LX backs

womble · 10-15-2019, 07:03 AM

I fitted one of my LX data backs the other day to test it. When I refitted a standard back I noticed that one of them has a roller fitted to it. Does anyone know anything about this? Please excuse the phone image.

Thanks, Kris.

LX backs par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity

stevebrot · 10-15-2019, 08:53 AM

I have wondered about this too, though not with LX backs. My SV has no roller and neither does my SP, but my SPII, SP F, and KX all have rollers, despite the backs on the last four being otherwise essentially the same.

Steve

**gofour3** · 10-15-2019, 12:27 PM

It may be one of the changes Pentax made between the "early" and "late" LX??

Phil.

womble · 10-15-2019, 12:41 PM

I guess so but I have no way of knowing which is early or late.

K.

**gofour3** · 10-15-2019, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by womble

I guess so but I have no way of knowing which is early or late.

K.

I just checked my "late" LX and it does not have the roller on the film door, so who knows......

Phil.

turbof · 10-15-2019, 05:05 PM - **1 Like**

I have 2 lxes (lxi?). The newer has the roller, the older not.

leekil · 10-15-2019, 06:56 PM

I have an early one, with no roller.

garywakeling · 10-15-2019, 10:17 PM

Any knowledge of the roller on the specialised backs , watch and data or 250exp?

womble · 10-16-2019, 01:51 AM

None of the three data backs or my dial data back have the roller. I don't have the 250 back.

I'm guessing it's something to do with improving the film path?

K.

**Digitalis** · 10-16-2019, 04:21 AM

Originally posted by womble

I'm guessing it's something to do with improving the film path?

I think it had to do with improving film flatness at the rails, Kodak had changed to a thinner emulsion as the thicker emulsion was putting too much strain on film winders which were beginning to become more common in cameras. I can only surmise Pentax added the roller to help improve film handling...and as usual, without telling anyone.

**gofour3** · 10-16-2019, 08:05 AM

So if the "early" LX's and some of the "late" LX's did not have the roller, then I guess the roller must be an improvement added vary late in the LX's production run.

Phil.

womble · 10-16-2019, 08:41 AM

Part of the problem of working this out is the ease with which doors can be changed. I have several backs but only one body so I don't really know which was the original one with that back.

I went through my Pentax bodies.

Early Spotmatic: no roller.

ES, ESII, KM, KX and K2DMD has a roller.

ME Super, MV, MG, MX, Super A, Program A: no roller.

It appears, therefore, to be something Pentax did between (roughly) the era of the Spot F/ES/ESII and the original K-series, but dropped when the M-series came in. The odd-one-out is the LX which doesn't get introduced until 1980, but appears to have a mixture of backs with and without a roller.

Confused... you soon will be.

K.

stevebrot · 10-16-2019, 11:46 AM

Originally posted by womble

It appears, therefore, to be something Pentax did between (roughly) the era of the Spot F/ES/ESII and the original K-series

Add the SPII to the list to provide a start year as early as 1971. The PF review page for the SPII lists improved film transport as a feature and perhaps addition of the roller was part of those improvements.

Steve

**gofour3** · 10-16-2019, 12:43 PM

Eric probably knows all the gory details about the roller, as he's fixed hundreds of our Pentax cameras.

Phil.

turbof · 10-16-2019, 04:12 PM - **1 Like**

The 250 back has 4 rollers. Three on the back and one on the frame. The film travels a long way between spools.

10-15-2019, 07:03 AM	#1
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324	LX backs I fitted one of my LX data backs the other day to test it. When I refitted a standard back I noticed that one of them has a roller fitted to it. Does anyone know anything about this? Please excuse the phone image. Thanks, Kris. LX backs par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity

10-15-2019, 08:53 AM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I have wondered about this too, though not with LX backs. My SV has no roller and neither does my SP, but my SPII, SP F, and KX all have rollers, despite the backs on the last four being otherwise essentially the same. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 10-16-2019 at 11:42 AM. Reason: completeness

10-16-2019, 11:46 AM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by womble It appears, therefore, to be something Pentax did between (roughly) the era of the Spot F/ES/ESII and the original K-series Add the SPII to the list to provide a start year as early as 1971. The PF review page for the SPII lists improved film transport as a feature and perhaps addition of the roller was part of those improvements. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 10-16-2019 at 12:26 PM.

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10-15-2019, 12:27 PM	#3
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,088	It may be one of the changes Pentax made between the "early" and "late" LX?? Phil.

10-15-2019, 12:41 PM	#4
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324 Original Poster	I guess so but I have no way of knowing which is early or late. K.

10-15-2019, 03:59 PM	#5
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,088	Originally posted by womble I guess so but I have no way of knowing which is early or late. K. I just checked my "late" LX and it does not have the roller on the film door, so who knows...... Phil.

10-15-2019, 05:05 PM - 1 Like	#6
turbof Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 34	I have 2 lxes (lxi?). The newer has the roller, the older not.

10-15-2019, 06:56 PM	#7
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I have an early one, with no roller.

10-15-2019, 10:17 PM	#8
garywakeling Moderator Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,755	Any knowledge of the roller on the specialised backs , watch and data or 250exp?

10-16-2019, 01:51 AM	#9
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324 Original Poster	None of the three data backs or my dial data back have the roller. I don't have the 250 back. I'm guessing it's something to do with improving the film path? K.

10-16-2019, 04:21 AM	#10
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by womble I'm guessing it's something to do with improving the film path? I think it had to do with improving film flatness at the rails, Kodak had changed to a thinner emulsion as the thicker emulsion was putting too much strain on film winders which were beginning to become more common in cameras. I can only surmise Pentax added the roller to help improve film handling...and as usual, without telling anyone.

10-16-2019, 08:05 AM	#11
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,088	So if the "early" LX's and some of the "late" LX's did not have the roller, then I guess the roller must be an improvement added vary late in the LX's production run. Phil.

10-16-2019, 08:41 AM	#12
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324 Original Poster	Part of the problem of working this out is the ease with which doors can be changed. I have several backs but only one body so I don't really know which was the original one with that back. I went through my Pentax bodies. Early Spotmatic: no roller. ES, ESII, KM, KX and K2DMD has a roller. ME Super, MV, MG, MX, Super A, Program A: no roller. It appears, therefore, to be something Pentax did between (roughly) the era of the Spot F/ES/ESII and the original K-series, but dropped when the M-series came in. The odd-one-out is the LX which doesn't get introduced until 1980, but appears to have a mixture of backs with and without a roller. Confused... you soon will be. K.

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10-16-2019, 12:43 PM	#14
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,088	Eric probably knows all the gory details about the roller, as he's fixed hundreds of our Pentax cameras. Phil.

10-16-2019, 04:12 PM - 1 Like	#15
turbof Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 34	The 250 back has 4 rollers. Three on the back and one on the frame. The film travels a long way between spools.