ivan_j._eberle

This summer there was a devastating fire in the Big Sur backcountry (my front yard) that burned 180K acres. Resultingly, we anticipate major mudslides and debris flows with this coming winter's rains. There's the potential for Highway 1 to get washed out (cut off) both N and S of the community of Big Sur with residents and visitors stranded. This last occurred in a big way in 1998 (without the assistance of fires denuding the hillsides), also in 1983 and 1978.

Piedras Blancas is to the S of all this however, and Ano Neuvo far to the N. The more interesting scenery is found between these two well-know Elephant Seal haul-out beaches, unfortunately right smack in the path of the affected area and potential slide/flood/debris flow areas.

That all said, clearing storms do often present the best light of the entire year on the coast. Expect storms at intervals of every 3-5 days in an typical January, with glorious weather for a couple of days in-between.

Plenty to do even if you can't get to Big Sur, though. Might also consider taking a whale-watching tour while you're on the Monterey Peninsula.

I finally trashed my first LX but it took an extreme beating as my primary professional body for a decade before

requiring any service at all. I've since bought several replacements, all of which have had one issue or another.

IF you can still a pristine/mint/ or new version speciment with recent service, the LX might yet prove to be

quite the epitome of ruggedness--this reputation is doubtless newish ones bring a premium. (New, in the late

80's, when the exchange rate was skewed, the LX MSRP was ~ $1400.)

In the 90's, the LX and even the F3 got eclipsed by newer shutter types that could sync at 1/250 for daylight

balanced TTL flash. This is the biggest limitation for the LX and the only answer that Pentax ever came up with

in an SLR was the PZ-1/p. Which was not nearly on the same level (dust issues, no sealing whatever on the back).

Used LX bodies will often be trashed through profession abuse, and those that have no cosmetic defects can suffer

focusing and exposure problems from sticky mirror (there can be an electrical issue here as well mirror height

from sticky mirror stop bumpers and the greasy mirror seals). Other LX age-related defects are well described in

the literature.

The system finder FB1/FC1 is exquisite for macro and low angle work, and nearly unique among 35mm SLRs. (Only the

Canon F1 had anything similar).The LX viewfinder brightness spoils me. In film, only the Pentax F5 and the

Pentax 645N really compare. But then, the better Pentax glass that is on the same level of professional grade

quality has always been rare and thus has now become rather exorbitant to buy. The accessories like the

Motordrive LX and the flash cords were always finicky and have become even more fiddly with age. Building a

comprehensive kit today could easily prove frustrating. Using it professionally would perhaps be professional

hari-kari. I've moved on, but still keep one around for the tasks at which it excels (macro, nighttime wildlife

remotes, timed low-light exposures).

(p.s... are you familiar with the MIR site dedicated to the LX? Comprehensive, albeit somewhat fawning.)