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Pentax LX w FA-1 finder & 50mm 1.4 SMC lens - $450 (Schertz)
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The Pentax LX is a 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-of-the-line professional, or "system", camera in the Pentax manual focus range, with manual and aperture priority automatic exposure modes and an advanced light metering system. The LX uses the K mount, which is the Pentax proprietary bayonet lens mount, and has a large body of accessories.
The camera has several unique or uncommon features, and compared with contemporary professional camera bodies from rival manufacturers, like the Canon New F-1 or Nikon F3, the LX body is smaller and lighter, weighing in at 570 grams (1.26 pounds) with its standard FA-1 finder.
The LX is constructed of a solid metal alloy cast frame and metal covering plates, intended to be more durable than entry-level and mid-range cameras. Underneath the satin black finish is black chrome, meant to avoid a brassy look on the underlying metal as the surface finish wore through from use.
All buttons and dials are fully weather and dust sealed, the LX being the first camera to have this feature, even among professional-grade contemporaries. This weather sealing made it suitable for photography in mechanically-difficult coastal environments with salt in the air.
The shutter and light metering systems of the LX were considered very sophisticated, as much or more than any other camera of its time. The horizontally-running titanium shutter curtains are mechanically operated at all shutter speeds faster than, and including, the 1⁄75 second flash sync ('X') speed, and electronically for all speeds slower than it. Because the upper range is entirely mechanical, all speeds within are available without batteries in the camera.
The film speed dial can be set from 6 to 3200 ASA, and co-axially is an exposure compensation dial (used to correct exposure metering in unevenly-lit environments), operating with a range of ±2 EV in 1⁄3 EV steps. The front shutter curtain has a special reflective white dot pattern, visible when the shutter is cocked, which assists in the light metering process.
The camera has an uncommon frame counter, being able to keep track of the frame number in either direction, whether advancing or rewinding the film. This feature aids in taking "random-access" multiple exposures anywhere along the film strip, as the counter only advances when the film does.
The camera's self-timer lever is multi-functional, allowing for mirror lock-up and depth of field preview. The film take-up spool is of the "Magic-Needles" type, as found on the Pentax M Series cameras, which simplified loading.
Both the viewfinder and focusing screen are interchangeable to suit the task at hand, with a large choice of alternatives available.