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Pentax Manual Focus Bayonet Cameras

Asahi introduced the famous Pentax K-bayonet in 1975. The Asahi lettering on pentaprism faded away slowly from K-series (where it was written smaller than in screw mount cameras) to M-series (where Asahi was even smaller and no longer black laquered). With the introduction of the ME Super in January 1980, all cameras were just called Pentax.

Soon after the introduction of the K-series, Honeywell went out the photographic business. The photographic division of Honeywell (or part of it) was bought by Asahi Opt. Co., thus becoming Pentax Corporation. Camera designations for US market often continued being different from international market for commercial reasons.

Japan

International

USA

Comments Introd. Disc.
K2 K2 K2 Auto+Manual professional camera - K-bayonet 1975 1980
KX KX KX Improved upon the SPF 1975 1977
KX Motor Drive KX Motor Drive KX Motor Drive Special order only 1975 1977
KM KM KM SPF with bayonet mount 1975 1977
KM Motor Drive KM Motor Drive KM Motor Drive Special order only 1975 1977
K1000    (1) K1000    (1) K1000    (1) Early type - Metal Housings, Made in Japan 1975 1978
K2DMD K2DMD K2DMD K2 with Data Back and Motor Drive 1976 1980
ME ME ME Compact amateur SLR 1976 1980
MX MX MX Compact professional SLR 1976 1985
MX Data MX Data MX Data Equipped with Data Back 1976? ?
MX Medical MX Medical MX Medical Special vievfinder for medical photography 1976? ?
K1000    (2) K1000    (2) K1000    (2) Second Type - Metal Housings, Assembled in Hong Kong 6 / 1978 1990
MV MV MV 9 / 1979 1982
MV1 MV1 MV1 9 / 1979 1982
ME Super ME Super ME Super 1 / 1980 1987
LX LX LX Professional system camera 6 / 1980 5 / 2001
LX Gold LX Gold LX Gold 10 million 35mm SLR Special Edition - 300 pcs 8 / 1981 1981
MG MG MG 1982 1985
Super A Super A Super Program Multimode SLR - KA-bayonet 3 / 1983 1987
Program A Program A Program Plus 2 / 1984 1988
A3 A3 A3000 Built in motor 3 / 1985 1987
A3 Date A3 Date A3000 Date 3 / 1985 1987
P30      (1) P30      (1) P3    (1) 10 / 1985 1987
A3 Date S not sold not sold Japanese home market only 6 / 1986 ?
P30 Date not sold not sold Japanese home market only 6 / 1986 1987
P50

P50

P5 9 / 1986 1988
P50 Date not sold not sold Japanese home market only 9 / 1986 1988
P30    (2) P30    (2) P3    (2) New type screen and cable release socket 1987 1988
P30n P30n P3n 9 / 1988 1990
P30t P30t P30t 1990 1997
K1000    (3) K1000    (3) K1000    (3) Late Type - Plastic Housings, Assembled in China 11 / 1990 1997
LX Titan

not sold

not sold

75th Anniversary Special Edition - Natural titanium body shell - 1,000 pcs Japanese home market only 7 / 1994 1994
LX Limited

not sold

not sold

Special Edition - Black finished itanium body shell - 300 pcs Japanese home market only 2 / 1996 1996
MZ-M MZ-M ZX-M 9 / 1997 not yet
LX 2000

not sold

not sold

Chrome finished body and Special 50mm f/1.2 lens 1,000 pcs Japanese home market only 8 / 2000 12 / 2000

Japan

International

USA

Comments Introd. Disc.
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Page updated 14th May 2001