I have a beat-up MX that I use for just the same purpose. My kit bag usually contains an *istD for colour/general and an MX loaded with B&W film. Strange combination but it works for me.
Keep plugging away with eBay - I'm sure that you will find a decent MX body for around $100 if you are patient. I paid $35 for mine on eBay. It was being sold as "spares or repair" but I have found it to be perfectly usable. Rob W -----Original Message----- From: Powell Hargrave [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 31 August 2005 04:37 To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Fixing a cheap MX I've decided I want an MX to be able to mount my growing collection of K mount lenses on if at some time I need/desire to shoot some film. An MX because it small, simple and will work without batteries. It likely will not see much use so do not want to spend much on the camera. So I've been watching eBay and find prices for even real beaters, one which looked like a bus had run over it, go for over $100. The only ones fitting into my desired price range are broken. Usually stuck mirror/shutter, or dead light meter. So if anyone is an experienced MX doctor can you tell me if some particular variety of these non working MXs would be fixable by a competent but inexperienced mechanic. I have looked at the service manual and done a few not too successful searches on fixing the MX. But without the camera to tear apart it is hard to judge the fix ability. I guess the other option is to blow the budget on an expensive black investment camera and hope I can use it occasionally and still keep it in museum condition. Can't seem to find a nice one, or a functional beater, that no one else wants to bid on. Suggestions - comments? Powell
