Pentax LX 35mm SLRs
Pentax LX 35mm SLRs
[Aug 24, 2000]
Y.C.CHEN
Expert
Strength:
IDM metering thru the dark, mechanically control shutter in manual mode, all basic features of a PRO camera.
Weakness:
not as solid as F3, no succeeder from Pentax. Longest exposure I tried was 3.5 min and still got excellent picture. Shutter jammed when battery caught cold in my Europe trip, I simply selected the mech shutter according to the metering. Customer Service good Similar Products Used: F3HP, ME super, F4s, F2A, EOS630, EOS 5, RTSIII |
[Jul 14, 2000]
Ron Kerkhove
Professional
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Read the other reviews :-)
Weakness:
The sticky mirror. Never had this myself. I bought a second body a few years ago as backup but sold it again last year because I never needed it :-) It is the best Pentax ever made (in 35mm). I think it is a great camera, and prefer it above the Nikon F3. A shame Pentax has no follower for this fine 35mm wonder. Customer Service Never needed. Similar Products Used: Nikon F3, F4, FM F801s F90X - Canon Eos1n - Pentax ME/super |
[Jun 22, 2000]
Reg Wiest
Expert
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Professional-calibre camera that takes a vast number of accessories, fairly small, great light-metering system, depth of field preview, mirror lock.
Weakness:
Mirror sticking a problem. A beautiful camera — Pentax’s finest ever! Customer Service Never used it; camera repaired by independent shop. Similar Products Used: Pentax ME Super, Pentax MZ-5N (although LX |
[Jun 20, 2000]
Deron
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Metering is excellent. Manual focusing. Changable focusing screens. Able to use excellent SMC optics (poor marketing NOT poor system). MLU!
Weakness:
Wish the finder was illuminated, but not a big deal. As you can see, I am a Pentax fan. The LX is the best of the 35mm line. Autofocus is unnessesary. True MLU, OTF metering, DOF preview, TTL flash control, interchangable screens, WL viewfinder - these are the things that a nature photo maker really needs. Just about no other camera offers this (Olympus is the only one I can think of). Customer Service Had to return my ZX-5 for work. Slow turn around. Eventually sold the ZX-5 - too flimsy. Similar Products Used: Own: Pentax 67, Pentax KX, Pentax K1000, Pentax ZX-5; Shot with: Fuji 67, Canon AE-1, Nikon FE, Nikon F100. |
[May 25, 2000]
Kenneth Kuo
Expert
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
- Advanced off-the-film metering (BEST FEATURE)
Weakness:
- Small viewfinder eyepiece - The pinnacle of Pentax 35mm SLRs, bar none. Customer Service Competent, but slow turnaround in Vancouver office Similar Products Used: Pentax K1000/Super Program/MX/ME Super |
[May 13, 2000]
Stan Corbin
Expert
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Small, lightweight,Very accurate TTLOTF
Weakness:
flash sync. (60) Great travel SLR because of its weight and the way the strap system works. I have travelled SE Asia & Russia with the LX & 50mm1.4 (M) lens. Thats truly a lightweigh combo and have great slides to prove it. Customer Service None needed Similar Products Used: Nikon, olympus, minolta slrs |
[May 04, 2000]
Michael Fanelli
Expert
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Solid build. Very tight weather sealing. Extremely accurate off-the-film metering. A real pedigree among the mutts.
Weakness:
Only available used. Expensive. Of all my cameras, this one is my favorite. The metering, although simple center-weighted is extremely accurate. The feel and operation of the LX is better than any other camera I've used. It is, by far, the best ever made by Pentax. Yeah, I like AF, motor drives, and matrix metering but... I keep reaching for my old LX. Customer Service Excellent. The last repair (dropped while open for film changing, rolling down the sand dune) was fast and cheap. Similar Products Used: Lots of Pentax 35mm and 6x7. Canon EOS-3 and Rebel 2000. |
[Apr 02, 2000]
Doug
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Several view finders. 2 min exposure times. Exposure taken on film plane; monitors changes during exposure. Lots of extras. An excellent manual pro camera. Very tight seals. Mirror lock up.
Weakness:
60X flash sync. Manual exposure longest exposure is 4 seconds (but does have a 'B' of course). A really lovely camera to use in nature work. The exposure posibilities sold me on this camera. Get the new ones though 53XXXXXX; less prone to mirror stick up, also can check exposure with fider release button. Customer Service Pretty good. The LX, although old still is taken care of by Pentax. Similar Products Used: None |
[Feb 09, 2000]
Bruce Rubenstein
Expert
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
Very well made solid feel. Excellent handling. Low vibration levels and can be hand held at low shutter speeds. Unique flash metering system.
Weakness:
Low flash sync speed. When used with a TTL flash sync speed is forced to it's maximum (unless you know the magic kludge). View finder could be a little brighter. If you own/like manual focus K mount lenses, this is the body to own. As good, or better, than similar era cameras. Customer Service The worst. Pentax USA has proven itself so inept that I switched brands. Similar Products Used: Pentax made nothing else like this. Nikon FA & FE2. |
[Jan 20, 2000]
Bob Blakely
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
LX
Strength:
This camera is light, small, solid and an engineering marvel. It's simple, versatile, and elegant design is a joy to work with. I've never had a camera that metered so faithfully in low light. I now own five; some set up with different finders and screens for specialized purposes. It's absolutely solid. It's never let me down.
Weakness:
One had a sticky mirror. Clean, lube & adjust, including new little rubber bumpers for the mirror fixed the problem. The body is quite expensive, even used. Now only available new (to order) from Japan. This is a most excellent manual focus camera, and it's the lightest, most compact for a camera with it's feature set. It's a bit pricey though. Customer Service I've never used Pentax customer service. My local camera tech was able to get parts for mirror problem in less than a week. Similar Products Used: H2, ME Super, ME-F, Super A - all Pentax. |