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 Pentax LX 2000 is a special limited-edition variant of the Pentax LX produced in 1981, shortly after the LX's 1980 launch. It was released as a prestige commemorative model featuring gold-plated trim and engraving on an otherwise standard LX body. Mechanically and optically it is identical to the production LX: same hybrid electronic-mechanical shutter, same TTL off-the-film SPD metering, same interchangeable finder system, and the same weather-sealed construction. The camera was likely produced in very small numbers and sold through authorized Pentax dealers in Japan and select international markets.
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
A gold-trimmed commemorative variant of Pentax's pro flagship — rare, collectable, mechanically identical to the standard LX.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Pentax K (KA compatible) |
| Year | 1981 (limited run) |
| Shutter | 125s - 1/2000s electronic; 1/75s mechanical fallback |
| Flash sync | 1/75s |
| Meter | TTL OTF (off-the-film) SPD |
| Modes | Manual, aperture-priority |
| Weight | ~ (same platform as LX: 565 g without finder) |
| Battery | 2x SR44 (mechanical fallback without battery) |
| Finish | Gold-plated trim on black body |
The LX launched in 1980 to mark Pentax's 60th anniversary. Special variants followed quickly as Pentax used the LX platform for commemorative releases through the 1980s and 1990s. The LX 2000 was among the earliest such variants, preceding later editions like the LX Titan and the 1996 LX 2000 anniversary edition.
The gold cosmetic treatment follows a tradition common among Japanese camera makers in the early 1980s: Nikon produced gold FA and FM2 editions, Canon offered gold F-1 variants. These cameras were marketed to corporate gift buyers, photography collectors, and high-end domestic consumers in Japan. They were rarely bought for active professional use and most examples have seen light wear.
The LX 2000 is primarily a collector's item today. Its significance lies less in any technical departure from the standard LX and more in its extreme scarcity. The LX itself was produced in modest numbers (around 30,000 total across all years); the commemorative gold variants represent only a fraction of that figure.
For the collector, the LX 2000 sits at the intersection of two desirable categories: the cult status of the standard LX as an underappreciated professional SLR, and the inherent rarity of gold-edition Japanese cameras from the early 1980s. Complete examples with original box, papers, and matching accessories command a significant premium over standard LX bodies.
Accepts the full Pentax K-mount lens family: K, KA, KAF, and KAF2 lenses (autofocus electronics inactive on this manual-focus body). The camera is compatible with the complete LX system: Motor Drive LX, Winder LX, interchangeable finders (FA-1 eye-level, FB-1 sport/action, FC-1 waist-level, FE-1 magnifier), and Pentax data backs.
Notably appropriate pairings for a display collection: the SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2 (itself relatively scarce), or the SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4, both in black finish which contrasts well with the gold body trim.
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.
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