Maker Pentax Focus Manual | Lens mount Pentax K Exposure metering Off-the-film (OTF) TTL | |
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Type 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) Exposure 1/2000 ~ 4s, bulb (B), aperture priority (Av) | ||
The Pentax LX is a 35 mm Single-lens reflex camera produced by Pentax in Japan introduced in 1980 and a production run that spanned until 2001. The LX lens mount is known as Pentax K mount which is the proprietary bayonet mount. Also available is an adapter that allow the use of almost all Pentax 35 mm format lenses, those made before 1975 using a screw-mount adapter with no direct functionality to the meter index link, instead, metering is accomplished with the "stop-down" method. It is the top-of-the-line "professional" or "system" camera in the Pentax manual focus range. Compared to contemporary professional bodies from most rival manufacturers, like the Canon F-1 or Nikon F3, the LX body is much smaller and lighter, weighing in at 570 grams (20 ounces) with standard FA-1 finder.
Contents
Construction and features
As expected of a professional camera at the time, the LX provides mechanical shutter speeds, ranging from the flash synchronization ('X') speed of 1/75 second to 1/2000 second and bulb ('B'), permitting manual operation without battery power. The slow speeds from 1/60 second to 4 seconds, as well as the exposure meter, are battery dependent. Construction is strong and durable, with a solid cast metal frame and metal covering plates. All buttons and dials are weather and dust sealed, a unique feature not found on other professional cameras of the day. Underneath the satin black finish is black chrome, so that even as the surface finish inevitably wore through in hard professional use, the underlying metal would not look brassy. Both the viewfinder and the focusing screen are interchangeable to suit the task at hand, a large choice of alternatives were available. The camera has a somewhat uncommon frame counter, being able to keep track of the frame number in either direction, whether advancing or rewinding the film; this feature dramatically adds to the flexibility of the camera, as well as aids in multiple exposures. The camera has a multi-function lever that supports mirror lock-up, self-timer and depth of field preview. Both a winder and motor drive were available, and a full complement of other professional accessories. Many additional features could be found inside the camera, the "Magic-Needles" ringed the film take-up spool. Found on M-series bodies, it was included in the LX to make loading a quick task. The shutter curtains are made of a Titanium foil composite and a small thumb operated dial sit to the side of the film plane to operate a mask that could be deployed for use with the time data back when installed in place of the standard back. As stated about the mask for data back, Pentax offered two types. The time stamp version that included a wristwatch style component that was inserted in the back and projected on to the deployed mask. The other data back was a three digit type that could project dates or useful information on to the film. Also taking advantage of the removable back was a high capacity magazine allowing for 250 exposures.
Metering
The meter dial can be set from 6 to 3200 ASA. Exposure control is manual or aperture priority automatic The LX has excellent low-light performance using dynamic, off-the-film-plane TTL metering called Integrated Direct Metering (IDM). Pre-release exposure information is obtained from light reflected from a patterned shutter curtain back to the metering cell. This gives the values displayed in the viewfinder. Once the shutter is released, the light reflected from the film and/or the shutter curtains continues to be measured as the exposure takes place and is used to adjust the exposure time. Automatic exposure time is up to 125 seconds. This exposure metering has a range from EV1 to EV19 for manual exposure and a EV-5.5 to EV20 that is stepless in automatic making the camera excellent for available light photography. TTL flash control is also available using Pentax dedicated units (AF400T & AF280T), also taking measurements from the IDM during the exposure. The TTL capabilities are extended to the pc-sockets with the addition of two smaller gold plated contacts just under the "X-Sync" plug for previously mentioned as well as compatible flash.
Special releases
In October 1981, Pentax made available 300 limited edition Pentax LX Gold cameras to celebrate having produced 10 million SLR cameras, the first camera manufacturer to reach that milestone according to the accompanying certificate. The camera and its SMC 1:1.2 50 mm lens is partly gold plated and partly covered in brown reptile skin, while some details are made of brown plastic, and it came with a brown ever-ready case. Cameras for some markets such as the U.S. have brown leather instead of reptile skin supposedly due to import laws. The actual number of cameras made is somewhat higher than 300 since a few were retained at Pentax reserved for their own use. The actual number for sale however was 300 cameras according to Pentax in Tokyo. It is a superb example of Japanese camera workmanship.
Three limited editions of the Pentax LX were subsequently distributed on the Japanese market according to the Asahi Optical Historical Club: