When I shot my Pentax KM during Operation Thin the Herd, I dropped it onto a stone floor. I’m such a klutz. At first I thought I’d only dented the bottom plate, but later I discovered that any lens’s aperture ring turned stiffly when it didn’t before. I worried that the fall had bent something in the mount.
It took me 2½ years, but I finally sent it off to Eric Hendrickson for repair and CLA. Eric fitted a replacement bottom plate and adjusted whatever was needed so lenses operated properly. He also replaced the entire metering system as the original wouldn’t stay calibrated.
Man, did it feel good to have this camera back! It’s not just because I enjoy using it, but because this camera previously belonged to my longtime friend Michael, and before that his father, who bought it new. I still have the original receipt.
Upon its return, I immediately shot two rolls of Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400 with it, using my 50mm f/1.7 SMC Pentax-M lens. The KM performed beautifully. A few photos I made of Margaret with our granddaughter in the front yard were stunning.

I took the KM on a gray-day walk through Starkey Nature Park. Eagle Creek cuts through here, and an old railroad bridge remains.





I also made a few photos around my yard, as I do.




I also shot the KM at an annual event in downtown Zionsville. I’ll share those photos in an upcoming post.
Get more of my photography in your inbox or reader! Click here to subscribe.