| Author: | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 41 | | Review Date: March 19, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, viewfinder options. | | Cons: | Viewfinder eye relief | |
Superb little cameras when they are working well.
Viewfinder eye relief could be better, Nikon F3HP & Contax Aria better with more room for glasses wearers, massive finders.
Film advance is nice but I found film loading sprocket a bit clumsy.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2013 Posts: 19
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 22, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Everything, and the handling, and the meter, and the size | | Cons: | only 3200 | |
It is without doubt one of the finest 135 cameras ever built. If the LX is not enough consider to go to MF, or to rangefinders. SLR:s get no better than this one, only heavier...
I have 2 of them and they have been serviced at Harrow Technical in London, with full satisfaction.
Price indicated is auction price before service. Never had a single problem with mirror hang-up, only normal age-related issues.
I also have a Nikon F2 but it stays mostly in it´s box. Unfair, maybe yes, but no.....
A highly recommended piece of technology.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 9, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $660.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Incredible build, metering system, MLU, TTL flash support and handling. | | Cons: | No Exposure Lock, expensive to buy & CLA. Difficult focusing screen replacement. | |
The Pentax LX camera was released in June 1980 and remained in production until May 2001. There were a few upgrades/improvements during the 20+ year production run, as well as “Special Edition” versions, but the LX basically remained the same feature wise.
The LX was the first Pentax 35mm professional “System Camera”. This “System” featured user changeable viewfinders & screens and you could get various grips, winders, motor drives, data backs & cases for the LX. The LX system did not feature any new lenses, but instead took advantage of the existing “M” and “K” series manual focus ones.
Observations:
- The first thing I noticed about the LX is how well everything fits together on the camera and how well it’s sealed. All moving parts operate smoothly as well, quite an impressive build indeed. Even the LX Soft EverReady camera case is better made than previous versions for the “M” Series bodies. Of course there is a downside to how well made the LX is, as a CLA costs about four times as much as one for a K1000! Kind of like a high maintenance luxury car.
- The LX is the first Pentax camera to feature TTL flash support and Pentax released a couple new TTL flashes that were designed for the LX. The AF-280T and the AF-400T also had a slew of power accessories that you could get for special shooting. I’m using the AF-280T and all you have to do with the flash is set it on “TTL AUTO”, mount it on the LX hot-shoe and turn the flash on. The LX in automatic mode will automatically set the shutter speed to the flash sync speed of 1/75 and the light beside the “X” in the viewfinder window will glow red. You can set the lens to any aperture in the flash range corresponding to the speed of film you are using. The LX will meter off the film plane and adjust the flash output accordingly; flash shooting could not be easier! When the exposure is complete the red light will blink to indicate that a proper expose was made and it will light up again when the flash has been recharged and is ready for use.
- The LX uses the same “three-way” lever for the DOF preview, Self Timer and MLU. Mirror lock-up was reintroduced on the LX, a feature that was missing on all “M” Series camera bodies. You need to press the button on the lever and then move the lever toward the lens to get the mirror to lockup. While this “three-way” lever saves space on the camera body, it makes the MLU function a bit hard to use.
- The LX features an Integrated Direct Metering (off-the-film) SPD center-weighted metering system with an rated exposure range of -6.5 to 20 EV or 125 seconds to 1/2000th of a second in automatic mode and TTL flash mode. In reality the LX will continue to meter a scene way past the rated 125 second mark, changing the exposure as needed. It can be a bit nerve racking waiting for the LX to finish metering a shot, as you immediately think something is wrong with the camera. So patience is a virtue when doing long exposures in Auto mode! This Auto mode metering was second to none in the camera world at that time and even today is in a class of its own. So to take advantage of the IDM system you need to use the LX in Auto or TTL mode.
- In manual mode the LX meter readings have a range of 4 seconds to 1/2000. With no working batteries in the camera you could still use X (1/75) to 1/2000 shutter speeds in manual mode. LX also has a nice viewfinder “exposure information” display, which shows the shutter speeds with various coloured lights.
- A special note should be taken when using polarizing filters on the LX. A special half mirror was added to the LX to make the viewfinder brighter and easier to focus. This mirror is multi coated and acts like a polarizing filter, so if you use a linear polarizer and shoot in the manual mode you could get a messed up meter reading. However in auto (aperture priority) mode you can use either a CPL or LPL, as the half mirror flips up when the shutter button is pressed and the exposure metering is done off the film plane. Since I only use LPL’s this is a big relief and another reason to use the LX in Auto mode only.
- The LX also has Exposure compensation of +/-2 EV, but is missing Exposure Lock last featured in its professional predecessor the K2DMD.That’s about the only negative that I have with the LX.
- The LX uses the “magic white needles” film loading system, introduced in the “M” Series cameras. There is also a film memo holder on the camera back.
- The LX has numerous finders and focusing screens that you can replace. Changing the finder is easy, you just have to move the finder release lever toward the finder and it slides right off. You just slide the new finder on and it clicks into place, could not be easier! Changing the focusing screens is the exact opposite and if you're not careful with the little metal tweezers you need to use, you can easily scratch the screen or mirror. This is a poor design and cumbersome to do with major consequences if you do it wrong. The LX screen replacement should have been designed like the Pentax 67II. On that camera you remove the finder and the focusing screen is removed from the top of the camera with no tools. You just push a plastic tab and lift the focusing screen up to remove it and the new one just clicks into place by pressing it down. This takes seconds to do and you can easily do it in the field while shooting. The same can't be said with the LX and since this was a pro camera the focusing screen replacement should have been a lot easier.
- The LX is bigger than the “M” Series bodies, but a bit smaller than the “K” Series. So I have no complaints with the handling of the LX.
Summary:
The LX is as good as it’s going to get for a Pentax 35mm camera, whether it’s film or digital and I’m giving it a perfect 10. However my enthusiasm for the LX would have been way higher 4 years ago, when I did all my “specialty” shooting in the 35mm format and would have appreciated all its accessories & features. Since then I do most of my macro, studio, telephoto & long exposure work with my Pentax 6x7 system and the 35mm LX can’t compete with that larger format.
I do however shoot 35mm film when I’m traveling somewhere by airplane and that’s pretty well all outside daylight work, with the occasional night/flash shot. For that type of shooting the LX is probably overkill. (So if you are looking to buy your first Pentax SLR and only plan to use it for outdoor daylight work, then any Pentax camera from that period is equally good and costs way less to buy and CLA.) I do plan to use my LX as my traveling cameras for harsher conditions, where its superb sealing will be a big plus. I just wish I had bought an LX years ago and got a chance to fully appreciate all its features on a regular basis.
Here is how I rank the LX in my Pentax K-mount manual focus body collection:
1) LX, 2) K2DMD, 3) KX, 4) SUPER A, 5) K2, 6) MX, 7) P50, 8) KM, 9) K1000SE, 10) K1000
Update June, 2020:
Recently added the LX 2000 to my collection and it's bundled with the A50/1.2. "Special". The kit was released in 2000 in the Japanese market only and 1000 copies were produced. (All LX 2000's s/n start with 2000xxx)
The LX 2000 also comes with a special brown leather strap that has "Pentax LX 2000" embossed on it. As well as a right hand grip with a strap lug at the top and a silver FA-1W eye-level finder. Beautiful kit!
Price:
I paid 649EUR for my LX kit that included a FA-1 viewfinder, LX Soft EverReady case, strap and a M50/1.7. I estimate a price of 600EUR for the MINT LX body.
I paid $1995USD for my LX 2000 kit that included a FA-1W viewfinder, strap and the A50/1.2 "Special". The LX 2000 kit is in MINT condition.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2014 Posts: 27
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 29, 2015 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | everything | | Cons: | bit loud? | |
Used and compared so many analog slr camera's and this was my absolute favorite. Nikon F3 and Canon F1 are just big & clumsy compared to this beauty, it is sooo easy to use, and it works sooo well. There isn't a button too much on this camera and every single detail has been designed with excellence.
Just look at how they integrated the neck strap!
All shutter speeds above x (1/75) are mechanical!
No on/off button!
LED shutter info combined with match needle in manual mode!
Light metering from film plane while exposure takes place!
Huge viewfinder magnification!
Rubber light seals!
Multiple exposure very easy and fun to use!
Also like the Olympus OM-4Ti as a top of the line model, but it only has a mechanical 1/60. The OM-4Ti spot metering is a nice bonus, however it increases the number of buttons. On the LX I can compensate for exposure instead, it takes about the same effort, maybe a little more experience... So I actually think it's great the LX doesn't have spotmetering, it just provides all I need and keeps it simple.
As for the sticky mirror syndrome, that is almost a non-issue. I repaired 3 LX bodies with a sticky mirror by now and it is just a matter of replacing a small rubber damper on an iron support. What makes that a little difficult is that you need the give the rubber the right thickness, otherwise your focussed subject will be out of focus on the filmplane. I simply glue a piece of soft rubber onto the support that is a bit to thick and use a small piece of grinding paper to carefully get the rubber support to the exact right thickness (infinity on the lens results in infinity in the viewfinder). Another method is to loosen the iron support and adjust its height.
Update July 2016:
Really like how the LX is always ready for action. The battery lasts forever since the most used shutter speeds are mechanical. So without having to turn some switch, you can just grab it, point and shoot. The metering from the film plane also is excellent. The lens has a bit slow aperture? No problem; even if it doesn`t reach the chosen f-value the exposure will be fine (in auto).
Update October 2021:
Sold the LX some time ago, now use just KX or K2(dmd) because I realized I never use the interchangable viewfinder of the LX and it's actually easier to focus on a KX and K2 focussing screen (try it). Nevertheless it was a very good camera.
1st version LX and 55mm f1.2 Revuenon (originally sold with Revue Solar 100)
LX and K 20/4
LX and K 30/2.8
 | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Posts: 3,343
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 5, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $330.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | an absolute joy to shoot with | | Cons: | little bit of a 'princess' - electronic mainboard issues | |
Update May 2022: I just wanted to update my review, now 8 years later. I'd like to deduct a star or two, but I just cannot. My (earlier) copy has been to see Mr. Eric Hendrickson twice, once for CLA and the second trip ( during which he had it for the better part of half a year) trying to sort out its intermittent shutter control and metering issues that were not solved by the initial visit. He was unable to remedy them unfortunately. The fault is a PCB mainboard of the camera and replacing these is evidently a huge challenge due to parts availability as well as ability to ID the correct one that is needed. Per Eric, Pentax silently changed these numerous times through both major production runs they are not interchangeable, and as well they are not identifiable from the outside which makes located a suitable donor camera just as challenging as it is expensive (and that's just for the parts) and more, it would be replacing the board with a like board from the same production run, which could also be prone to failure. The late model varieties don't seem to suffer this fate as much but it's unclear whether that is because they're less susceptible or if it's merely because they are newer (the entire production span of the LX is nearly 20 years) and have developed any issues. It is known that even the late model copies can and have suffered these sorts of issues, just with far less frequency.
For my part, my LX has for whatever reason exhibited the issue with *less* frequency as the years go by, but it does keep me from loving it as much as I'm apt to, and from shooting it anywhere near as often as I otherwise would. It's a truly brilliant camera. I've learned to work around the shortcomings in my particular case and at worst they cost me a frame or two each roll. For any other camera that'd be completely unacceptable, but for the LX as nice as it is in so many ways to shoot, I keep it and let it go. These are fantastic machines.
 The LX by Kevin Rosinbum (Eyewanders Foto), on Flickr
 in the darkness, and the light... by Kevin Rosinbum (Eyewanders Foto), on Flickr
 brother from another mother by Kevin Rosinbum (Eyewanders Foto), on Flickr
Original Review July 2015: My review will be short and sweet, echoing many sentiments already typed out here. The LX is my favorite 35mm camera to use, period - I've two MX bodies which I enjoy *nearly* as much but the handling, the viewfinder and the overall buttery-smoothness of the LX wins me over each time I pick it up. Mine will need a CLA in the near future as it's shutter speeds are starting to wander but to-date, after owning this current used one for well over a year I can't bring myself to part with it for long enough to repair... Some day I will. Not today.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,437
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 20, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $41.50
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Compact but comfortable, portrait orientation neck strap option, great meter, light, good supporting system, great to use | | Cons: | Sticky mirror syndrome, expensive accessories, too light for some uses | |
https://youtu.be/ynZH0RXKb1E
I picked up my LX today, so as I use it and take sample images, I'll expand this review. My knee-jerk reaction is to say that I love it and it's going to be a favorite camera, without a doubt. Mine has periodic sticky mirror syndrome, and one of the support pads shows signs of erosion due to gooification. I'll, without question, need to get it CLA'd in the foreseeable future.
I managed to get it overhauled with new pads and a new control board because my meter was not automatically turning off. It took a while for the parts to be sourced but was well worth the wait. Using the LX has been a blast. This is the most fun-to-use Pentax 35mm body that I've tried. The results so far have been nice.
The meter is exceptional and, I think, as good as many later cameras. I think it's better, in fact, than some later cameras. The LX handles high-contrast situations better than any other Pentax I've used, including the DSLRs.
Where it fails, and this is minor, in my mind is that it's too light for long lenses. With heavier film bodies, like my K2, K100, and so forth, I can hand-hold my 75-300 Tamron at 300mm down to 1/125th of a second if I brace well. That's because the body is heavy enough to counterbalance the lens and also remain relatively motionless despite mirror movement. The LX is so light that at 300mm, I could not hold the lens at anything slower than 1/500th and get consistently sharp results. That stems from the lens-camera weight being front-forward compared to mounting the lens on a K body and the mirror introducing more movement to the camera due to the camera's light weight. I've noticed the same effect with the 50mm f/1.4 SMC-M, too. So the camera's light weight removes about one stop of shutter speed compared to what you're likely to be used to if you have heavier cameras.
I didn't know if I would like the LX when I got it, but I'm sold and am truly an LX convert. It's an amazing camera.
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: March, 2013 Location: S East England Posts: 2
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 19, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | A joy to use; customisable with grips, viewfinders and alternative strap positions | | Cons: | All things considered, very few | |
My father originally purchased two of these used in 1983. They were regularly used for over 20 years to record family events, including countless weddings as well as long trips overseas in hot and dusty conditions and then remained relatively unused until a few years ago. I have had them refurbished and purchased a third body to use for travel as I did not want to risk losing my fathers original camera's. I can't add much more to what others have said in terms of how good these camera's are to use. To me they are ergonomically the best all round 35mm SLR camera to use. I have never found the "perfect" camera despite going through a number of 35mm film, DX and FF digital cameras. The LX is the closest SLR to perfect and I have never found it to be lacking in any "essential" feature needed to tackle a photographic task.
Along side the LX's, I have owned MF,AF and Digital Nikon SLR's, the closet to the LX are the FM2 and FE2 combined (I have never owned the FM3a). The Nikon's have never been CLA'd and work perfectly, all they have needed is refoaming, but I still prefer the overall lower weight and ergonomics of the Pentax LX's and the small M and A series lenses. The LX's have been used harder than the Nikons and have needed two CLA's each in around 30 years, but thats not bad given what a joy they are to use and how much use they have seen. In addition to the CLA's on the LX bodies one of them needed a repair to the self timer/mirror lock up and the finder release mechanism. In addition to this, the 3rd body I purchased at low cost (it had been abused) developed erratic manual shutter speeds, the problem was (apparently) fixed during a CLA by cleaning of the ceramic resistor under the ISO dial. Add in the sticky mirror syndrome and many would give up and think the LX is a bit of drama queen. My view is that the overall ownership cost has been very low, the camera's have never failed in an unusable fashion and I am unlikely to need to spend much more on keeping my LX's in working condition over the next decade and therefore recommend them.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95090368@N05/8683509589/ | | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 62
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 5, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | best pentax camera | | Cons: | no | |
I love this camera, even it is expensive - it is very good instrument for photographer.
1- interchangeable viewfinders and FS (I have 3 of them)
2- compact winder
3- biggest viewfinder I have seen
4- compact without winders
5- very intuitive controls
6- best light metering (TTL+ Flash TTL)
7- interchangeble grip
and so on.
I dream LX in digital reincarnation...
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Posts: 18,076
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 21, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Quality level, interchangable VF, build, etc. ... | | Cons: | None ... really. Expensive CLA & "sticky mirror" | |
Bonjour,
Great SLR ... my LX came with a winder and grip. Sold it to fund another acquisition and now have "seller's remorse" ... oh well, I can always pick up another one, but my next one will have a "service history" record with it (hopefully having been recently serviced by Eric H) .... the copy that I had was "AOK" ... but for info, avoid copies with "sticky shutter" problems ... Salut, J
Edit : I have started a "new" LX kit ... with three VF's and the "green button" is a joke (wink)
Edit 2 : Two for them now ... one needs to go ... wink again
 | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 3 | | Review Date: November 27, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Superb built quality, OTF meterning | | Cons: | sticky mirror | |
+ Solid built
+ Interchangeable viewfinders, focusing screens
+ no need of batteries
- quite loud shutter
- sticky mirror
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2007 Location: Greece Posts: 6 | | Review Date: November 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
|
Super A++++
| | | | | PEG Moderator Registered: August, 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Posts: 57,819
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Proffessional Quality, Dust sealed, Mechanical speeds back up | | Cons: | None that I can find | |
Without doubt IMHO one of the finest cameras Pentax has ever made. 
It allowed my to get on with job in hand without drama's. I've still got a couple which I use now and again for specialised work.
Viewfinder just the biggest and brightest around, interchangeable options too.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 18, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Excellent handling, small, relatively lightweight, reliable, operable without batteries | | Cons: | Repairs often necessary with used examples, slower flash sync | |
The LX is often regarded as Pentax's best camera ever. I would wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. I have used the LX, the P30T, K1000, MX, PZ-1p, K20D, K-7, and K-5. Some of those cameras may be better in some ways, but not on the whole in my opinion.
The camera can see in the dark and meter it. The camera can offer a huge, almost life-size and extremely bright viewfinder image. The camera can shoot for years on a set of $2 batteries. Is there any digital camera that can make these claims?
Paired with a few M-series Primes and a few rolls of Tri-X you can be ready for anything with this camera. I cannot overstate it's elegance or power. If the batteries die, you can still shoot at the faster shutter speeds as long as you want. You won't get metering and you won't get speeds slower than 1/75s, but that isn't much of a hindrance for outdoor shooting. This isn't as good as a K1000, but it's definitely better than many later cameras.
There is one blemish on the record of this awesome camera: the sticky mirror. Probably every LX ever made will have (or has had) this problem. Do not buy one unless the seller can provide evidence of a repair within the last few years. Otherwise, figure a $150-250 repair bill into the cost of the camera, either immediately after purchase or within a few years down the road.
The other qualm is a slow flash sync; even though this camera is ahead of its time (titanium shutter with first-curtain meter matrix, OTF metering for extreme low light metering, etc) in many ways, it is still a victim of 70s-80s era 35mm SLR technology: a slow 1/75 flash sync speed. Nothing you can do about it. Oh well, life goes on.
All things considered, I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for one of the best 35mm SLRs ever made. I love mine and hope to use it for many years to come.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Posts: 1,411
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 5, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | OTF Metering, Viewfinder, Handling, many, many more. | | Cons: | Mirror lock up cannot be used with the timer. | |
Reading through the other reviews posted here it is quite obvious that there is not much I can say about this wonderful little camera that has not already been said more than once. So I will discuss the things I personally love about this camera.
My LX sports a bleeding edge, full frame, interchangeable sensor. ISO sensitivity all the way to 3200. 20+ megapixel resolution. Solid, compact, all-metal body. Supports every lens Pentax has manufactured since 1977, and several more that were manufactured before that using an adaptor. Reliable and accurate, off the sensor, center weighted metering, that is accurate within a range of -6.5 EV to +20 EV. The most crystal clear, penta prism, viewfinder I have ever used with 98% coverage and split prism focus assistance. Interchangeable viewfinders and screens. Battery life that is literally measured in years, not number of shots. Dedicated synch port for studio lighting.
This magnificent photographic instrument is no longer manufactured but if you have it cleaned, lubed and adjusted, then treat it right, it will most likely outlive you. It was in production for 19 years and still has features that no other camera ever manufactured has ever replicated. It is the smallest pro camera system ever produced and it is still capable of producing professional results.
I still cannot get over this viewfinder. It is the most beautifully clear viewfinder I have ever used. I love it.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 27
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 7, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $199.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Ergonomics, features, quality build | | Cons: | None for me | |
This is one of those bodies that just feels dead 'right' in my hands. It is solid, weighty, and as ergonomically spot-on as a rectangular box can be.
Like others, I am amazed by the low-light performance. With a relatively slow film, under a single weak globe, I have had fantastic exposures indoors, with great tone and detail.
Some would argue it is desperately outdated, but it still does now what it did so well when new, and that makes it one of the finest manual focus SLRs ever produced. Get a good example, have it serviced and you will find yourself returning to this body again and again for it's magical meter, and the genuine feel of a professional tool that the camera imparts.
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