The LX was Pentax’s professional flagship SLR, produced from 1980 to 2001. An insane run that speaks to its lasting design. Unlike the fully mechanical MX, the LX blended mechanical reliability with pretty sophisticated electronics, offering auto exposure with full manual override. It was aimed squarely at competing with the Nikon F3 and Canon's New F-1, and absolutely held its own.

The LX has all the bells and whistles: weather seals, interchangeable viewfinders and focusing screens, DOF preview, mirror lock-up, and a hybrid shutter that keeps working at key speeds even without batteries. Even the best little bits from the MX were brought over like the aperture window and the quick shutter lock. There isn't much more you'd want out of an SLR.

Two features stand out above the rest though - the metering system, which measures light directly off the film plane in real time, is easily the best I’ve ever used. Especially for long exposures or tricky/changing lighting conditions. And the precision of the frame counter allows for incredibly accurate double exposures, even on non-adjacent frames.

Of course, it’s not perfect. The electronics can be a concern with age, and early versions had some sticky mirror issues. But for those who want a pro-level Pentax with all the bells and whistles, the LX still holds up as one of the most refined SLRs of its time.