Pentax KX

Pentax KX

Image by Nesster (Image rights) Maker: Pentax Dates: 1975–1977 Variants: chrome, black, Motor Camera Type: 35mm SLR Focusing: manual Lens mount: Pentax K Shutter: Mechanical focal plane, horizontal, rubberized cloth from 1s to 1/1000 Exposure meter: TTL, open aperture, center weighted by SPD cells. EV 1–18 Exposure modes: Manual 1-1/1000s, Bulb ASA/ISO range: 8 to 6400 ISO Finder screen: fixed microprism Flash shoe: fixed hot shoe, contact for dedicated flash Flash speed: 1/60 TTL Flash: no Motor drive: Special model MotorKX Battery: 2 × 1.5V (SR44, LR44 or equivalent) Weight: 631g w/o lens Number produced: unknown

Note: This article describes the 1970s KX film SLR; the 2009 digital Pentax K-x is covered in its own entry.

Introduced in 1975, together with the Pentax K2,and KM This was the advanced-amateur model of the K series of Pentax bodies. It inherits most of the ergonomics form the Spotmatic family with the change from screw to bayonet mount. The KX is a fully manual camera, with a center-weighted lightmeter, mirror lock-up, and DOF preview.

The viewfinder is very informative, with a needle-match type lightmeter plus an indication of the selected shutter speed, a small window allows the user to see the aperture. Focusing screen is similar to the Spotmatic with a 0.93 magnification and microprism.

It was sold standard with the Takumar 55mm f/1.8 lens which allowed the use of the camera with both eyes open.

Pentax KX body image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

black KX image by wolf4max (Image rights)

KX viewfinder image by Pablo Coronel (Image rights)

Specifications

• Type: SLR body
• Manufacturer: Asahi Optical Co.
• Year of launch: 1975
• Films: 35mm, speeds up to 6400 ASA
• Viewfinder: pentaprism eye-level viewfinder
• Lens Mount: Pentax K Bayonet
• Shutter: Focal plane shutter, speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, flash sync 1/60 second
• Metering: CdS TTL average metering (stopped-down manual match-needle metering system) EV 1.7 ~ 18 (ISO 100) ASA range 8-6400
• Self timer: Mechanical 5-9s
• Mirror lock-up: Manual
• Flash shoe: X-synchronized for electronic flash
• Battery 2 SR44 (AG13) or equivalent

Links

• User's manual at Pentax Imaging
• Manual Camera User's Opinion
• Dimitrov's page on the KX