I loved your story. Still have my own LX and, yes, my eyesight is in trouble too. I might be tempted to launch into the K-1 but the cost is still an obstacle.
If you buy a K-1 eye cup, you can cut and fit a plastic lens from inexpensive reading glasses (depending on your eyesight issue). I have done a video on this, and now my LX is perfect with the adjustment in the middle.
I am so happy with my K1 that i never upgraded to Mark II and barely see the necessity for any new camera at all...have been using my ME, LX and M6 for Decades so why should the K1 be different?... Funny enough i also bought K10D, K7, K5, K5II until i found the K1 is finally what i wanted my other digital Pentax's to be - would only buy a new Pentax to support the brand, not because i need it - the K1 is the ultimate design for me ;-)
I also had an LX before going digital with first a K10D and now a K-1, and remain in "film mentality" using manual or aperture priority, and making every shot count. I only use live view for macro and I do look at each shot after taking it. I find those big advantages for digital, and also the massive ISO that's possible. Film has become too expensive to use routinely now anyway.
I got into Pentax with the digital offerings (K-5II to start with). Canon F1 shooter before that. But I've been thinking of getting myself an LX, lately. :-)
The LX is a lovely film camera. It is electronic, and of course getting old, so make sure you get one that is functioning correctly and also check that it isn't suffering from 'sticky mirror' which requires the rubber mirror pads replacing - this is easy enough, but an extra expense. Any problems with the electronics, such as the meter not switching off, then pass on the camera. There are loads that are still functioning fine but do your checks, I suggest.
@@AntonBrowne I was indeed looking for one where that has been replaced already, just to make sure. Button cell batteries easy to come by? Thank you for the information!
Good valid points. I plan to start using my Pentax Z1 again. I'll be able to make use of all my modern lenses I have for the K1 AND all my digital experience......I'm pretty sure I'll have more keepers than I used to have in the analog era . I do practice a lot but I never spray and pray with my K1. I hate going through too many files after a shoot.
Me too, I'm trying to keep a bit of old school discipline about my shooting, whilst still taking advantage of the 'freedoms' digital allows. Best of both worlds, I hope!
It's interesting that you mention the slightly brighter view-finder of the (about 25 years elder) LX. I can confirm that. Obviously in the K-1 there is additional light needed for other functions. But it's pity.
@@AntonBrowne Ya, no doubt. I'm grateful that Pentax finally delivered the K-1. I love it. I myself bought new glass (DFA) but also used smc Pentax-A lenses, esp. 50 mm f/1.2 and 16 mm f/2.8. Takumars I didn't try so far.
I like you're take on the K-1 coming from film. I actually found you're video because I own a K-1 and have started shooting a little film again on my spotmatic and have been considering getting an LX lol. My only confusion came towards the end when you talked about the long shutter speeds. The K-1 is capable of extremely long shutter speeds in bulb mode. Also, if you go into live view and use the rear screen in bulb mode, you get a histogram to work off of. I've started shooting a lot of longer exposures with ND filters and I really like the histogram on the rear screen for exposures over 30 seconds. I like using the rear screen when I'm on a tripod anyway. That being said, maybe I missed the point you were making or don't understand what you were talking about with long exposures on the LX. Thanks for the video.
Hi, I haven't had cause for long exposures on the K-1 - or LX for that matter. The LX meter reads reflected light off the actual film on long exposures, and it does it in real time, so if there's a change in light whilst the shutter is open, it will adjust for that. People have said that exposure times can run to hours in very low light, no need for bulb mode, just put it on Auto, press the shutter and go make a cup of tea, or dinner! I don't know whether the K-1 can manage that on Auto. As I say, I don't have need for such so I'm only going by what I've read. Good luck getting an LX, it's a lovely camera.
@@AntonBrowne oh wow! Thank you for clarifying. That's actually a really crazy feature to have on the LX. I don't believe the K-1 is capable of that. We'll see if I get one. I need to look into all these Pentax film models a little more before I go for anything. Have fun with that K-1. You'll keep finding useful features.
The MX is a lovely little camera, all manual and without the complications and electronics that can start to cause problems as the LX ages. The MX has a built in meter which seems to hold up with age and servicing isn't too expensive.
@@AntonBrowne thanks for the info. The MX sounds more like what I'm looking for. I basically would just like the convenience of a light meter and then I'm good other than that. A K mount so I can go for a wide variety of lenses.
Use the green button for m series lenses. It’s not that much of a faff. Using the screen after each shot would let you practice in the field. Shooting raw will let you make your pictures better in post production. You can fix chromatic aberration in post production. Digital editing will open up a whole world of possibilities beyond what you can do with the LX. Buy a bigger SD card and shoot Raw + JPEG.
@@AntonBrowne not really the Pentax editing software doesn’t do much for me. I personally use Lightroom classic mainly. Great for making edits to , exposure, contrast, noise, sharpness, etc and really good at helping me organize my photos
I agree. Shoot RAW and at least give lightroom a chance. The subscription would basically only set you back maybe 2 or 3 rolls of film every month. Nothing wrong with shooting jpg, but having the editing flexibility of a RAW file is a huge upside to using digital cameras.
I'm surprised that you use manual mode a lot but then say that using M-Series lenses on the K-1 is "a faff too far". Saying they have to be used in stop-down mode could also give the wrong impression to some watchers because It sounds like 1950's camera technology (pre-Spotmatic). I have some M-Series lenses and by default you compose and focus with them fully open. For M (and K) series lenses the K-1 should be set to manual mode M, but you effectively get aperture priority, with the ability to depart from it manually. Having set the desired lens aperture with its ring, you press the green button (which is around under your thumb) momentarily and the lens will blink to that aperture momentarity to take a meter reading and it automatically sets the shutter speed accordingly - acting like film era aperture priority mode. But you can if you wish regard that as merely a light meter reading and move the shutter speed and/or aperture settings away from that if you wish - acting like film era manual mode. The LX was designed for M-Series lenses and the even earlier K-Series (for example the 50mm F1.2 of the time was a K-series). It cannot take advantage of the additional A-Series lens features, but Pentax lenses right back to the 1975 K-Series can be fitted straight onto any modern Pentax DSLR and used to the limit of their designed abilities. Only Nikon DSLRs can rival that!
Thanks for your correction, I had been looking for clear info on using K & M lenses on the K-1 and couldn't find any. I have uploaded a 'correction' video and I'm chuffed to be able to use my K 28 mm and 35 mm F2 lenses, which I was going to sell.
You can use Takumars too with an m42 adaptor. Use the A/M switch to close down the iris, green button meter, take the picture. Use the A/M switch to open the iris to get your critical focus. All Pentax and Takumar Lenses work.
I loved your story. Still have my own LX and, yes, my eyesight is in trouble too. I might be tempted to launch into the K-1 but the cost is still an obstacle.
If you buy a K-1 eye cup, you can cut and fit a plastic lens from inexpensive reading glasses (depending on your eyesight issue). I have done a video on this, and now my LX is perfect with the adjustment in the middle.
I am so happy with my K1 that i never upgraded to Mark II and barely see the necessity for any new camera at all...have been using my ME, LX and M6 for Decades so why should the K1 be different?... Funny enough i also bought K10D, K7, K5, K5II until i found the K1 is finally what i wanted my other digital Pentax's to be - would only buy a new Pentax to support the brand, not because i need it - the K1 is the ultimate design for me ;-)
I also had an LX before going digital with first a K10D and now a K-1, and remain in "film mentality" using manual or aperture priority, and making every shot count. I only use live view for macro and I do look at each shot after taking it. I find those big advantages for digital, and also the massive ISO that's possible. Film has become too expensive to use routinely now anyway.
I got into Pentax with the digital offerings (K-5II to start with). Canon F1 shooter before that. But I've been thinking of getting myself an LX, lately. :-)
The LX is a lovely film camera. It is electronic, and of course getting old, so make sure you get one that is functioning correctly and also check that it isn't suffering from 'sticky mirror' which requires the rubber mirror pads replacing - this is easy enough, but an extra expense. Any problems with the electronics, such as the meter not switching off, then pass on the camera. There are loads that are still functioning fine but do your checks, I suggest.
@@AntonBrowne I was indeed looking for one where that has been replaced already, just to make sure. Button cell batteries easy to come by? Thank you for the information!
Batteries are not a problem.
Good valid points. I plan to start using my Pentax Z1 again. I'll be able to make use of all my modern lenses I have for the K1 AND all my digital experience......I'm pretty sure I'll have more keepers than I used to have in the analog era . I do practice a lot but I never spray and pray with my K1. I hate going through too many files after a shoot.
Me too, I'm trying to keep a bit of old school discipline about my shooting, whilst still taking advantage of the 'freedoms' digital allows. Best of both worlds, I hope!
It's interesting that you mention the slightly brighter view-finder of the (about 25 years elder) LX. I can confirm that. Obviously in the K-1 there is additional light needed for other functions. But it's pity.
Yes, it is but.... I'm just so glad I can use my magical old glass and experiment at no cost, and the K-1 is very satisfyingly built, I think.
@@AntonBrowne Ya, no doubt. I'm grateful that Pentax finally delivered the K-1. I love it. I myself bought new glass (DFA) but also used smc Pentax-A lenses, esp. 50 mm f/1.2 and 16 mm f/2.8. Takumars I didn't try so far.
I like you're take on the K-1 coming from film. I actually found you're video because I own a K-1 and have started shooting a little film again on my spotmatic and have been considering getting an LX lol.
My only confusion came towards the end when you talked about the long shutter speeds. The K-1 is capable of extremely long shutter speeds in bulb mode.
Also, if you go into live view and use the rear screen in bulb mode, you get a histogram to work off of. I've started shooting a lot of longer exposures with ND filters and I really like the histogram on the rear screen for exposures over 30 seconds. I like using the rear screen when I'm on a tripod anyway.
That being said, maybe I missed the point you were making or don't understand what you were talking about with long exposures on the LX.
Thanks for the video.
Hi, I haven't had cause for long exposures on the K-1 - or LX for that matter. The LX meter reads reflected light off the actual film on long exposures, and it does it in real time, so if there's a change in light whilst the shutter is open, it will adjust for that. People have said that exposure times can run to hours in very low light, no need for bulb mode, just put it on Auto, press the shutter and go make a cup of tea, or dinner! I don't know whether the K-1 can manage that on Auto. As I say, I don't have need for such so I'm only going by what I've read. Good luck getting an LX, it's a lovely camera.
@@AntonBrowne oh wow! Thank you for clarifying. That's actually a really crazy feature to have on the LX. I don't believe the K-1 is capable of that.
We'll see if I get one. I need to look into all these Pentax film models a little more before I go for anything. Have fun with that K-1. You'll keep finding useful features.
The MX is a lovely little camera, all manual and without the complications and electronics that can start to cause problems as the LX ages. The MX has a built in meter which seems to hold up with age and servicing isn't too expensive.
@@AntonBrowne thanks for the info. The MX sounds more like what I'm looking for. I basically would just like the convenience of a light meter and then I'm good other than that. A K mount so I can go for a wide variety of lenses.
Use the green button for m series lenses. It’s not that much of a faff. Using the screen after each shot would let you practice in the field. Shooting raw will let you make your pictures better in post production. You can fix chromatic aberration in post production. Digital editing will open up a whole world of possibilities beyond what you can do with the LX. Buy a bigger SD card and shoot Raw + JPEG.
Thanks for the advice, I've been pondering RAW but I'm reluctant to subscribe to Lightroom. Is the Pentax solution worth using?
@@AntonBrowne not really the Pentax editing software doesn’t do much for me. I personally use Lightroom classic mainly. Great for making edits to , exposure, contrast, noise, sharpness, etc and really good at helping me organize my photos
I agree. Shoot RAW and at least give lightroom a chance. The subscription would basically only set you back maybe 2 or 3 rolls of film every month. Nothing wrong with shooting jpg, but having the editing flexibility of a RAW file is a huge upside to using digital cameras.
@@AntonBrowne I think you don’t live too far from me. I can get you started with Lightroom if you’d like.
I'm surprised that you use manual mode a lot but then say that using M-Series lenses on the K-1 is "a faff too far". Saying they have to be used in stop-down mode could also give the wrong impression to some watchers because It sounds like 1950's camera technology (pre-Spotmatic). I have some M-Series lenses and by default you compose and focus with them fully open.
For M (and K) series lenses the K-1 should be set to manual mode M, but you effectively get aperture priority, with the ability to depart from it manually. Having set the desired lens aperture with its ring, you press the green button (which is around under your thumb) momentarily and the lens will blink to that aperture momentarity to take a meter reading and it automatically sets the shutter speed accordingly - acting like film era aperture priority mode. But you can if you wish regard that as merely a light meter reading and move the shutter speed and/or aperture settings away from that if you wish - acting like film era manual mode.
The LX was designed for M-Series lenses and the even earlier K-Series (for example the 50mm F1.2 of the time was a K-series). It cannot take advantage of the additional A-Series lens features, but Pentax lenses right back to the 1975 K-Series can be fitted straight onto any modern Pentax DSLR and used to the limit of their designed abilities. Only Nikon DSLRs can rival that!
Thanks for your correction, I had been looking for clear info on using K & M lenses on the K-1 and couldn't find any. I have uploaded a 'correction' video and I'm chuffed to be able to use my K 28 mm and 35 mm F2 lenses, which I was going to sell.
You can use Takumars too with an m42 adaptor. Use the A/M switch to close down the iris, green button meter, take the picture. Use the A/M switch to open the iris to get your critical focus.
All Pentax and Takumar Lenses work.