Pentax MZ/ZX recommendation

johnha · 06-01-2012, 05:51 PM

I've got an MZ-M which is a manual focus version of the line-up, pretty similar to the Super Program in features and I like its user interface. However I'd probably prefer a camera with a manual film advance as the motor is just something else to go wrong (and are generally harder to troubleshoot when they do).

DaveHolmes · 06-02-2012, 03:46 PM

I'll second the MZ-7... Good cheap AF body for experimentation... Can be picked up for very little outlay and really easy to use...

I now use my MX a whole lot more though... No AF but an absolute joy!

lepiallou · 06-05-2012, 01:25 AM

Thank you all for the advices...

In the end I found a MZ-5n for quite a low price and so far it's pretty much what I was looking for.

I agree with you johnha the next one I will be buying will be with manual film advance!

radium · 06-14-2012, 02:36 AM

I like my MZ3 and so much so that I have 3 of them. 2 chrome ones and one black one. Touch wood none has given me any problems and I love them especially because they are so light weight. I have the FG battery pack for them but I rarely use it because I like small camera. I often use the Pentax MZ3 with my 43mm or 40mm M pancake lens. A wonderful small camera set up which is easy to carry around all day with.

**dean45** · 06-24-2012, 11:48 AM

The ZX5n is a good choice for a ZX series Camera. It has better exposure options than some other Zx series cameras. It has a metal
lens mount and does not have a crippled lens mount.
I got one in a box of non working cameras it alone was the only working one.
The auto focus is fairly good not up to the standards of DSLR cameras but faster than the older ones.Under unusual light
conditions it hunts I have to go to Manual focus. Metal lens mount is a plus ( I drop a ZX10 with 100-300mm lens also plactic
mount from a little over knee height - broke both mounts. The crippled mount is a problem if you want to use lens before
the -A lenses such as old M lenses.

dean45

dlacouture · 06-24-2012, 02:11 PM

ZX-l is the best, IMO :
- fastest shutter speed (except for the MZ-s!)
- full P-TTL support (can even do things our current DSLRs cannot, such as wireless P-TTL)
- AF-C

And, don't forget to swap the focus screen with a split one for MZ-m...

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06-01-2012, 05:51 PM	#16
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	I've got an MZ-M which is a manual focus version of the line-up, pretty similar to the Super Program in features and I like its user interface. However I'd probably prefer a camera with a manual film advance as the motor is just something else to go wrong (and are generally harder to troubleshoot when they do).

06-02-2012, 03:46 PM	#17
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	I'll second the MZ-7... Good cheap AF body for experimentation... Can be picked up for very little outlay and really easy to use... I now use my MX a whole lot more though... No AF but an absolute joy!

06-05-2012, 01:25 AM	#18
lepiallou Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 135 Original Poster	Thank you all for the advices... In the end I found a MZ-5n for quite a low price and so far it's pretty much what I was looking for. I agree with you johnha the next one I will be buying will be with manual film advance!

06-14-2012, 02:36 AM	#19
radium New Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hong Kong Photos: Albums Posts: 16	I like my MZ3 and so much so that I have 3 of them. 2 chrome ones and one black one. Touch wood none has given me any problems and I love them especially because they are so light weight. I have the FG battery pack for them but I rarely use it because I like small camera. I often use the Pentax MZ3 with my 43mm or 40mm M pancake lens. A wonderful small camera set up which is easy to carry around all day with.

06-24-2012, 11:48 AM	#20
dean45 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 31	The ZX5n is a good choice for a ZX series Camera. It has better exposure options than some other Zx series cameras. It has a metal lens mount and does not have a crippled lens mount. I got one in a box of non working cameras it alone was the only working one. The auto focus is fairly good not up to the standards of DSLR cameras but faster than the older ones.Under unusual light conditions it hunts I have to go to Manual focus. Metal lens mount is a plus ( I drop a ZX10 with 100-300mm lens also plactic mount from a little over knee height - broke both mounts. The crippled mount is a problem if you want to use lens before the -A lenses such as old M lenses. dean45

06-24-2012, 02:11 PM	#21
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	ZX-l is the best, IMO : - fastest shutter speed (except for the MZ-s!) - full P-TTL support (can even do things our current DSLRs cannot, such as wireless P-TTL) - AF-C And, don't forget to swap the focus screen with a split one for MZ-m...