[climbmountainway]

Having an active on hand media production gear library, I find 8 such pamphlets, lens, and systems printed literature here in my space. Perhaps this site can set a long term goal to digitize the full group: at least since the K mount related products appeared in the marketplace.

[Lhorn]

I always loved these things, just like the Sears catalog. This internet thing has taken a lot of the fun out of researching.

Agree completely. I had a lot of good times repetitively pouring over the ads in the back of photography magazines as a kid.

[titrisol]

I hope you don't mind but I shared your website with the Spotmatic mailing list.

[Lord Lucan]

I hope you don't mind but I shared your website with the Spotmatic mailing list.

That's fine.

[hjoseph7]

Thank you, I just downloaded the LX brochure...

[ecostigny]

As a follow-up, I just spent some time with the 1985 flash brochure. Not only do I remember reading that brochure when I was building out my system--I eventually picked the AF280T and used it happily for the next 20 years or so--but I am amazed at how broad-based the Pentax ecosystem was back in the 1980s. They might not have been Canikon, but they were definitely competing for serious photographers!

[Lord Lucan]

I am amazed at how broad-based the Pentax ecosystem was back in the 1980s. They might not have been Canikon, but they were definitely competing for serious photographers!

Pentax were having a serious shot at the professional market in the early 1980s. The LX system was at that time, IMHO, on a level with its rival Nikon F3 and Canon F-1 sytems. In some ways it was superior - after all Pentax were able to learn from observing their rivals, who were making pro system cameras first. For example the LX had more interchangeable viewfinders than either rival, and had mechanical backup of a range of shutter speeds rather the single speed (X) the F3 had. The Canon F-1 (even the last generation) lacked off-the-film metering, and its Auto exposure mode was only available with a particular one of its viewfinders.

Sadly, by 1980 the Nikon and Canon were too entrenched in the professional world for the Pentax LX to make much of a dent, it was believed that most were sold to serious amateurs. I doubt Pentax recovered its development costs on the LX's more specialised accessories, like the motor drive and the action finder sub-system. The upside of that for Pentaxians today is that used LXs are generally in better condition than used Canon F-1s and Nikon F3s, some of which I hae seen in a very battered state, veterans of paparazzi scuffles perhaps.

PS : Wow, my 1000th post!

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Last edited by Lord Lucan; 11-21-2020 at 03:34 PM. Reason: PS added

[gofour3]

Pentax were having a serious shot at the professional market in the early 1980s.

Pentax also had two medium format systems going in the 1980's, which Nikon/Canon did not have.

Phil.

[luftfluss]

A few months ago I made digital copies of some old Pentax brochures, and in a post here I gave links to view and download them. Being grounded at the moment I have found some time to create a small website for them. There are brochures on the LX, 6x7 (& 67), K-Mount lenses and flash systems, ranging from 1970 to 1991. Feel free to download and save them. I do have a few other non-Pentax brochures that I might copy and add later, and possibly other bits of photographic info.

Pentax Brochures

Cross posted to Film SLR sub-forum.

This is great! Thank you so much for doing this.

[ecostigny]

Pentax were having a serious shot at the professional market in the early 1980s. The LX system was at that time, IMHO, on a level with its rival Nikon F3 and Canon F-1 sytems. In some ways it was superior - after all Pentax were able to learn from observing their rivals, who were making pro system cameras first. For example the LX had more interchangeable viewfinders than either rival, and had mechanical backup of a range of shutter speeds rather the single speed (X) the F3 had. The Canon F-1 (even the last generation) lacked off-the-film metering, and its Auto exposure mode was only available with a particular one of its viewfinders.

Sadly, by 1980 the Nikon and Canon were too entrenched in the professional world for the Pentax LX to make much of a dent, it was believed that most were sold to serious amateurs. I doubt Pentax recovered its development costs on the LX's more specialised accessories, like the motor drive and the action finder sub-system. The upside of that for Pentaxians today is that used LXs are generally in better condition than used Canon F-1s and Nikon F3s, some of which I hae seen in a very battered state, veterans of paparazzi scuffles perhaps.

PS : Wow, my 1000th post!

I had a friend with a Nikon F3, and the LX was a serious competitor. The only reason I didn't buy the LX was cost; the Super Program gave me what I needed at the time at roughly half the price. However, if I had pursued photography as a second career instead of a serious hobby, I probably would have gone with the LX instead.

[angerdan]

Great idea - but I also wonder if this site could host backup copies.

This idea did come up in 2011, but until now not much happened.
Place to post scans of camera and lens manuals - PentaxForums.com
Pentax brochures - PentaxForums.com
Product pictures of lenses - PentaxForums.com

[angerdan]

If Adam wants to take copies and put them into an area on PF (or anyone else wants to put them anywhere else) I am happy with that. These are open documents - anyone could pick them up from camera shops in their day.

It would be useful to save current brochures too.
pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/429418d1541279043-40mm-2-8-xs-discontinued-2016-produktuebersicht-d_a_-01_04_17.pdf