C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The KX was Pentax's mid-range manual SLR when the K-mount debuted in 1975. Unlike the flagship K2, the KX offered no automatic exposure modes; unlike the entry KM, it included the complete feature set - depth-of-field preview, self-timer, TTL open-aperture metering with a full range of focusing aids, and a mechanical cloth shutter that functions without battery power. It was the camera Asahi aimed at the serious amateur who wanted full manual control and a reliable mechanical backbone. Its short production run (1975-1977) was ended when the more refined MX arrived as a compact, improved replacement.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The fully manual, fully specified middle child of the 1975 K-mount launch - everything the K1000 later stripped away.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Pentax K |
| Years | 1975-1977 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/1000s + Bulb, mechanical horizontal cloth |
| Flash sync | 1/60s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPC, EV 3-18 |
| Exposure modes | Manual only |
| Viewfinder | ~92% coverage, ~0.87x |
| Weight | ~610 g (body only) |
| Battery | 1x LR44 (meter only) |
Launched alongside the K2, KM, and ES II in 1975, the KX occupied the space between the budget KM and the automatic K2. Its design drew directly from the late Spotmatic line - particularly the Spotmatic F, which introduced the K-mount-compatible open-aperture metering. The KX added depth-of-field preview and a more complete focusing screen to that foundation. By 1977 the MX had superseded it, offering a slightly smaller and more refined body with comparable manual features. The KX had a short enough run that it is less common than either the K1000 or the MX.
The KX represents the K-mount in its original, uncompromised form. Where the K1000 was a deliberate simplification for the educational market, the KX included every feature a working manual photographer could ask for - metered manual with needle display, DOF preview, self-timer, a full split-prism/microprism/matte screen. It is historically significant as the direct ancestor of the MX: Pentax studied the KX's shortcomings (primarily its bulk relative to competing compact bodies) and used them to drive the MX's more compact M-series design.
Pentax K mount. The full SMC Pentax-K lens lineup from 1975 onward mates correctly with the KX's open-aperture metering. SMC Pentax 50/1.4, 28/3.5, and 135/3.5 were typical kit combinations. Later KA and KAF lenses mount and meter normally in manual mode. No dedicated motor winder was produced for the KX.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Pentax KX
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