Pentax MZ-S 35mm SLRs
Pentax MZ-S 35mm SLRs
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[Oct 10, 2001]
MacBurt
Expert
Strength:
Construction; interface, handling; exposure system; battery usage; focusing. Nothing is wrong with this unit.I used this for a month, in Italy. Camera with Tamron 24-135SP, was on my neck or on my back, Tamrac backpack, all the time. I mean all the time except visit to w.c. when it went on a hook. Light, built like a rock. Human engineered to serve you. It has no "red" focus areas. It has fast focus which works on total auto selectivity or single areaselection out of 6. Center best selected for me. The ability to go from manual selection of speed to program with a single button is great. This camera has what you need and use. It tales AA lithium batteries in the BG-10 grip. I shot 54, 36 exp. rolls and still get a full power readout. I tested it with AA batteries half depleated and received a warning. This body uses VERY LITTLE POWER. The only other camera I feel is in its class is the Minolta Max 9. BUT, it weighs too much. The Max 7 is great, BUT, uses too much battery juice. 5 rolls and it starts to warn. You can carry it forever; and what you carry you use. I''ve used them all except the Leica. From Hexasr to Cantax G to Nikon F5 and 100; to Canon EOS 1V to Max 7 & 9. This MZ-
Weakness:
Only two... The Bg-10 battery grip may move against your body and turn itself on. I had to tape the battery grip switch off. I''m 168 lbs and 5''9" so it ain''t body size. Otherwise its one great grip. The second problem lies with third party lenses. compatibility is perfect but due to the fact that the third party companies sell less Pentax mounts, they release these lenses later (Sigma & Tamron). Tokina doesn''t release them at all. But why buy a Tokina with its antiqyuated technology when you can have the innovation of Sigma and the construction of Tamron (yes, they also innovate). Tokina is a poor third in the independent race. One great, well made camera body backed by excellent lenses from Pentax and third party-Sigma, Tamron. Customer Service Never needed. Similar Products Used: F5, F100, Maxxum 7 & 9, Contax G, EOS 3 & 1V |
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[Oct 05, 2001]
Brian Payne
Professional
Strength:
The metal body.
Weakness:
If you use the FTZ 500 flash unit and need to take quick pictures either indoor or outdoor for fill flash. Be Patience, this is not a professional camera by far. If you do not want to use the date feature? The manual has one page and only one line that tells you how to set it. I must be stuppid or something like that, da. Easy to use point and shoot Auto Focus camera. Best lens to use with camera is the 24 to 90 mm Pentax lens with a polar filter. Best film to use is fuji with high speed professional film 400, 800 and 1600 for black and white pictures. Customer Service Don''t call them and tell them that you bought this camera, they may laugh. Similar Products Used: Canon EOS 1V and Nikon F5 these are the best in Professional use!!! |
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[Oct 04, 2001]
torquatus
Professional
Strength:
Lightweight, compact size, stylish, simple. Convenient DOF preview lever. Convenient mode reset button. Optional battery grip accomodates AA''s and provides vertical shutter-release (and also, I read, a wireless IR shutter-release, though an IR remote was not included). Exposure data imprinting between film sprocket holes (IF you can get the film to rewind!).
Weakness:
Film rewind mechanism may let you down (FATAL FLAW for this user!) Stiff shutter-speed dial requires two fingers to manipulate. Wacky AF point selection interface requires two hands. Lockless meter-mode / drive-mode levers may change position when stowed. Exposure compensation in 1/2 step jumps only. No lenses available with sonic AF motors or image stabilization technologies. 2.5 FPS advance rate is nothing to get excited about. I had high hopes that by moving up to this camera I would liberate myself from a couple of annoying flaws haunting my PZ-1p. Namely, I was looking forward to an improved autofocus system and a higher success rate at rewinding film (neither body has a manual film crank, and I’ve had to run my PZ-1p to a darkbox on too many occasions). During my first outing in the field, however, with not even 20 rolls shot, my brand new MZ-S failed to rewind TWICE in the same day. Not only did I take this to be a bad omen, but for the kind of work that I do -- aerial action photography -- such snafus are also embarrassing and costly. I don’t know how common these malfunctions are, but given my context of similar problems with the PZ-1p (which persisted even after factory servicing), I’ve come out of my brief MZ-S experience displeased enough to lose faith in the Pentax line. I’ve since returned the camera (and the $159.95 BG10 battery grip) and I’ve started building a new camera system based on a much more substantial foundation: a Nikon F5. In summary, I deem the MZ-S too flaky (and limited) for professional use and unjustifiably expensive for general use. Die-hard collectors, however, may still love this camera for its attractive aesthetics. Customer Service Based on prior experience: well-intended but ineffectual. Similar Products Used: Pentax K1000 SE, Pentax PZ-1p, Nikon F5 |
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[Sep 20, 2001]
Casual
Strength:
Light, compact and well balance weight. Both vertical and main hand grips are very well designed and feel very comfortable to hold. It is wise to keep built in flash even it is a top model body coz built in flash is very useful when travelling. The body is made of metallic material and give a good solid structure.
Weakness:
No real mirror lock up and only provide slow fps, I guess around 2-3 fps, I feel a bit disappointed of it since MZS is the top model. Providing 2 seconds delay mirror lock up may still cause vibrations. The price is bit high, almost a double of Z-1p. Vertical hand grip with shutter release is finally provided in Pentax camera series. The lock lever is very convenient to fit or remove the vertical hand grip. Also, the red lighting indication of correct lens fitting location is interesting too. I found six or five AF points is more or less the same. Anyway, all the functions is easily controlled and indicated, user friendly. Metering is accurate. Customer Service No experience Similar Products Used: MZ3, 5n, 10, 50, Z-1p. F5, F4, F70. EOS 30. |
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[Sep 20, 2001]
Robert Herz
Beginner
Strength:
Most of the buttons have only one function. Solid magnesium body. Small. Lightweight. Classic control layout. DOF preview. MLU. Wireless flash controll.
Weakness:
2,5 fps. Exposure correction only 0.5 f steps. No flas exposure correction on the body (flash only). Small for large hands (not a serious problem - simple add the BG-10 battery grip) Small, rugged and very well laid out body. Lightweight body - very good for outdoor photography. No gimmicks, but everything you need. Customer Service I had some questions on the frame overlapping bug in the early models. Answer in one day that my body number is not affected. Similar Products Used: Z-1P |
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[Sep 19, 2001]
Mark
Intermediate
Strength:
Superb user interface. Most controls are accessible via individual switches. As a result, you can tell at a glance which metering mode, drive mode, focus mode, etc, are in use. The DOF preview control is particularly nice for landscape photography. Build quality. The camera feels light but solid. Everything fits together really well. Battery Grip. The BG-10 grip is extremely well-designed. The vertical shutter release and DOF preview buttons are well thought out. The attachment mechanism is also very solid and easy to use. In addition, the hypermanual mode is marvelous. It allows the user to switch out of automatic metering modes and make exposure adjustments, then switch back into automatic modes with the push of one button.
Weakness:
Manual Focus Point Selection. Doesn''t seem very intuitive. In my opinion, a pair of buttons on the camera back would be much better. Lens Selection. The high-end Pentax lens selection is pretty complete, but they lack USM/Silent Wave lens motors, a solid 28-70 F2.8 zoom (the FA* is a flawed design), and IS/VR technology. Pentax has patented inventions in these areas, but they haven''t released any products. The MZ-S is an excellent camera for everything but the most demanding sports/action photography. It is very compact, built well, and has an excellent user interface that combines microprocessor-enabled flexibility and traditional dial-control ease of use. The MZ-S is not designed to satisfy those who desire the fastest frame rate, most features, etc. Customer Service Good from my experience. I have had my Pentax LX cleaned and a lens fixed by Pentax USA. They are not particularly fast, but they did the job. Similar Products Used: Nikon N series amateur SLR''s. Pentax SLR''s including the LX, ZX-5, and K series. Point-and-shoot cameras including Olympus Stylus and Yashica T4Super. Digital cameras including Canon S10 and G1. |
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[Sep 08, 2001]
Majewski
Intermediate
Strength:
Excellent exposure and distance controls .
Weakness:
Date print is a bit light and has to be set on maximum with 100 ASA film. It is a great camera for amateur use. Better than ZP-1 I had before. You must add on it TAMARON new zoom 28-200 mm and than you are equipped for every occasion. Customer Service Don'' t know yeat. Similar Products Used: Pentax ZP-1 |
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[May 29, 2001]
Jackson Chou
Intermediate
Strength:
Easy to Handle
Weakness:
Not as full featured as other Pro Cameras Lightweight, easy to use, high quality, durable camera. Lacks the full features of some other pro cameras (omits features that you won't probably use), Great Looking with the slanted look Customer Service Very good customer service in Japan. Had my Pentax LX sticky mirror fixed and overhauled, came back like new. Similar Products Used: Pentax MZ-3 |
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[May 27, 2001]
Raphael
Intermediate
Strength:
Ok, so didn't actually buy this camera. But I had the chance to try it out on an exhibition. I must say first impression hit me when I held the camera - the grip was contoured for the fingers to mold into beautifully. Unlike other flagship cameras that are big and cumbersome, this one is small, has a solid feel and is packed with practical features. Its functions are so simple to use that you need not read the manual. I like the status panel being angled at a 45 degree, a first for any camera of its kind. This body is a seious contender especially among low budget users. IT's not officailly launched yet but they're recommending S$1500. The lense attached was also among the new lense lineup that would be accompanying this camera. Can't remember what lense it was but it looked absolutely bright through the view finder.
Weakness:
Well, can't really say. Wished Pentax had some image stabilisation and ultrasonic focusing technology. One great camera. Have to try it to believe. Customer Service can't tell sorry Similar Products Used: MZ-50, F100, FM2 |
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[Jun 17, 2001]
Darryl Lafferty
Expert
Strength:
Rugged Construction
Weakness:
None This camera has its on personality and is not a want-to-be Nikon F-100 or Canon EOS-3. It leaves the creativity to the photographer. That is why it is the perfect camera for me. It has all the tools that I need or want in camera. A very solidly constructed camera. The control are well placed and easy to use. The placement of the depth of field preview is the best of any camera. The auto focus is quick and accurate. It works well with the old manual focus lens and the 1.7x auto focus extender. Customer Service Arlington Camera is an outstanding place to purchase any product from. Their customer service is excellent. Similar Products Used: Pentax PZ1p |