Pentax

Pentax is the name given to the early 35mm SLR cameras made by the Asahi Optical Co. of Japan. This camera, originally called the Asahiflex I, was a technological breakthrough in several ways, and became one of the most popular 35mm cameras ever. Among other innovations, Asahi was the first company to solve the problem of mirror blackout which had plagued SLRs up to that time and prevented them from overtaking rangefinder cameras in popularity. This was the problem that early SLRs left the mirror in its "up" position until the camera was wound for the next shot, blacking out the viewfinder.

The name Pentax is derived from the shape of the prism used in SLR cameras ("Pentaprism reflex").

Digital Cameras

SLR Cameras

• Pentax MZ-D 2000 (prototype, never released)
• Pentax *ist D 2003 - still in production
• Pentax *ist DS 2004 - 2005
• Pentax *ist DL 2005 - still in production
• Pentax *ist DS2 2005 - still in production

Point and Shoot Cameras

• Pentax Optio 330
• Pentax Optio 330 RS
• Pentax Optio 450
• Pentax Optio S
• Pentax Optio 33L
• Pentax Optio 750z

110 film Cameras

1979-1983 interchangeable lens SLR

• Pentax Auto 110

35mm film

K-Mount SLR Autofocus

• Pentax *ist
• Pentax MZ-S
• Pentax PZ-1 (Z-1)
• Pentax PZ-1p (Z-1p)
• Pentax SF7 (SF10)
• Pentax SFX (SF1)
• Pentax SFXn (SF1n)

K-Mount SLR Manual Focus

Pentax K series:

• Pentax K2
• Pentax K2 DMD
• Pentax KX
• Pentax KM
• Pentax K1000

Pentax M series:

• Pentax MX
• Pentax ME
• Pentax ME Super
• Pentax ME-F
• Pentax MV
• Pentax MV1
• Pentax MG
• Pentax MF
• Pentax MF-1, scientific use

Pentax A series:

• Pentax Super-A, Super Program (USA)
• Pentax Program-A, Program Plus (USA)
• Pentax A3, A3000 (USA)

Pentax P series

• Pentax P3 (P30)
• Pentax P3n (P30n)
• Pentax P5 (P50)

Other:

• Pentax LX
• Pentax ZX-M (MZ-M)

Screw-Mount SLR Cameras

• Pentax AP
• Pentax K
• Pentax S
• Pentax S1 / H1
• Pentax S1a / H1a
• Pentax S2 / H2
• Pentax S3 / H3
• Pentax SV / H3v
• Pentax Spotmatic
• Pentax SL
• Pentax Spotmatic II
• Pentax SP500
• Pentax SP1000
• Pentax Spotmatic F
• Pentax Electro Spotmatic
• Pentax ES
• Pentax ESII

Asahiflex SLR

• Asahiflex I
• Asahiflex IA
• Asahiflex IIA
• Asahiflex IIB

645 Medium Format

Manual Focus

• Pentax 645

Autofocus

• Pentax 645N
• Pentax 645N II

6x7 Medium Format

1969-present

• Pentax 6x7
• Pentax 67
• Pentax 67 II

Links

• Pentax documentation to download at the official site
• Pentax Manual SLRs
• Boz's K-Mount Page
• Stan Halpin's Pentax Lens Page
• Pentax Discussion Mailing List
• Pentax 67 Lens Info
• Asahi Optical Historical Society
• Frank Mechelhoff's Pentax Page
• Pentaxiste French site