Report from Tokyo, Japan
Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (AoCo) announced in late April 2001 they had decided to
discontinue their flagship SLR PENTAX LX. The rumor of discontinuation was spread among
Japanese PENTAX fans early April, several weeks ahead of the official announcement. Even
though, the news shocked Japanese PENTAX fans.
AoCo officially announced they build only 500 more LXs in May 2001 and cease the LX
production line.
The 1st version of PENTAX LX was released in June 1980 in Japan, three months after Nikon
F3 was released. Both LX and F3 were produced for 20 years with minimum modification but
the good competitor Nikon F3 had already been discontinued in the last year. LX lived just
several months longer than the competitor F3.
Kubo Chan (MX, MZ-3 & LX user)
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Thanks for the info.
Yes, sad rumors about that arrived me from Japan. The reason for such discontinuation is
that AOCo is short of necessary electronics, designed in the Seventies and no longer made.
My guess is that was
also the reason (or, at least, one of the reasons) because some years ago AOCo decided to
announce the LX was no longer available worldwide, hence the few electronic circuits still
available would last longer for the Japanese home market only.
Dario Bonazza
Please email your data to: AOHC
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