Pentax LX metallic ringing noise

Eyewanders · 07-03-2016, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

No doubt we probably all have our resonant frequency. And once we become aware of it, it likely becomes harder to ignore.

Indeed. I'm wondering if my MX either doesn't do it or does far less noticeably when loaded with a roll of film because I've never paid attention to it... but then, I don't dry fire it often. Perhaps the added mass simply dampens the noise?

stevebrot · 07-03-2016, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by chickentender

Perhaps the added mass simply dampens the noise?

Very likely. Consider our Voigtlander R3Ms (we both have one). With film, the shutter sound is not objectionable, but when empty, not so good.

Steve

Eyewanders · 07-03-2016, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Very likely. Consider our Voigtlander R3Ms (we both have one). With film, the shutter sound is not objectionable, but when empty, not so good.

Steve

Twas my thought. Agreed. I'd put a little money on it.

**ChrisPlatt** · 07-04-2016, 02:25 PM

My Nikon FM2n (purchased brand new) was extremely loud and metallic sounding.
With MD-12 it would have made a good New Year's Eve noisemaker.
My Argus C4 rangefinder had a shutter so loud it sounded like a gunshot.

Chris

robry · 07-05-2016, 11:43 AM

Never heard this sound or anything alike from any of the LX bodies, but good luck with the chase/RR

Float · 07-06-2016, 12:26 AM

I shot an email to Eric, who, as it turns out, I had talked with in the past because I had him in my email history. His response:

"In the MX I know which spring makes the noise and I just put a tiny piece of cotton inside it and that works. Doesn't effect anything. I don't know which spring does it to the LX"

I also sent an email to Jon Goodman, another notable repair expert. His reply:

"I'm missing some clues here but my guess is you have one of the models assembled in China and further I'd guess the shutter brake or the flash contact assembly could be the problem. I don't know how to dampen the noise and I should tell you I've heard from others that having their camera serviced either didn't fix the problem or that the problem came right back. I might also guess that somewhere along the line (in China) a decision was made to change the design of the camera...maybe to make assembly less expensive, faster, easier. This is to say I suspect something caused this problem in cameras assembled after that change. Hard to unscramble the egg today.

Personally I would suggest trying to find a very early LX model if that model is what you want. I can't recall the year but sometime around 1991 all assembly went to China (from Hong Kong where it had been since the late 1970s). Good luck. "

Interesting info there about the China manufacturing. For shame, Pentax! To be fair, this is a fully manual, metal film camera with a 21 year production life, well into the era of plastic and autofocus, so its hard to complain when Pentax was still willing to produce a camera like the LX.

I will probably hunt for an early, minty LX. I have Leica money to spent on Pentax gear so needless to say, I can afford quite a bit. Might be time to upgrade my lenses too.

LesDMess · 07-06-2016, 04:47 AM

Originally posted by Float

Interesting info there about the China manufacturing.

Only the third variation of the K1000 was made in China between 1990 to 1997.

**Baard-Einar** · 07-09-2016, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

Only the third variation of the K1000 was made in China between 1990 to 1997.

But the LX? Was it ever made in China?

LesDMess · 07-09-2016, 12:13 PM

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

But the LX? Was it ever made in China?

I've never seen anything - books, magazines and web, that indicated the LX was made anywhere else other than Japan.

**Pål Jensen** · 07-11-2016, 07:11 AM

Mine does. Was bought in 1981 (how time flies!)

ppohja · 07-11-2016, 11:09 AM

Mine does too have the metallic sound - I thought that it's the characteristics and the tradeoff for being able to fire it mechanically. If somebody finds a cure, I'd be really interested in hearing that.

Eyewanders · 07-11-2016, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by Float

I will probably hunt for an early, minty LX. I have Leica money to spent on Pentax gear so needless to say, I can afford quite a bit. Might be time to upgrade my lenses too.

You have "Leica money" to spend? Oh, don't we all.

Seriously though, what the heck does that mean? Did you liquidate a collection or are you a stakeholder?

stevebrot · 07-11-2016, 12:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by chickentender

Seriously though, what the heck does that mean? Did you liquidate a collection or are you a stakeholder?

I think it means that he has $$$ vs. $$ or $ money to spend.

Steve

**ChrisPlatt** · 07-11-2016, 12:38 PM

AFAIK the Pentax LX was made in Japan for it's entire run.
I have never seen any information claiming otherwise.

Perhaps the K1000 was discussed in the same conversation, thus the confusion.
I can't imagine Jon Goodman ever spreading such misinformation.

Chris

**Baard-Einar** · 07-11-2016, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

Mine does. Was bought in 1981 (how time flies!)

That was an early version. I bought mine in 1982 if I'm not mistaken.

07-06-2016, 12:26 AM	#21
Float New Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 23 Original Poster	I shot an email to Eric, who, as it turns out, I had talked with in the past because I had him in my email history. His response: "In the MX I know which spring makes the noise and I just put a tiny piece of cotton inside it and that works. Doesn't effect anything. I don't know which spring does it to the LX" I also sent an email to Jon Goodman, another notable repair expert. His reply: "I'm missing some clues here but my guess is you have one of the models assembled in China and further I'd guess the shutter brake or the flash contact assembly could be the problem. I don't know how to dampen the noise and I should tell you I've heard from others that having their camera serviced either didn't fix the problem or that the problem came right back. I might also guess that somewhere along the line (in China) a decision was made to change the design of the camera...maybe to make assembly less expensive, faster, easier. This is to say I suspect something caused this problem in cameras assembled after that change. Hard to unscramble the egg today. Personally I would suggest trying to find a very early LX model if that model is what you want. I can't recall the year but sometime around 1991 all assembly went to China (from Hong Kong where it had been since the late 1970s). Good luck. " Interesting info there about the China manufacturing. For shame, Pentax! To be fair, this is a fully manual, metal film camera with a 21 year production life, well into the era of plastic and autofocus, so its hard to complain when Pentax was still willing to produce a camera like the LX. I will probably hunt for an early, minty LX. I have Leica money to spent on Pentax gear so needless to say, I can afford quite a bit. Might be time to upgrade my lenses too. Last edited by Float; 07-06-2016 at 01:42 PM.

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07-03-2016, 12:36 PM	#16
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by LesDMess No doubt we probably all have our resonant frequency. And once we become aware of it, it likely becomes harder to ignore. Indeed. I'm wondering if my MX either doesn't do it or does far less noticeably when loaded with a roll of film because I've never paid attention to it... but then, I don't dry fire it often. Perhaps the added mass simply dampens the noise?

07-03-2016, 08:02 PM	#17
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by chickentender Perhaps the added mass simply dampens the noise? Very likely. Consider our Voigtlander R3Ms (we both have one). With film, the shutter sound is not objectionable, but when empty, not so good. Steve

07-03-2016, 08:38 PM	#18
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by stevebrot Very likely. Consider our Voigtlander R3Ms (we both have one). With film, the shutter sound is not objectionable, but when empty, not so good. Steve Twas my thought. Agreed. I'd put a little money on it.

07-04-2016, 02:25 PM	#19
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	My Nikon FM2n (purchased brand new) was extremely loud and metallic sounding. With MD-12 it would have made a good New Year's Eve noisemaker. My Argus C4 rangefinder had a shutter so loud it sounded like a gunshot. Chris

07-05-2016, 11:43 AM	#20
robry New Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 19	Never heard this sound or anything alike from any of the LX bodies, but good luck with the chase/RR

07-06-2016, 04:47 AM	#22
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Originally posted by Float Interesting info there about the China manufacturing. Only the third variation of the K1000 was made in China between 1990 to 1997.

07-09-2016, 12:05 PM	#23
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	Originally posted by LesDMess Only the third variation of the K1000 was made in China between 1990 to 1997. But the LX? Was it ever made in China?

07-09-2016, 12:13 PM	#24
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Originally posted by Baard-Einar But the LX? Was it ever made in China? I've never seen anything - books, magazines and web, that indicated the LX was made anywhere else other than Japan.

07-11-2016, 07:11 AM	#25
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Mine does. Was bought in 1981 (how time flies!)

07-11-2016, 11:09 AM	#26
ppohja Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 194	Mine does too have the metallic sound - I thought that it's the characteristics and the tradeoff for being able to fire it mechanically. If somebody finds a cure, I'd be really interested in hearing that.

07-11-2016, 12:19 PM	#27
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by Float I will probably hunt for an early, minty LX. I have Leica money to spent on Pentax gear so needless to say, I can afford quite a bit. Might be time to upgrade my lenses too. You have "Leica money" to spend? Oh, don't we all. Seriously though, what the heck does that mean? Did you liquidate a collection or are you a stakeholder?

07-11-2016, 12:28 PM - 1 Like	#28
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by chickentender Seriously though, what the heck does that mean? Did you liquidate a collection or are you a stakeholder? I think it means that he has $$$ vs. $$ or $ money to spend. Steve

07-11-2016, 12:38 PM	#29
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	AFAIK the Pentax LX was made in Japan for it's entire run. I have never seen any information claiming otherwise. Perhaps the K1000 was discussed in the same conversation, thus the confusion. I can't imagine Jon Goodman ever spreading such misinformation. Chris

07-11-2016, 01:20 PM	#30
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	Originally posted by Pål Jensen Mine does. Was bought in 1981 (how time flies!) That was an early version. I bought mine in 1982 if I'm not mistaken.