[Nesster]

A couple of interesting bits from the May 1973 Popular Photography magazine

Attached Images

       

[stevebrot]

Thanks, Jussi! I truly appreciate the work you do in preserving our photographic past.


Steve

[LesDMess]

I too can appreciate the effort - and resources, it takes to do this. Keep up the good work!

[womble]

Great stuff as always, Jussi. many thanks. K.

[Bob from Aus]

I think my Pentax ES is my most loved camera. I couldn't guess how many thousands of rolls went through her. It was brilliant technology at the time. Mine doesn't have the honeywell. I got into pentax as my first 35mm camera because of the multi coating. Thanks for posting the article - great memories.

[mikeSF]

very cool
thx for sharing

[Baard-Einar]

Wow.

Really cool. Pentax was ahead of the Canikons at that point. When did the competitive edge disappear for Pentax?

Thanks for sharing, Jussi.

[Cuthbert]

Wow.

Really cool. Pentax was ahead of the Canikons at that point. When did the competitive edge disappear for Pentax?

Thanks for sharing, Jussi.

Probably when they decided not to pursue the development of the LX in the 80s.

[Bob from Aus]

ally cool. Pentax was ahead of the Canikons at that point. When did the competitive edge disappear for Pentax?

I think they were to late changing to the k mount and lost a lot of momentum and and in my opinion their lenses back in the 70s while excellent looked and felt a generation older.

[stevebrot]

When did the competitive edge disappear for Pentax?

In the late 1980s with the onset of AF cameras. Build quality had been taking a slide industry-wide toward the end of the decade with a few prominent exceptions, one of which being the Pentax LX. Pentax remained technologically current and competent throughout the decade with the real damage happening with the plastic motorized wind cameras prevalent at the start of the autofocus era.

It should be noted that in many ways Pentax is one of the standout survivors of the 90s and early 00s. Many SLR makers quit making that class of film camera even before digital arrived. Others were acquired by their rivals. A short list of SLR brands that disappeared:

• Konica
• Minolta (2006)
• Fuji
• Olympus
• Ricoh
• Chinon
• Mamiya
• Yashica
• Contax
• Alpa
• Exakta
• Praktica

The current Canon/Nikon oligarchy is a fairly recent phenomenon and Pentax current position as a minor player is not an indication of any historic failing.


Steve