Digital LX anyone ?

Reading through various posts on the forum the subject of the "Digital LX, MX, ME, Super A" get touched on from time to time, so I thought I'd start a discussion about it. I have always loved Pentax cameras from this era and would dearly love to have a digital camera that looks and feels just like one of the old classics.

For my part I could happily part with auto focus and shake reduction. I never had them in the past of course. Then I would not need all the clever programming modes either. In the old days I mainly used manual and aperture priority. The mount would have to be non crippled of course. As for the sensor for this camera I'll like to have full frame.

I would imagine a camera with a specification like that would appeal to a very small niche market and so cost a fortune. It will never happen of course, but that's my dream anyway.

Anyone else want one ?

Cheers,

/Ian.

I was just thinking the same at the weekend. I recently bought an ME Super and have really enjoyed using it - I do like my K10D but there is something about the handling of the old Pentax slrs - they just feel right. What a shame the "digital film" idea never made it into production.

A digital MZ5 would suit me fine. An Autofocus camera with; Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and ISO adjustment. All other modes and custom functions are not essential and only clutter the interface. Most custom tweeks can be better handled in Photoshop.

Not for me a digital LX.

Now a digital MZS

Yes, I'll have one!... Put me down for a digi Spotmatic, too.

Manual and AV exposure modes, manual mirror lock up and DOF preview, I'd keep SR, interchangeable viewfinders... One thing I would like is an exposure meter that doesn't require the eye-piece to be covered like the LX which metered off the film plane. Oh, and a big, bright, easy to see viewfinder (although I believe the K7 is much better in that respect that the K10D.

K.

I liked the K10D prototype that looked like a Spotmatic, I never use the built in flash anyway.

Count me in,I do miss the 70,s & 80,s camera,s.john

BTW, am I the only person who feels the K7 has echoes of the LX in looks?

No, I spotted in one the first shadowy pictures, something about the pentaprism housing.

Here are some designer's notes: LX K-7 link

Digital MX please. ( or MESuper would do) Small and perfectly formed....

An early Pentax digital experiment involved a MZ-S body and (I think) a Kodak sensor.

I think they made the right decision to use neither that body, or that sensor.

I am more than happy with the ergonomics of the K10/20D + grip combination.

A digital LX would be difficult to make because you'd have to solve the problem of the way digital sensors reflect light first. True TTL flash metering works the same way as the LX's OTF metering and is notoriously inacurate on the few digital SLRs which actually suport it. This was "solved" for flash metering by P-TTL and similar pre-flash based systems. A digital LX would have to meter like a mortal camera.

Unfortunately, while if I came to own such a thing I would think it fantastic, I would never buy one. The price would necessarily be too high.

Digital SLRs require a sensor, which is expensive, and processing electronics to back it up, which is also expensive. To do the LX justice the imaging system would need to be first rate (you wouldn't put boots own brand 200ISO film in a real LX would you? well then) which would mean it would be no cheaper and significantly less capable than the K7.

Worse, so few people would actually buy one that it would be a niche item, probably commanding a price more akin to a Leica R9 or M9.


There is no LXD or Auto110D for the same reason there is no Nikon F5D, Canon AED or Olypus OMD. Not enough people would buy it to make it worth doing.


nice dream though.

A Digital LX would not have to replicate the Film Version in function just take on the mantle of its status as an iconic top of the range Camera!
And LX-D sounds classier than D1 or whatever number they come up with next!

Best Regards - Pete