C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Mamiya MSX 500 (~1975) is the entry-level companion to the Mamiya MSX 1000, sharing the same M42 screw mount and electronic vertical-metal-blade shutter architecture but simplified in two meaningful ways: the top shutter speed is reduced from 1/1000s to 1/500s, and the dual spot-and-average CdS metering of the MSX 1000 is replaced by average-only metering. Both cameras are manual-exposure only with no aperture-priority mode, distinguishing them from the later CS-mount ZM family. The MSX 500 was aimed at the budget end of the mid-1970s Japanese SLR market, where M42 compatibility with the large existing pool of Pentax Takumar and third-party glass gave it a practical lens ecosystem that the later proprietary CS-mount bodies lacked.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
Simplified M42 sibling to the MSX 1000: electronic shutter capped at 1/500s, average-only metering.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | M42 screw |
| Years | ~1975–~1978 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/500s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/60s |
| Meter | TTL average CdS (stop-down) |
| Modes | Manual |
| Weight | ~620 g |
| Battery | 2x SR44 (no mechanical fallback) |
The MSX 500 was introduced approximately one year after the MSX 1000 (1974) as Mamiya filled out its M42 SLR line with a lower price point. By the mid-1970s, M42 was already under commercial pressure from bayonet mounts - Nikon F, Olympus OM, and Pentax K (introduced 1975) were all gaining ground - but M42 bodies remained viable for budget buyers and for photographers with existing Takumar investments.
The MSX 500 sits in a clear hierarchy within Mamiya's 35mm SLR lineage:
Production of both MSX bodies ended around 1978 as Mamiya transitioned fully to the proprietary CS mount for its consumer 35mm SLR line.
The MSX 500 is a workable M42 SLR body at the low end of the market. Its primary assets are M42 compatibility (giving access to hundreds of legacy lenses including the Asahi Super-Takumar series) and an electronic vertical-metal shutter that, when functioning, is reasonably accurate. Its liabilities are battery dependency with no mechanical fallback and a top speed of 1/500s, which limits action and bright-light shooting. The average-only meter, while less versatile than the MSX 1000's spot option, is adequate for most general-purpose photography.
For a buyer already holding M42 glass, the MSX 500 offers a functioning body at $40-120 - cheaper than most Pentax Spotmatic variants with similar capability. For anyone starting fresh with no lenses, there is no compelling reason to choose the MSX 500 over a Pentax K1000 or Spotmatic, which have better service histories and more collector support.
M42 screw mount accepts any M42 lens with stop-down metering. Metering is stop-down: set aperture, depress stop-down lever, read meter, shoot. The camera does not support open-aperture metering with any lens variant.
Well-matched M42 lenses for the MSX 500:
No motor drive or dedicated data back accessories documented for the MSX 500.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Mamiya MSX 500
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