| Author: | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 3,235
10 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 18, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Many . . . | | Cons: | Not available in chrome . . . | |
In early 1980 both Nikon and Canon came out with their anticipated third generation pro camera models while Pentax released their first interchangeable viewfinder 35mm camera just in time for their 60th anniversary and appropriately designated the LX.
But unlike it's interchangeable viewfinder peers, it's size was more in-line with the new smaller form factor cameras.
In fact, Pentax clearly went all the way back to the original Asahi Pentax for it's good looks!
And provided it with the most comprehensive choices of viewfinders ever - or since, in a camera. It has a wide selection of viewfinder magnifications - from largest to most eye-relief and most of them have built-in diopter control.
The elegance in it's design can be seen not only in what was included - great build and weatherproofing, but also what was not. It doesn't need a viewfinder blind as any light coming though the viewfinder will not influence the meter. It doesn't need a separate multiple exposure control but yet you can multiexpose any frame - forward or backward. It is completely operational and usable without a viewfinder attached. When the very long lasting batteries die, it will still allow you manually fire the shutter from sync speed to max 1/2000.
The single most defining feature for me is that in aperture priority mode, it is the only camera ever (past or present as of this review, by any brand or model) that will autoexpose a scene for as long as it takes (or batteries die) - all the while monitoring the scene in real time, and adjusting exposure accordingly.
Most all aperture priority capable cameras can autoexpose a typical daylight scene. This one using the LX with Lomography 100 film.
Most can even expose a scene seconds long. This one on Fuji RVP50.
However, autoexposure measuring minutes long and you eliminate most cameras. This one >10 minutes on Kodak Portra 800.
For autoexposures longer than 40 minutes, I am not aware of any other camera - beside the LX, that can do this. I don't believe you can even do this using an external meter. This one using Kodak Ektar 100.
For this scene - taken using Kodak Gold 100 with the LX in aperture priority mode, I pressed the shutter button about 9pm and sometime after 3am it finished.
After a few of these extremely long aperture priority autoexposure shots, I had to figure a way to more conveniently determine when the exposure was done. Otherwise, I am having to look through the viewfinder constantly. So I devised an LED/battery connected to the X-sync terminal that lights up when the shutter is open and turns off when it is done.
For these dark scenes that require such long exposure, it helps greatly that the viewfinder is extremely big and bright!
No doubt that Pentax LX is a fantastic camera. Truly a one of a kind.
| | | | | | | Giveaway winner! Registered: December, 2007 Location: beantown Posts: 944
10 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 5, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Natural in hands, plenty of useful bits | | Cons: | sticky mirror | |
| Pros | Natural in hands, plenty of useful bits | | Cons | sticky mirror will happen | | Rating | 10 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | 750 | | Years Owned | 25+ |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Solid weather resistant camera with many super lovely feature and a grand array accessories that make it a true heavy weight System Camera. Fabulous metering system from the film-plane and the bright viewfinder. A luxury kind of camera.
Camera Review
Over the years, this camera has been a dream to use... Purchased it in 1982. Yet sadly when the odd critical malfunction of the shutter in (about 1999 or 2000?) led to handing it over to a claimed "Authorized Pentax Repair" shop... found out later, a very dishonest one...and the LX has function oddly ever since, yet the strength of the camera still out stripped the problems (partial sticky mirror).
The weight and balance of the LX was wonderful for me and with the added grip "B" is an ergonomic perfection for my hands. The shutter is very accurate and solid and the only short coming is the loss of slow speed functions without batteries, but the upper speeds and B still work. The view finder on my LX is the standard FA-1 and it is simply superb, the screen installed is the standard micro/slit combo and it does well with lenses until about f4.5. The prism finders have diopter adjustments on the penta-prisms which is nice, but I'm getting old and need soon to find the FA-1W. I should mention the film handling and it is a surprise to new Pentax users...Magic Needles... first introduced on the M series it naturally finds its way on the LX and it is fast and easy to load the camera. I've been able to load blind in a crowd and get shooting again fast...do practice this if you wish to do this or you may poke out you shutter curtain. The meter is another important subject as it is very accurate the vast in its sensitivity which makes it popular for night shooting. While the camera is set to auto, I've made accurate, long and almost two minute exposure, with correction for film type, with perfectly balanced results. A dream to use.
Update:
Many more bodies seem to be up for sale and chance are that they've been serviced by a non pentax authorized shop and not very concerned about re-sealing the body after servicing. You should never test it out in the weather unless you've inspected it all around for missing sealant or gaps that allows a piece of paper to slip in. I've had my favorite LX not resealed by a local repair guy (crook). Eric Hendrickson serviced and properly sealed it again.
Update:
I've recently purchased an LX with almost all seals missing, even when the seller swore up and down it was original never serviced, but it seamed the store sold him a problem body that was fixed by their in store tech and he left many seals out. This camera had signs of water damage or moisture infiltration.
Update:
So, when buying used, look out for the following signs of a problem:
Check for sticky mirror syndrome - commonly caused by the decaying pad and bumper under the mirror or the foam seals above the mirror
Check for the hidden sticky problem - with lens off, flip in and out of depth-of-field preview and note any delay in the metal "open-aperture" tab as it moves while you flip in and out.
Check for missing seals around body joints and around screws, if properly services then properly sealed.
Check if speeds 15th-30th-60th-X-125th in manual, in timer, in mirror-lock-up... do they all look correct
Check if Automatic works, but if camera has no film that the TTL meter may pick longer times than indicated if measuring off pressure plate
Check to see if, while the lens cap is on and blocking stray light from finder, the meter should read at bottom red LED
Check if the meter stays on too long... not more than about 20 seconds... greater than 30 may mean a problem is starting.
Check if the meter is overexposing... lens cap on, and try to keep the light out of the viewfinder, see if at 15th and the ASA set to 100 or 200 if the meter reads more than the bottom most red LED.
Update: I've been informed by "anonymous" that I'm exaggerating about the chance of unsealed bodies and that I'm misleading people and should retract my claims and admit that it is not anything more than rare at the extreme. I am only expressing caution that it could happen... So, NO I will not. Thanks for sharing Mr/Mrs "anonymous".
Update: "...LX is a solid well engineered... you'll find few that can equal..." as "anonymous" another or the same? "You can not deny that it was built with many features that few can equal today... you must be one of those snap-shooters that upgraded from a cellphone to a film camera, hipster types and think you discovered film cameras..." The rest of the email goes on and lists quotes from this review. The possible flaws, and I will emphasize, are very real things now after some 30 plus years after its introductions. If you have a pristine-new in box-sealed in a bubble example, you will possibly be in possession of a camera of near perfection as SLR-film-"system" cameras go. For the rest of us, a used and second or third hand body with many years of climate and temperature changes will need some TLC to shine. I own three LX bodies and one of them I've owned since the second year of its introduction. Please read the entire review and note what I say here... Oh, and the language it is written in is English.
Update: DIY repair my extra LX bodies acquired for cheap... if you call 150 US dollars cheap. One was "adjusted" by a tech who didn't seem to know much about LX. All seals torn or breached and the magnet was loose as well as old gooey bumpers were still installed. So "erratic shutter" is all that and yet I paid $150...oh-boy... but now it is all working perfectly. The other was sold by a seller from Japan and it is, for all signs, a "Franken-camera". It had cut traces, non-oem wires installed, time or AV selector was filthy, wrong version trip lever installed and was not calibrated for particular body and a few critical screws missing. It was a mess and not even worth the $149 I paid.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090
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.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2020 Location: Oregon Posts: 3
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 4, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Handling, Viewfinder, Reliability, Quality | | Cons: | Expensive to Buy, Expensive Repairs | |
With the MX being such an excellent, more affordable, and more plentiful camera, why bother with the LX in this day and age?
For me, it was a bit of just wanting to know what the absolute best Pentax had to offer in the manual focus SLR days was like. Other than the obvious difference between this an the MX (AE, faster top shutter speed, modular, etc.), the most substantial difference for me lies in the handling. The LX handles smoother than any other camera I've owned or used. With the A grip, it fits in my normal-sized hands perfectly. The shutter releases in a smooth, linear manner. There's almost no shutter recoil or mirror bounce, to the point where I've gotten acceptably sharp results down to 1/15th with a 35mm lens. The film winds with a constant and effortless throw. Every tactile interface feels solid, but smooth as can be. It's the kind of experience that makes you want to go out and take pictures just for the sake of using the camera. But what is all of that without a good way to see what you're doing? Well, fortunately, the LX also happens to have the clearest and sharpest 35mm SLR viewfinder I've ever had the pleasure of using. This is also the only film camera I own that I would confidently take up to the mountains with me. Nothing really seems to bother it, not even sub-freezing temperatures. Not bad for a 40 year-old camera. Oh, and it's also smaller and lighter than the F1n or F3. Heck, it's even smaller than my FE2 was.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Professional manual focus SLRs aren't really the best buys in general these days, but the LX especially. It's more rare and collectible than its plentiful Canon and Nikon equivalents, which makes it more expensive. That also means parts are harder to come by, and repairs are more expensive. It's also been well-documented that an LX will eventually have some sort of problem and need servicing. Personally, I don't care. I'd pay the money to keep this thing going as long as possible, just like people do with their classic cars.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2019 Location: Milan Posts: 8
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 8, 2020 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | exposure meter, viewfinders | | Cons: | None, except for periodic maintenance of the mirror supports | |
1980-2020 The LX turns 40!
Sincerely
| | | | | 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
 | | | | | 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.
| | | | | 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.
 | | | | | 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.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 23, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Everything including the viewfinders | | Cons: | High Price | |
I just got this camera and love to use it with the FB/FC viewfinder. It is almost as good as my Spotmatic and my Pentax SV, very close to my Asahiflex IIa. Everything they said already, I repeat. Nice camera, it is a keeper. Price includes CLA by Eric. Here are some samples of my first roll of film:
 Pentax LX by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr
 No More Newton's Rings by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr
 Pentax LX by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2017 Location: South Wales Posts: 2,961
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 18, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Quality construction, fully featured, professional grade. | | Cons: | Sticking mirror fault (with age), no AE lock, not "imposing" enough for some situations. | |
The LX was launched in 1980 as a serious attempt by Pentax to break the dominance of Nikon and Canon in the professional market. It is robustly made and weatherproofed, yet significantly smaller than its intended rivals - the Nikon F3 and Canon F-1n. As befitted that conservative market, it was produced for 20 years, almost exactly in parallel with the Nikon F3. The layout of controls was entirely conventional for the time and it has the features which that market would have expected. A large range of accessories, including data backs, motor drive, and no less than seven interchangeable viewfinders, was launched at the same time; these were not generally interchangeable with other cameras in the Pentax range, except of course the K mount lenses.
It uses TTL metering off the film and shutter surfaces, so it is measuring light during the exposure and not beforehand, which allows it for example to control its own dedicated flash units whatever the lens aperture, and to cope with long exposures in low and changeable ambient light. The meter range was very wide for its day.
It has aperture priority auto exposure, and a manual mode with shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 4 seconds (there is no upper time limit with auto). All speeds from sync (1/75 - shown as an "X" between 1/60 and 1/100) to 1/2000 are mechanical when manually set, so in normal daylight and for flash it can be used without batteries.
The viewfinder has full information, including aperture via a Judas window, and a small red flag to warn of exposure compensation. In Auto the shutter speed is indicated by a long row of tiny (they had to be) LEDs, and in manual they continue to recommend a speed while a movable blue flag shows the actual speed selected by the user. There are about nine different changeable focussing screens.
I find the LX very intuitive and straightforward to use, without thinking or looking at it, despite its full features for its day - a far cry from today's nested menus and 4-way buttons. Even now I tend to use a DSLR in aperture priority auto mode most of the time. The LX viewfinder information system is superb, superior to its Nikon and Canon rivals. Today of course, many of those special accessories can only rarely be found, if at all, and any LX is likely to need its sticking mirror return seeing to.
Pentax never made much inroad into the professional market. Most press reviews at the time of its intoduction praised the LX to the skies, but added sadly that most professionals and serious amateurs were already locked into Nikon or Canon systems, depite their strange quirks (the Canon F-1s at the time were, frankly, contraptions). I believe that another reason is that the LX's smallness compared with its rivals counted against it in some fields, such as commercial photography and weddings. where a big camera helped to project a professional image to the clients. Nevertheless I consider the LX the best 35mm film camera ever made, and it still retains a following of almost a cult nature today.
There follows a picture of the viewfinder view, and of an LX with Motor Drive (up to 5 fps) and Pistol Grip. The pistol grip contains the motor drive batteries, but there was an alternative battery box of similar size and shape to the drive itself that fitted beneath.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2016 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 14, 2016 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Outstanding built, reliable. | | Cons: | None | |
I own three, and I must have shot 20000+ negatives with them. I also own a Nikon F3 and an Olympus OM-4T and a couple of expensive rangefinders. There was no competition, really. The LX was just a little bigger than the OM-4T and did not burn batteries. The Pentax outfit was much lighter than the Nikon. I always carry one in my bag, most often with a 35mm or a 40mm lens. Never had a camera I liked better.
My first LX was from one of the earlier releases; I bought it in the mid-80's and cost me a fortune. The last two I purchased 6 years ago from the estate of a local pro. Paid $250 for the pair, both of them in great condition with only tripod marks on the base plate.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2017 Posts: 2,032
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 8, 2022 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Build quality and overall feel and handling | | Cons: | cost, sticky mirror | |
One of my dream film cameras which I was only able to acquire recently. Mine came in very good condition with intact covers, all plastic protectors, but no strap lugs, and a winder for £400. This camera was designed for professional use way back when and as such it has a load of features which are really no longer relevant in this day and age - like interchangeable finders and screens winder and motor drives, so I will be reviewing it as what realistically it is going to be used as - a high quality film camera for handheld use. As such, the price and the fact you will probably get the sticky mirror syndrome at some point, which will also add to the cost (mine came complete with SMS but fortunately Ffordes fixed it for me for no extra cost), and in my case a further £70 for some genuine strap lugs* make this a luxury item which any sane and rational analysis screams "DON'T BUY". Everything you are likely to want this camera to do can be done far more cheaply by many other Pentax models. However once any gremlins are sorted out, in your hands you will be holding a piece of sublime engineering excellence. I have or have owned Canon F1 (old and new), Nikon F3, Contax S2. Fine cameras though they are, in terms of feel and handling they just do not come close to the LX. I have only ever held one other camera which may surpass it in this regard, a Leica R6, but that was several years ago and my memory may not be fully accurate in this regard, and in any case Leica R's have a very limited and expensive lens selection. Put your favourite lens on the front and your favourite film inside and every time you pick your LX up you will be glowing. Press the shutter and wind the film on and you will smile at the sound and smoothness. Of course I can take equally good pictures with my MX or whatever, but I will not get the same sense of joy doing so.
In summary this is a camera for those who wish to spoil themselves and are not too worried how much it is going to cost. As such it does represent good value for money, but if you just want a camera that takes film other options will save you a whole load of money.
*Regarding those strap lugs, three points for connection. Hooray! I can have a strap side mounted, by far my favourite way.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2021 Location: London Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 12, 2021 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Compact, tough, versatile | | Cons: | None | |
I bought an LX new in the early 80’s after a Pentax rep showed me one that was cut away; it looked so solid I decided that was the camera I needed. I still have it and it is still gorgeous, it’s been everywhere and made a hell of a lot of exposures, it has just been serviced for the second time in its life and it feels like new again, thanks to Harrow Technical for keeping it going. I think the LX and the Nikon F3 were probably the best film SLRs ever made.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Sturtevant, Wisconsin Posts: 48
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 3, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $283.99
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | The feel, viewfinder, | | Cons: | None | |
I've always wanted one, to me no other camera compares to it as far as I feel. But I have only had mine for two weeks. Mine is a later model of the LX. It feels so great in your hands, and it's has a smooth operation. I love that you switch viewfinders anytime. I was showing to a friend who became a Pentaxian in 2006 with a ISTD, he said it would be nice if the DSLR's had a interchangeable viewfinders and I agree with him. I've owned Pentax cameras from 1983 with a ME-Super and now 35 years later my dream has come true. I just got a Winder LX on Monday and tried it out today, all can say is wow. Mine has none of the LX problems so far. I'm using a Pentax-M SMC 50mm F1.7 with it.
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