metering, lots of great features found only on pro bodies, price for value (got it when they offered $100 rebates), feels solid, much better than F100 and EOS 3.

AF is hopelss when using verically, AF in general could be more reliable. It is fast, but does not lock well. I take birds in flights and other moving objects so I see how a cross AF point is needed (F100 is better in AF arena). Pentax manual is terrible at few places. l I had to understand the camera first, before I could figure out what they meant.

Absolutely perfect, would not change a thing, but needs a good cross AF point. Because of the weak AF, if you want to take action photos go for new Minoltas (cheaper than Canon or Nikon, but offer more features now). IF a new Pentax camera delivers this one item I want, I will buy another Pentax. If not, I have to find a different body (Minolta would be a wonderful candidate). If you want 100% viewfinder, or other features, you must pay $500 more. Therfore, for $500 you may have a problem getting a better product. Pentax lenses are also of excellent quality (especially the more expensive ones) so your new PZ1P will serve you well. Try Tokina ATX lenses which are of a wonderful quality.

Customer Service

Had general questions and responded well.

Similar Products Used:

F100, EOS 3, Minoltas

I don't think you can beat this camera for the money. It has most (if not all) of the features on other "pro" cameras for much less money. Compatible with most of your old K-mount lenses. Fast motor drive, and many user modes make this a gem. And I've never held a more "comfortable" camera. It will just hang in your hand, and you don't even need a strap! It fits perfectly.

I'm told the autofocus is outdated, but I only focus manually (maybe I'm paranoid). My main concern is that, like all but the most expensive cameras these days, it's plastic. I always have to remember to be very gentle with the buttons and switches, because they feel very "plasticky."

This is a great camera. I've only had mine for two months, so we'll see how it stands the test of time. But so far, I love shooting with it, and I really feel like I'm into my "game" when I'm outdoors with it. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars overall is because of the plastics used.

Customer Service

Not needed yet, but I hope it's better than the user's manual. I think the user's manual was poorly translated from Japanese.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000, Canon FTb

Shape, button placement, DOF preview, hot-shoe placement, easy to use

remembering what all the 'Pentax Functions' do!

This is an amazing camera for the money. I was thinking of buying the canon eos1v, but the pentax has just as good, and if not better functions. The pentax has a depth of field preview button, which is extremely handy, whereas none of the other top end camera's have this facility. The user function is another brilliant idea, no fussing around setting things up. The hot-shoe placement is another bonus. It doent's get in anything's way, and there's no need for any red eye reduction settings to be used because it is indirect/off center. This camera is also the perfect weight. It's not too heavy to hold if your using it with a lighter lens, say a 35mm. But it's also heavy enough to be stable with a longer lens, say a 400-500mm lens, handheld. If you are into photography in any kind of serious way, buy this camera, it's perfect for any kind of photography, and it will serve you well!

Similar Products Used:

None

Button placement
Hot-shoe placement
Perfect metering
Easy to use
Compact

Noisy

Absolutely great camera to me. I love shooting with it.

Customer Service

Never had the need to call

Similar Products Used:

Canon AT-1,
MZ-7, MZ-3

Perfect metering every time
Has every function you'll ever need
Compact
The best grip of all SLRs
Hyper Mode is just amazing
Price

None

Absolutely great camera. You can trust the metering to be right every single time. This camera was introduced in 1994 so you can be pretty sure that every professional out there who favors pentax as their brand has been using this camera for seven years now. I was tempted to buy the Nikon N90s for a while, but you have to buy an expensive data back and a flash to make it do all the things my PZ does on its own!! Just read the reviews. For the price, it's just unbeatable.

Customer Service

Never had the need to call

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000
Canon Elan IIe
Nikon FM2
Nikon F3

-it offers everything the big Nikon and Canon pro models do but at less than half price

- AF encounters difficulties at low light situations or vertical shoots (although this is not that serious as other people have said here)
-expensive battery
-batery chamber door breaks easily
-it is difficult to operate the main switch with a flashgun attached
-not rugged construction. I dropped mine from 1.50 m high and was almost completely destroyed
-powerzoom consumes a lot of battery power
-flash doesnt cover 28mm lens (z1)

This camera has all the pro level features without being labelled as such. Firstly, its a true system camera, it can accept all PENTAX lenses. It will even accept screw mount Tacumars of the 1960?s (with adapter K) and it will provide spot metering and TTL flash automation with them (!!!)
It is the only camera in the world that allows you to switch from Programme to Aperture priority or Shutter priority with just one click of the wheel, without having to remove your eyes from the viewfinder. It has handy exposure compensation and spot meter buttons and provides a nice LCD panel illumination. The zooming features are so many, that i dont even remember them all, but it will do just everything. The flash AE is incredible, it will calculate ambient light automatically and swich to slow shutter sync. It provides mid roll rewind and it can leave the end of the film out of the film-box for later use. Other features: exposure compensation, DOF preview, motordrive, selftimer, 8 segment-centreweighted and spot metering. It will provide focus confirmation with manualfocus lenses and will autofocus them with the use of the Pentax AF adapter!!!(Who else offers that????)
Beautifully shaped, you see it from the front and above and you think its an extraterrestial object, no buttons, levers, no fancy inscriptions and colors, only the shutter release button and you wonder where are all its features hidden. And it has a lot.
They say the AF is slow, but try to autofocus with serious amateur level Canons of the same age and you will see. I never had problems with it.
However, it was almost completely destroyed the first time i dropped it and the price they asked to fix it was that high that I had to forget about it and run back to my manual focus models. But i would definitely buy another one used.
If you need a camera that does everything without having to pay ridiculous amount of money just for the name in front of the prism, this is the camera for you. It will deliver amazing results without confusing you with dials and buttons and useless functions. With half price you an have a real professional camera: a camera that will take great photos and will give access to a big photographic system. Im waiting for the new MZS to see how it will keep up with the tradition of the Z1

Customer Service

Pentax Europe responded very fast when I asked them for info about my Z1. However the price they asked for a repair was very high (18000 BEF=378 USD)

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000, P30T, Spotmatic, Olympus OM2N, Nikon F90x, Zenit TTL

This camera can do just about anything you want it to. Built in flash

It's a hard camera to learn how to use.

A very nice camera with a lot of features.

Customer Service

I've had this camera for about 4 years and haven't needed any service.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Maxxum 7

This camera can do just about anything you want it to. Built in flash

It's a hard camera to learn how to use.

A very nice camera with a lot of features.

Customer Service

I've had this camera for about 4 years and haven't needed any service.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Maxxum 7

Extremely well-designed control dials and ergonomic construction, makes it difficult to drop. Pentax's Hyper-Program modes are the best electronic features I've ever experienced. Bursting with features, very solid and lots more metal parts than newer models. Faster film advance and more features than the MZ-S. *Excellent* including of the panoramic shot feature.

No battery pack available.
A challenge to learn completely.
When you trip the shutter, everyone in the room will know.
May scare away those who fear practicality is favor of "black blobs".

Ignore the people who say their F5's and F-100's beat this camera. They're too busy changing batteries to realize that Pentax makes cameras that are 90% of what they've got at 50% of the price. This camera, for it's price, is absolutely perfect.

Customer Service

Never needed. Now deeply regretting having sold it.

Similar Products Used:

K-1000, ME Super, Voigtlander Bessa L, Mz-5n

Compact, reliable AF, relatively low cost. I have used the infrared assist focusing mechanism in the 330 dedicated flash to take pictures in nearly dark rooms. Rarely does it fail.

The AF sometimes has trouble locking on a surface with low contrast. As others have stated, the user's manual could have been written more clearly. The lens selection is limited compared to Canon or Nikon.

Most of the dealers in this area push the high end Canon and Nikon cameras. While these cameras are certainly well made, I don't use a 35 mm hard enough to need that level of construction. Moreover, I find that I seldom use all of the "bells and whistles" present on the PZ1P, hence I certaily don't need all of the "stuff" present on an F5. This camera is perfect for those who are serious about photography, have a somewhat limited budget, and don't feel the need to pack a camera that is prestigious.

Similar Products Used:

Contax G2, Nikon F3HP,
Pentax KX, Nikon F4