The Pentax MX was a 35 mm

single-lens reflex A single-lens reflex camera (SLR) is a camera that typically uses a mirror and prism system (hence "reflex" from the mirror's reflection) that permits the photographer to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured. With twin le ...

camera A camera is an optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), with a ...

produced by Asahi Optical Co, later

Pentax is a brand name used primarily by the Japanese multinational imaging and electronics company Ricoh for DSLR cameras, lenses, sport optics (including binoculars and rifle scopes), and CCTV optics. The Pentax brand is also used by Hoya Corporatio ...

of Japan between 1976 and 1985. It was Pentax's flagship professional SLR until the introduction of the

Pentax LX The Pentax LX is a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera produced by Pentax in Japan. It was introduced in 1980 and produced until 2001. The LX uses the K mount which is the Pentax proprietary bayonet lens mount. It has manual and aperture pri ...

. Internally, the MX is essentially a smaller, lighter version of the

Pentax KX This article discusses the cameras – mainly 35 mm SLRs – manufactured by Ricoh Imaging Corp. and its predecessors, and . Pentax must not be confused with Pentax 6x7 or Pentax 67 which are 120 medium format 6x7cm film cameras. It co ...

, and otherwise has little in common with the rest of the Pentax M-series. However, the MX was designed as the mechanical twin sister of the remarkably successful entry-level

Pentax ME The Pentax ME was a 1976-introduced, aperture priority automatic camera with an electronic focal plane shutter from 8 s to 1/1000 s, synchronized at 1/100 s. The shutter curtains were metal and had a vertical movement. There was no ...

. The MX was solidly built, and featured a fully mechanical construction, including a mechanical shutter of the horizontal cloth type. Only the

light meter A light meter is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, a light meter (more correctly an exposure meter) is used to determine the proper exposure (photography), exposure for a photograph. The meter will include either a Di ...

ing system was dependent on batteries. The MX is all manual: it does not feature

autofocus An autofocus (or AF) optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system ...

autoexposure In photography, exposure is the amount of light per unit area (the image plane's illuminance times the exposure time) reaching a frame of photographic film or the surface of an electronic image sensor, as determined by shutter speed, lens F- ...

modes such as aperture-priority, shutter-speed priority, or full program. A number of accessories were produced, among those: Focusing Screens * SC1: ground glass, split image device, microprism ring (standard) * SA1: ground glass, microprism patch * SA3: ground glass, microprism patch, for wide aperture lenses * SB1: ground glass, split image device * SD1: ground glass, cross collimator * SD11: aerial image, cross collimator * SE: ground glass * SG: ground glass, grid * SI: ground glass, axis, Data backs, ''Dial Data MX'' and a bulk film back. Motorized winder ''Winder MX'' (2 frame/s) or a ''Motor MX'' (5 frame/s)

motor drive Motor drive means a system that includes a motor. An adjustable speed motor drive means a system that includes a motor that has multiple operating speeds. A variable speed motor drive is a system that includes a motor and is continuously variabl ...

. Like all post- 42 mm screwmount Pentax cameras, the MX accepts all K-mount lenses (with the exception of the newer FA-J and DA lenses without aperture rings). Due to its complete lack of automatic functions, but excellent array of manual controls, the MX is often selected as a camera for photography students to practice their technique. The depth-of-field preview and self-timer functions render the MX superior in this respect to the earlier and cheaper

Pentax K1000 The Pentax K1000 (originally marked the Asahi Pentax K1000) is an interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, manufactured by Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. from 1976 to 1997, originally in Japan. The K1000's extraordinary ...

References

Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page: MX

Pentax MX Manual

an

at N. Maekawa'
Manual Camera website
(the main page is in Japanese)

External links

{{Pentax K-mount film SLR cameras MX 135 film cameras Pentax K-mount cameras

See also

References

External links