The Pentax MX is a
35 mm single-lens reflex
In photography, a single-lens reflex camera (SLR) is a type of camera that uses a mirror and prism system to allow photographers to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured. SLRs became the dominant design for professional a ...
camera
A camera is an instrument used to capture and store images and videos, either digitally via an electronic image sensor, or chemically via a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. As a pivotal technology in the fields of photograp ...
produced by Asahi Optical Co, later
Pentax
was a Japanese camera and optical equipment manufacturer. Currently, it exists as the Pentax Life Care Business Division of Hoya's medical endoscope business, as well as the digital camera brand of Ricoh Imaging, a subsidiary of Ricoh.
Penta ...
of
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
between 1976 and 1985.
It was Pentax's flagship professional
SLR until the introduction of the
Pentax LX
The Pentax LX is a 135 film, 35mm single-lens reflex camera produced by Pentax in Japan. It was introduced in 1980 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Asahi Optical Co. (hence the Roman numerals LX), and was produced until 2001. It is the top- ...
. 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 is solidly built, and features a fully mechanical construction, including a mechanical
shutter of the horizontal cloth type. Only the
light meter
A light meter (or illuminometer) is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, an exposure meter is a light meter coupled to either a Digital data, digital or analog calculator which displays the correct shutter speed and f-nu ...
ing system is dependent on batteries. The MX is all manual: it does not feature
autofocus
An autofocus (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 h ...
or
autoexposure
In photography, exposure is the amount of light per unit area reaching a frame (photography), frame of photographic film or the surface of an electronic image sensor. It is determined by shutter speed, lens f-number, and scene luminance. Exposure ...
modes such as aperture-priority, shutter-speed priority, or full program.
A number of accessories were produced for the MX, including 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
A data back, ''Dial Data MX,'' and a bulk film back were also produced, as were motorised winders ''Winder MX'' (2 frame/s) and ''Motor MX'' (5 frame/s).
Like all post-
42mm 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 less expensive
Pentax K1000
The Pentax K1000 (originally marked the Asahi Pentax K1000) is an interchangeable lens, 135 film, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex camera, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, manufactured by Pentax, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. from 1976 to 1997, origina ...
.
See also
*
List of Pentax products
The following is a partial list of products Manufacturing, manufactured under the Pentax brand. Examples of Pentax products include Digital camera, digital cameras and binoculars.
Film cameras
135 film, 35 mm Single-lens reflex camera, SLR ca ...
References
Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page: MXPentax MX Manualan
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