Pentax LX problem

Ketsuppi11 · 12-20-2017, 02:56 AM

Hi,

I have never done film photography before and decided to give it a try. Saw very reasonably priced LX with some decent lenses and bought it.

Got the camera yesterday and everything that I can think of testing seems to work fine and camera is in very nice shape except dent above "pentax" logo. Seller said that it's only a cosmetic dent.

BUT view through viewfinder is very blurry and it's hard to get anything in focus. First I thought that there might be something wrong with the focusing screen so I replaced it (camera came with a few different options) but it didn't help. And when I try focus the most sharp focus in viewfinder doesn't match distance scale on lens. I tried several lenses and compared to my ME which has much cleared view from viewfinder.

I spend all night reading about LX's sticky mirror problem and first I was convinced that my unit can't be affected by it since the mirror flips without any sluggishnes. But if I understood correctly if the rubber pads underneath the mirror where it's resting are thinner than they should be, mirror will be misaligned and cause blurry view in viewfinder?

So my questions is if this problem is something relatively small and can be fixed by normal cleaning / service or is this sign of someting more serious and I should return the camera?
I don't mind if I have to get a normal service / cleaning done on this camera if it fixes the problem since otherwise it seems to be in good condition and it wasn't too pricey.

any advice and comments are greatly appreciated!

**boriscleto** · 12-20-2017, 03:07 AM - **1 Like**

Did the camera come with the diopter adjustment tool?

Pentax LX camera manual, user manual

Even if you don't have it a 1/8" straight-blade screwdriver should work...

Ketsuppi11 · 12-20-2017, 03:12 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Did the camera come with the diopter adjustment tool?

Pentax LX camera manual, user manual

Ah, good point! I will definitely check diopter adjustment today!

**TomB_tx** · 12-20-2017, 05:50 AM

When the mirror bumpers in my LX deteriorated I could still get a sharp view in the finder, but the focus on film was different than in the finder, so that isn't your issue. Likely the diopter adjustment. I once got a used 6x7 meter prism that was quite blurry, and found the last owner had installed a diopter.

Ketsuppi11 · 12-20-2017, 08:06 AM

Good to know, I will investigate and report back tonight.
Those rubber pads seemed to in decent shape..

Ketsuppi11 · 12-20-2017, 11:54 AM - **1 Like**

Thank you for solving my problem! It was the diopter.
Now everything seems to work perfectly

Pioneer · 12-20-2017, 12:10 PM - **2 Likes**

Some of us poor LX users no longer have the eyesight we enjoyed in our younger years.

**monochrome** · 12-20-2017, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by Pioneer

Some of us poor LX users no longer have the eyesight we enjoyed in our younger years.

Which makes that diopter adjustment tool all the more important!

.

**ChrisPlatt** · 12-20-2017, 04:25 PM

Of course the true test will be your results on film.
If your negatives or slides are not sharp those mirror stops could still be bad.

Chris

cooltouch · 12-30-2017, 07:52 AM

What Chris said. I bought a clean used LX a couple of years ago. Mine has a bright viewfinder, so no problems there. But I soon noticed a significant discrepancy between the lens's focusing scale and actual distance. It was those rubber stops for the mirror. I took mine to a local professional camera repair shop, where they performed a CLA, including mirror adjustment, for $80. Well worth it.

12-20-2017, 02:56 AM	#1
Ketsuppi11 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Pentax LX problem Hi, I have never done film photography before and decided to give it a try. Saw very reasonably priced LX with some decent lenses and bought it. Got the camera yesterday and everything that I can think of testing seems to work fine and camera is in very nice shape except dent above "pentax" logo. Seller said that it's only a cosmetic dent. BUT view through viewfinder is very blurry and it's hard to get anything in focus. First I thought that there might be something wrong with the focusing screen so I replaced it (camera came with a few different options) but it didn't help. And when I try focus the most sharp focus in viewfinder doesn't match distance scale on lens. I tried several lenses and compared to my ME which has much cleared view from viewfinder. I spend all night reading about LX's sticky mirror problem and first I was convinced that my unit can't be affected by it since the mirror flips without any sluggishnes. But if I understood correctly if the rubber pads underneath the mirror where it's resting are thinner than they should be, mirror will be misaligned and cause blurry view in viewfinder? So my questions is if this problem is something relatively small and can be fixed by normal cleaning / service or is this sign of someting more serious and I should return the camera? I don't mind if I have to get a normal service / cleaning done on this camera if it fixes the problem since otherwise it seems to be in good condition and it wasn't too pricey. any advice and comments are greatly appreciated!

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12-20-2017, 03:07 AM - 1 Like	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Did the camera come with the diopter adjustment tool? Pentax LX camera manual, user manual Even if you don't have it a 1/8" straight-blade screwdriver should work...

12-20-2017, 03:12 AM	#3
Ketsuppi11 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 217 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto Did the camera come with the diopter adjustment tool? Pentax LX camera manual, user manual Ah, good point! I will definitely check diopter adjustment today!

12-20-2017, 05:50 AM	#4
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	When the mirror bumpers in my LX deteriorated I could still get a sharp view in the finder, but the focus on film was different than in the finder, so that isn't your issue. Likely the diopter adjustment. I once got a used 6x7 meter prism that was quite blurry, and found the last owner had installed a diopter.

12-20-2017, 08:06 AM	#5
Ketsuppi11 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 217 Original Poster	Good to know, I will investigate and report back tonight. Those rubber pads seemed to in decent shape..

12-20-2017, 11:54 AM - 1 Like	#6
Ketsuppi11 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 217 Original Poster	Thank you for solving my problem! It was the diopter. Now everything seems to work perfectly

12-20-2017, 12:10 PM - 2 Likes	#7
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	Some of us poor LX users no longer have the eyesight we enjoyed in our younger years.

12-20-2017, 02:41 PM	#8
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Pioneer Some of us poor LX users no longer have the eyesight we enjoyed in our younger years. Which makes that diopter adjustment tool all the more important! .

12-20-2017, 04:25 PM	#9
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	Of course the true test will be your results on film. If your negatives or slides are not sharp those mirror stops could still be bad. Chris

12-30-2017, 07:52 AM	#10
cooltouch Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 982	What Chris said. I bought a clean used LX a couple of years ago. Mine has a bright viewfinder, so no problems there. But I soon noticed a significant discrepancy between the lens's focusing scale and actual distance. It was those rubber stops for the mirror. I took mine to a local professional camera repair shop, where they performed a CLA, including mirror adjustment, for $80. Well worth it.