Designated as either the MSX 500 or MSX 1000 (for either 1/500 or 1/1000 as fastest shutter speed), both have TTL manual CdS spot metering (about 10% center area only), with a needle visible in the viewfinder. The high sync speed is 1/60. As pointed out recently by Gentle Reader Wim de Kan, from the Netherlands, they were available both with and without a hot shoe flash attachment. An optional clip-on flash mount was available for cameras without a hot shoe. Battery required is one MS76 or equivalent.

Mamiya DSX 1000 with hot shoe
(c.October, 1974)


The mechanical pin on SX lenses
for transmitting f-stop information

Mamiya DSX Series
The Mamiya DSX series (along with similar re-branded models marketed as 1000SX, 500SX & 1000DSX) was introduced in October 1974, closely following the MSX.

Like the MSX, it also came in DSX 500 or DSX 1000 models, and both use the SX series of Mamiya 42mm threaded lenses, which have a lens mount lock (unlike previous Mamiya threaded lenses) and a mechanical pin which transmits the f-stop information to the camera, eliminating the need to stop-down for metering. It also uses one MS76 or equivalent battery, which is still readily available.

The basic difference between the DSX and the MSX was the return of dual meter function (spot and average) in the DSX. Both cameras are readily available in the auction market today.