Pentax LX: The BEST SLR camera ever made?

[@ds1v0r19]

The LX was also the first weather sealed camera. Look at the very clever 3-way lever on the front of the LX, used for mirror lock up, self timer, plus depth of field preview all in one. I had a few LX's back in the film days. I got my first one a few months after they first came out. Then I bought a second one. I had one with the 5 fps motor drive and the other with a winder. I also had the sports finder. Definitely my all time favorite 35mm film camera.

[@rickhauser9698]

Fantastic work ❤. Love my LX. Mine had the sticky mirror but afterCLA it’s soooooo smooth.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

I've been doing some research into Leica M film cameras. It seems the M3 was the most reliable with the M6 electronics failing these days pretty regularly. Interestingly, my Pentax MX cameras are 100%, and LX is as well, but mine is from the very last production so it's "only" 25 years old, not 40 years old. The LX is the poor man's Leica, and probably a better camera. (Maybe not better than an M3... )

[@peterkay9050]

Hi End. Loved the video, very informative, as always. I don't have an LX but have shot one. We did a comparison with a Nikon F3 and much preferred the Pentax. I shoot MX, KX, Program A, spotty, and lots of others and haven't watched your videos since I became obsessed with film. Prior to that I watched them religiously, being a pentaxian. Now I know you are shooting film videos I am a happy bunny. Keep up the great work and its good to see you looking so well :)

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Thanks! Sadly, film is going to take a break for a few months....I am tearing up the converted bathroom and actually putting in a real darkroom sink and some counters for the enlargers. Basically it's a complete tear out and rebuild. But considering that the big photography season is about to start, I think it might not get done until feb/mar of 2025. Oh, well. It's got to happen, I can't work tripping over a bathtub anymore!!!! 🙂

[@lindeleasley]

I have one on the way, and can't wait for it to get here.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

It's a very cool camera. Probably one of the best film cameras ever.

[@tuisitala9068]

My first manual exposure SLR was a new MX in 1982. Eventually I bought an OM1n which I found to feel slightly better built and then an FE which was even better with a lovely wind on sound. I then got a mint F3 which felt great but the wind on action was not at all smooth. However, the OM1n wind on was also not smooth and the FE exposure system did not suit me as much as the MX. I have recently picked up a very nice LX and it feels luxurious. The build quality is very good, as is the wind on (although not as good as the FE) and the exposure system with LED's is perfect. The LX makes all of my SLR's technically redundant. Aesthetically it also wins apart from my K and H2 models from the late 1950's which are superb.

[@sdhute]

I was just looking at this camera last week

[@davewalker5706]

I used to have an LX, beautiful machine

[@fistfulloflenses]

Great video, often wondered about the lx , have a few pentax lenses , and looking for a pentax camera, still enjoy using film from time to time

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

You can get an MX for less money and that's a great camera as well. But the LX is something quite special.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

Since I left Pentax I haven't really kept up with their film camera project. Do you know if it will have an uncrippled KAF4 mount or have they said? If so that would be great, imagine using the new FA lenses without aperture rings on film.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

It's actually very disappointing. I'd buy a FF film camera that took the newest lenses. They seem to be making a 1/2 frame point and shoot. Whatever. But Pentax is now a Japan centric company, they're not worried about the international market, and maybe the Japanese would love a 1/2 frame P&S film camera?

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@EdwardMartinsPhotography That is a shame. When they announced the film camera project I assumed they were basically reissuing the K1000. Oh well.

[@xiaodu87]

​@@RoastBeefSandwich From their statements, that's what thay ultimately want to do. I think we'll need a bit of patience.

[@RobA_Oz]

My LX doesn’t get the attention it deserves, so your video has promoted me to get it out and use it some more. Thanks Ed! I really like your closing shots of the Oregon Trail site, but I didn’t spot anything that told me if they were shot with the LX, so regardless some detail (camera, lens, film if appropriate etc) would be nice. Cheers, Rob

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

I think I shot the trail photos with the K1 II. I didn't have the time to develop the film, LOL! I have been wanting to go out with the LX and the 31/43/77 LTD lenses and shoot and make a video, so that is in the works. 👍👍

[@NitroVII]

Love my LX but I wish it had an on/off switch instead of the meter timeout circuit. Mine has developed the issue where it won't turn off automatically and drains the battery.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

If you want to get into autofocus you should get an MZ-S as well - the absolute perfect camera ever made in my mind...partner it with the Limited trio - what more do you need?

[@wcwendychapman]

I have the MZ-S and the trio of limited lenses in silver. Beautiful and lovely images from them. Of course, I have the LX as well. ;-)

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@wcwendychapman The 43mm was essentially cemented to my MZ-S when I owned them. What a fantastic combination. Pentax really had things figured out.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

The MZS is a great camera. Not quite the level of the LX in terms of features and build (for it's time,) but still a great camera.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@EdwardMartinsPhotography No, nobody built an autofocus body like the LX except Canon and Nikon. But the MZ-S was the best of the rest, I'd say.

[@AFluffyMobius]

Don't discount the Z-1 series also. They feel terrible in the hands with all that slick plastic but they are cheap as chips and has an all-metal mirror box taken out from their 80's camera and stuck an auto-focus drive in it, and slaps fast up to 1/8000. In fact unlike the MZ-S you can control both aperture and shutter speed with the dials on the body. I've been able to use and control a brand-new HD D-FA 24-70 2.8 zoom lens on it just fine, sans the auto-focus since its internal and not screw driven.

[@richardhale9664]

Indeed the LX is thoroughly gorgeous. I have only ever felt one SLR camera which rivals it in smoothness of operation - a Leica R6. However, I think I must be some kind of inverted snob as I feel much more comfortable shooting any of my ME Super, MX or KX cameras over my LX, despite them feeling so very agricultural in comparison, though certainly not in comparison to many of their rival contemporaries. I am not sure but my personal favourite Pentax SLR would be either an ME Super or MX. If Pentax had given the ME Super a proper shutter speed dial, that particular camera would have been my favourite. They did n't, so I still flip between it and the MX. As a side note, I really appreciated your series on the K iii Monchrome. I am still seriously considering getting one at some point, but like you struggling to see where it would fit in with my current kit, and what I would have to lose to help finance it. However your series has as a consequence got me into getting out and shooting more with film and going over many of my old film shots again as a final test to see if I will get one. I am really enjoying shooting my classic SLRs again and now just need to find a relatively, cheap, pocketable and reliable point and shoot compact film camera to be sorted. I have a couple to test - a Ricoh FF9 and Minolta AF-C. Even 35mm colour negative film has a certain look and texture that digital simply cannot replicate, even if digital offers so much more in terms of versatility and resolution.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

$2200.00 is about 220 rolls of film or about 8,000 negatives. (B&W and assuming you process it yourself.) The K33M would be a lot more compelling if it was a K1M. Not because it needs a bigger sensor but because it would be much more compatible with the FF lenses. My biggest complaint about the K33M is the lack of aspect ratios. And of course an articulated screen of some kind. The menus and interface isn't as good as the K1 either. Too much Ricoh and less Pentax. So for me, my choice is the K1 Mark II and the LX (or MX) with B&W film. That's as "film like" as it can get while maintaining lens compatibility. 🙂

[@RFranks]

Would be nice if Pentax released something similar to the LX as one of their new film cameras although I am a bit doubtful if they will.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

According to rumors and Pentax themselves, they are making a half frame point and shoot. Probably something that might sell well in Japan, which is all they really care about anyway. They are a national company now with worldwide distribution.

[@RFranks]

​@@EdwardMartinsPhotography Yeah I heard about the half frame camera but supposedly they four new film cameras coming in 2024 so hopefully there will be something more interesting later on!

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

@@RFranks That's great! I hope they do something worthwhile.

[@vincenzoiannelli4029]

I have to answer the video title question before even start watching: Yes.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Agreed!

[@jeli3953]

Diopter correction on the MX, ME, etc. is accomplished with lenses that slip over the eyepiece. Installed, they are almost invisible.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Yes, but very hard to source.

[@xiaodu87]

The LX looks really fantastic! I'm going to stick with my Spotmatic however. Too much M42 glass that I'd need to complement with PK of which I only have one ...

[@Fat-totoro-cat]

Its definitely a contender and I wont argue - I currently the Nikon F2 and F3, and Canon F1 and F1 new. All have their own issues - my F3 can had issues with its LCD display (very difficult to get replacement parts - I was lucky to get them and repair it myself) my F1n has issues with its slow shutter speeds, my F1 new developed issues with the manual exposure needle not working. I have two LX's - other than the 'sticky shutter' (one got it, and I had it repaired here in Melbourne Australia) the only other issue I have had is that sometimes oxidation can cause exposure/shutter speed issues. I fixed it by adding a few drops of 'deoxit' around the exposure compensation and shutter dials, and giving both dials a good workout. If your going to get one serviced for sticky mirror, get that cleaned as well. If I am going to really nit pick the LX while it does feel very precise, the shutter has a 'ping' to it that might not be everyone's cup of tea. Currently my fav SLR is the Olympus OM4T (not the battery hogging non T version!) because of the brilliant multi spot metering.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

I didn't mention the OM4T, but that was a really great camera for sure!

[@petemellows]

So you kept the K1MII after all? I admit I wasn’t expecting to be interested in this one, but now I’m looking for an LX!

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Yes. And if you shoot film at all the LX is a wonderful camera. 👍🙂

[@jerzyjablonski1432]

Its predecessor so K2 was also supposed to be pro-level camera. I do not know if it was really, just what wide internet says. K2 also has B and lamp to 1/1000 as working without batteries, same aperture priority mode etc. Shame that Pentax never explored and advanced the exposure compensation in lens mount. It is so convenient to use. I have K2, works like new despite being late 70s camera. It was really robust, pro-level body. Shame that original K lenses are hard to get in Poland, most old lenses are Ms :(

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Pentax kept the screw mount until 1975. By that time the Nikon F and F2 had a 10 year head start and Pentax lost the pro market. They never recovered from that.

[@Amia67360]

Oh, what a shame, we don't see more photos taken with the LX

[@khanscombe619]

If we’re gonna compare this to cars, definitely not the 57 Chevy because that’s reliable and anybody can work on it they last forever. This is very difficult to get service when it breaks and the early 1s can break and they’re just finicky to work on. But they’re awesome. I’d say it’s more like a 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible. They’re fun when they work, but when they break life. Expensive define parts in the labour to fix. But they can be fixed you just need to love it enough to invest in it. To keep it on the road. But remarkable camera when kept up. (:

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

True. But any 40 year old camera is going to be problematic to repair unless it says Leica or Hasselblad on it.

[@khanscombe619]

@ oh no, Leica Linhof or Hasselblad most certainly don’t get away with it that easy. There are very finicky and need to be taken care of and very expensive to service when you do, but at least you can. As long as you’re willing to pay. I love my Linhof Super Technika. Hasselblad 2000, you gotta really decide how much you love it before you spend the money to fix it instead of replacing it. When it’s an electronic board dies it’s not easy or cheep. Likewise, there is a wider selection of skilled technicians working on vintage Nikon & Canon and they welcome you providing the donor parts because they don’t have them

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

@khanscombe619 lol Hasselblad 2000. I was thinking of the 500's. I've taken them apart and fixed them myself they're that easy to fix. Nothing with a circuit board is easy to fix.

[@khanscombe619]

@ oh yes, i opened my Hasselblad 500c/m & A70-100 back & wow! Looked like a Swiss watch inside. U wish I had the good eye to do that. Blooming brilliant piece of fine tuner machinery. Just beautiful craftsmanship.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

I wanted one back in the day when it was new, but life had other plans...

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Back then they were pretty expensive. Or I was just very broke...

[@tomislavmiletic_]

@@EdwardMartinsPhotography 🤣

[@hajublume9389]

My LX from 1981 had n ugly ring of iron under the ASA-scale, that always gots rusty and made a bad irritation of the lightmeter. I decided to remove that ring and than it was ok. In 2000 I dampted the camera accidently in sea water at a kayak tour in Greenland.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Oh, sad ending... Great camera though!

[@RichardBO9]

Cool video, Ed. I love the photos. Will the DA lenses cover the frame?

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Thanks! DA: Some will, some won't. There's a lot of info up on the P Forum about which will do what. 🙂

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

Yes, it is the best SLR ever made. I gave up film but wish I had kept my LX just because I loved it so much. In so many ways Pentax has things figured out that everyone else just can't. Been having a TON OF FUN shooting my X100VI lately. Brilliant camera, purpose made for me. I am still getting used to the menus (back to things Pentax has figured out...) but the results are great.

[@carbonejack]

Interesting video.

[@randallstewart1224]

Back in the mid-1980s, I ran into a professional acquaintance at my local camera store. He was window shopping for a replacement for his K1000, which he had dropped overboard while kayaking in the ocean. He had several nice Pentax lenses in the K-mount, so we looked at what the store had on hand and found a mint LX. I knew something of the camera, although a Nikon guy myself. I touted the LX to him for quite a while. He didn't buy it then, and I do not know if he bought it later. The price was right, and for this guy, money was not an object. I did argue that if he was going to continue pitching SLRs onto the Pacific, he should try to find a cheap K1000 beater instead of (or in addition to) an LX, and maybe he took that advice. We worked the opposite sides of the legal street as attorneys, and it may just have been a matter of his being unable to take advice from one of the other team. (Even middle-aged professionals can be petty.) I think that if I had not been up to my elbows in Nikkors by 1980, I might have rolled over into an LX. They are exceptionally nice cameras, or as Mary Poppins says, "perfect in every way", and the lenses from Pentax are as good as any. The only issue for buying an LX today is that not that many were sold, as it cost as much as any top-tier Nikon or Canon at the time. Used units as parts supplies are rare, and although Pentax offered a huge list of accessory finders, screens, and other accessories, many (most?) were not too available in the 1980s, and are "unobtainium" now.

[@SloopJohnBeeRockabilly]

Oh no, I think have yet another camera want 🙄 I have too many already, but then can you have too many?!👍📸

[@rockartistet]

Better than a leica

[@cnicolo]

Thank you Ed I didn’t know it. Thank you for sharing, it sounds better than the F3 Nikon.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

The Nikon F3 was/is a great camera, though if I remember correctly it only had 1 mechanical shutter speed if the batteries failed and a weird hot shoe you needed an adapter for to use a flash. The LX was the better camera.

[@cnicolo]

Ok 👍🏼

[@lensman5762]

Its a very good level SLR with some proper Pro accessories, but it is not the best SLR ever made. I think we have a couple of Nikons, and perhaps a Canon well qualified for that accolade. For me it is the Nikon F3 HP, and Nikon F3 -P.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Nikon F3's have that weird hot shoe which needs an adapter to work with normal flash shoes. And they only have one mechanical speed if the batteries fail. And the F3's are not weather sealed in any way. That's why I don't think it's the best film slr ever made. But it's definitely in the top 5. The Canon F1N I think was a better camera than the F3's.

[@lensman5762]

@@EdwardMartinsPhotography How many times have you used on camera flash in your professional carrier? The F3-P has the flash mounting on top of the viewfinder. It is really not that difficult to carry a few LR44 batteries is it, just in case. Judging by the number of the F3s sold unil they stopped production in 2001 that is nearly 22 years , and that even the battered ones are still functioning today, I doubt if anyone need to worry about the elctronics. LX is a decent pro level camera, it ain't no F3.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

@@lensman5762 Just because they sold a lot of them doesn't make it great. And in the late 90's I was working for a wedding studio that wanted 35mm film so I shot a A LOT of flash on a bracket with a cord connected to the hot shoe. The F3 would have been a pain in the ass to take off the cord every time I wanted to rewind the film. The F3 aint no LX... But both cameras were definitely better than most digital disposable "pro" cameras today.

[@lensman5762]

@@EdwardMartinsPhotography Yes, selling a lot doesn't make it great, but that they ate still working and the mind boggling number of accessories for the F3, some of which still available, are testament to a great camera. Both the F3 & the F4 that followed it were trend setters. You are correct about digital. I wonder how much these dangled fangled mega box flagships of Canon, Nikon, Sony and the rest will be worth or still be working on 20 years time. Probably defunct after a few years due to lack of firmware support.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

The digital cameras are inherently more fragile. If the electronics don't fail in 20 years the big glass lcd's will probably have cracked just in normal use. But my biggest problem with most digital cameras is the image quality. There are very few digital cameras that produce image that don't look totally CGI fake. Most people don't notice and don't care, but there's no mystery why most people don't notice and don't care about their photos either.