Yes, the LX will age in the closet. After 20 years, I would wonder about it having the 'STICKY MIRROR problem and needing a US$160 Clean-Lube-Adjust. Let the camera sit for 24 or 48 hours without firing the shutter. Cock the shutter and watch the mirror on the first time you fire it. Does the mirror pause for just a slight bit before it moves up. This is a pretty notorious problem with old LX'es.
You know the signs that it is a very early LX? The newer units have the 3200 ASA speed on the dial, you can activate the metering by pressing the button on the top, just left of the prism (part of the prism release catch), and series of white dots on the shutter curtain are missing one each dot in the top and bottom row, about 60% of the way across the curtain. Others have said that there were a series of running changes or updates to the LX shutters. A camera in the closet would not have had these done, but I don't know if that is really important. If you can get a good deal on the camera, anticipating that you will have to repair the STICKY MIRROR someday soon, there is no reason not to buy it. They are great cameras! Regards, Bob S. [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << I'm been offered a 20 year old LX (serial number 5272XXX). The condition seems to be A+, cosmetically as well as mechanically. The reason - according to the owner - is that this camera has mostly been "in the closet". Fair enough - but wouldn't a camera "age" even when not being used - at least certain parts of it? Cars do AFAIK. >> - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
