| 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 | 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. |
 |
Page updated 14th May 2001