for) By the way i'm just starting with black and white film photography and your channel is fantastic, great work and keep going so

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad I can be helpful.

[@randallstewart175]

I have to agree with his focus on Konica cameras. I have some second hand experience with Konica 35mm SLRs, which are collected by a friend. I personally own a number of the Konica 35mm RF cameras from the 1950s, as well as many of the KLonica medium format cameras. All are superb. If you are compelled to dive into the Pentax K-mount SLRs, there were so many excellent models and innovative Pentax branded models that I really do not understand why someone would buy into the off brands which adopted the K-mount. Growing up though those years, I never had a positive impression of Ricoh models, as the Ricoh cameras from the 1950-s and earlier 1960s were under-designed, cheaply built junk.

[@jetmiz8453]

I do own a Pentax MX in near mint condition and I bought it for 100€ with a mint 50mm f1.7, 2 zooms and a 2x convert (yes I was really lucky). Since I've discovered your channel I want to buy a Konica but there aren't good deals at all in Europe.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Kamerastore has some TC's at decent prices. I bought both my Autoreflexes from them, rated 4/5 mechanical and 3/5 cosmetic and they both work beautifully.

[@jetmiz8453]

@@BriansPhotoShow I've purchased some times from them and I really appreciate their job. I'll just wait to and hope to find someone interested in selling a T3 at a good price. An example of good price? I've bought a brand new Nikon Leaf (the L35Af) for 40€, it's a gem and I'll probably never sell it. On ebay it's almost impossible to find good deals.

[@jetmiz8453]

@@BriansPhotoShow anyway, I really enjoy your videos. It would be interesting see your entire collection

[@BriansPhotoShow]

@@jetmiz8453 stay tuned!

[@punkrachmaninoff]

idk, my two favorite cameras right now are the MX and the ME, such nice little full frame packages. the m-series 40mm f2.8 and the 28mm f2 are the only two lenses i will ever need for the rest of my life... ✌️📷😎

[@vangstr]

I have a love/hate opinion of the Pentax. Quality build from the old Spotmatic up until the late K series have superior quality. Their downfall has always been the electronics for the metering (that's what I hate). That aside, I prefer them over the Nikon FM series. Optics-wise...Pentax glass has always been one of the best in my book right alongside Zeiss. To do better than that...you'd have to look into Leica. Sharpness isn't everything too though, character is equally important in my opinion. These days I collect more glass than camera bodies. The only Pentax body I have left is my KX. Btw, I had a KR-5 (Ricoh), it still works but the build quality is pitiful.

[@neilpiper9889]

The Pentax Mx is pretty reliable. The Me super not so. I have a Pentax 70 to 210 zoom which is great. I have a Ricoh kr10 super coming with a 50mm f2 lens. £16.I am looking for a Pentax Mx body now. Most reliable camera I have, apart from my Nikons is my Yashica fxd quartz with a 50mm ML f2 lens. £12. Shame it's not K mount

[@charlespitts5901]

I felt the need to mention Pentax made an adapter to use M42 lenses on K mount cameras (I don't use the Chinese junky copies). This opens up a world of cheap lenses including older Zeiss glass with interesting character plus countless others. Side note, I am an early Ricoh/Sears collector (one of one maybe?). My current favorite being the Ricoh 401 with a turn knob eye level to waist level finder. They do take the 1.3V batteries but I use the KR-9 voltage step down adapters with great success however, they are not cheap but usable in many of the cameras I have. Thanks for your videos!

[@BriansPhotoShow]

When using M42 Takumars with the K-mount adapter, is open-aperture metering available? Without DOF preview lever, how would you stop the lens down to meter otherwise?

[@charlespitts5901]

No open-aperture metering available that I know of. The M42 Takumars (and others) have a manual/auto slide button. I put the lens on manual, focus, and then stop down the lens to match the proper exposure (stop down metering). Most of the time I can focus AFTER I've stopped down the lens anyway. I'm a wide open shooter (or close) for shallow depth of field so for me it's easy.

[@davidnostrant6342]

I would love a series on medium format, if you have any experience with it. My old yashica mat lm just broke and I’m seeking a budget alternative, which would be amazing

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I have no experience with medium format, but for a budget TLR I'd look for a Flexaret or Lubitel, though my knowledge is limited and there may be better options. Of course you could just go full-blown hipster and pick up a Holga if that's your thing.

[@davidnostrant6342]

Brian's Photo Show thanks! Actually ended up picking up a Lubitel for pretty cheap, can’t wait to test it out

[@NeverToBeSeenAgain]

LX is not entirely Mechanical. Everything 1/60 and slower is electronically controlled. However, its one of the few cameras that gives you stepless speeds on auto, because it does off-the-film metering during the exposure and can close the shutter early if lighting changes during the exposure (most often in the form of someone elses flash going off). According to the most reputable Pentax repair person, Eric Hendrickson, the MX is the best built pentax SLR.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Yes, I've heard that the MX was really well built. I've never used an LX so thanks for clearing that up about the speeds.

[@Magnetron692]

Hi Brian, thanks for this video! The Pentax Shift 3.5/28mm is a good lens for the price. You need to stop it down to aperture 8 in order to get decent corner-to-corner sharpness or shifted, though. Best wishes, Ralf

[@nofacedetected]

Oh man, konicas are great. Lenses aren't cheap though. I think the Pentax me has a much better finder than the Ricoh/sears, but the ks is no slouch.... And is mechanical. As for the reliability of Ricoh cameras, I have a singlex (m42) that looks like it has been run over by an entire convoy and then set on fire, but the shutter and advance are still accurate and amazing. My is 500 likewise, is about as sharp despite a dirty mirror. Love the diagonal rangefinder patch. As for cult k mount followings, I got a vivitar series one 28mm 1.9 - oh good, a whole eighth of a stop faster than a f2 - but it's pretty okay. I wouldn't pay the nearly 200 bucks people list it for, but it's not bad for sure. Probably better than my Nikon 28 f3.5. I think the Minolta xe and XD series are in the same vein of under priced. The lenses are dirt cheap and in my opinion the absolute best slr glass from that vintage... At least the "normal" 45-50mm lenses I've used. Anyway

[@marktuyet]

I bought a beautiful K1000 but too expensive . I might buy one of these for my beater camera . It's all about the lens. Olympus too .

[@BriansPhotoShow]

An XR-1 would indeed make for a great beater camera. It is indeed all about the lens. The camera is just a box, though some boxes are more fun to use than others.

[@STARGATE9]

Great video, thank you! I'm wondering, what are the cult after-market lens manufacturers that have cult fan followings you are talking about at 7:40?

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Vivitar Series 1, Kiron, anything traceable to Komine, Tokina AT-X series

[@STARGATE9]

@@BriansPhotoShow Thank you! Have a nice day :)

[@vicpico1]

Hi! Pentax bodies (KX, KM, K2, etc) are not that Cheap.. They are almost the same price as the Nikon FM & FE bodies. The lenses of Pentax have a different character than the Nikon lens.. in my experience/opinion, Nikon lens are sharper than Pentax lens..( but Pentax lens, gives a different appeal/contrast and rendition of pictures, so they are also good)

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Prices for film Pentax cameras got crazy in recent years in SE Europe. At least for the nice stuff. You almost can't find Spotmatic under $180 anymore. Recently I stumbled upon an LX which looked like it was dropped from the 2nd floor, and the guy charged $350 for it. Man...

[@BriansPhotoShow]

What?! That's insane. Check out Kamerastore. They aren't cheap, but certainly not that expensive.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

@@BriansPhotoShow Told ya...

[@northof-62]

9 months have passed and prices have risen. It looks like the true bargain range has shifted to the plastic era, like the Konica Autoreflex TC that you mention in another video. I just noticed a Minolta Maxxum 5 with the 28-80 zoom for $25 and a Nikon N90s/F90X body for about the same. Best Pentax K bargains are the Program A (not Super) in which they've taken out some features like shutter priority mode. Also some MXs, MEs (no Super here either) and some MVs go cheaply now. The downside with all these models is that many have jammed shutters, locked up mirrors and other reliability issues, and need service. I see many are having problems with their Super variants too. More info at pentaxforums.com

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Yes, I think the only K-mount bargain bodies out there are mostly plastic. There's a Vivitar V3800N in excellent condition at KEH today for USD 42.80, which is a good twenty bucks more than I'd pay for one. If that price is representative, then the bargains are no more.

[@trotomas]

Hey would be interesting to compare xr1 against yashica fx3? Plastic vs plastic?

[@BriansPhotoShow]

They both have a mechanical copal square shutter, but that's where the similarity ends. The Yashica is more advanced for using SPDs rather than CdS cells and diodes rather than a needle, but it lacks DOF preview and doesn't provide aperture or shutter speed display in the viewfinder. Of course if you have a bunch of Zeiss C/Y lenses lying about then the FX-3 should do the job nicely.

[@thomasmoje5926]

I guess you could call me a 'Nikon guy' simply because I chose a Nikon FM as my first film SLR camera way back in 1980; I'm entrenched into the Nikon system because of that. Before I decided on Nikon; the Pentax MX was on my list of candidates for my first film SLR camera. Always liked that camera; keeping my eyes open for a good example but I'm finding the MX is not as commonly found on the used camera market as the ME and ME Super.

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Hold out for an MX. Given the dire economic news, I expect prices of film cameras to drop significantly in the coming weeks.

[@tomc8273]

Don't own any Pentax, but nice video.

[@gilshua4143]

btw....whats your take on the zorki 4k ...it seems to me like a cheap system and all-metal mechanical ...?

[@BriansPhotoShow]

I believe the Zorki 4K is the most common of all the Soviet rangefinders. I've got a Fed 2 and may do some videos on Soviet gear. Generally the Soviet camera designs were sound, but quality control at the factory was not. The key to buying Soviet gear is either (1) only buy from a trusted seller, or (2) have access to a tech who is familiar with the camera you're buying.

[@scotthullinger4684]

The equivalent of this camera, the Ricoh XR-1, was my very first film camera when I was a kid, and I almost used it to death.

[@emotown1]

This might sound a bit heretical, but I've just ordered a Pentax P30n (sold for parts) for peanuts on ebay. If it looks like a decent box, who knows, I might get a couple P30t's (the P30n update) which aren't all that old (1992 ish ). Yeah, heretical because it's an entry level camera, but hey, if it ticks the boxes ... there's no reason you have to get just one 'flagship' body supposedly on the basis it'll keep on going reliably - getting lots of cheap, less durable bodies, is an equally valid strategy (just dispose of them as they break down one by one, heartless though that may be). I'm not sentimental about Pentax. Maybe I would be about Nikon, but I can't afford their lenses. Ciao!

[@BriansPhotoShow]

My primary objection to the P30 is the inability to set the ISO manually. You can only use DX coded film in those things, and only rated at the box exposure index. No pushing or pulling allowed.

[@emotown1]

@@BriansPhotoShow Oh hi Brian! Yes it really is basic! But let's not be defeatist. DX-coding defaults to 100iso (useful to know) and it can be fiddled with with bits of tape strategically stuck on to the cannister, or even (if, say you always pull TriX to 200 and thats all you ever shoot) clip the relevant camera DX prongs. Probably teaching my grandmother to suck eggs , but someone might get a lightbulb moment from reading my heresy. Obviously I'd want to check the meter is in the right ballpark before I started fiddling - I'd want to incorporate any compensation into whatever hack I did. No you're right, it's not ideal. Ha!

[@jonlouis2582]

The issue I'm having with Pentax cameras is that they don't stay fixed even after expensive service, so maybe you are onto something here. My Konica cameras soldier on.

[@aod_shadowjester]

Which Pentax cameras are failing? That’s never been my experience with a K1000 from the 80s, Spotmatic from the 70s and overhauled four years ago, Pentax 67, or my digital Pentaxes (K200D, KP)

[@guillermoperezsantos]

At the end the best 35mm system is Nikon

[@vinyljunkie07]

The good days of Pentax are in my opinion gone, other than the best lenses being now either too expensive or comparable to Nikkors my biggest issue is the actual cameras even after a service. There are so many known issues with pretty much almost every model of K series and LX, then there is finding engineers who specialise in them. I love Pentax and my parents used them when I was little, so when I got into photography I naturally gravitated toward them and had a KX, MX and lastly a Super A but can't stop feeling I just wasted my time and should of just got a Nikon in the first place. Having recently changed over I have no idea why I didn't do it sooner.. I can go on for hours how much I prefer Nikon glass and cameras to my old Pentax stuff. Worth noting few of the first series of K mount lenses i.e. not M or A series were actually Zeiss designs by Dr Glatzel such as the 28mm f2 which is the Contax Zeiss Distagon

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Yes, I've heard that the original K-series lenses were better than the subsequent M and A lines. That's disappointing to hear about the LX, KX and MX. I've never used any of those but had always thought of them as fine cameras.