aperture priority

Austin101 · 03-06-2012, 02:53 AM

Hi,

I'm a Pentax newb, bought a K5 and few lenses over the past couple of weeks, also picked up an ME Super, now I'm looking
to pickup a Pentax AF SLR however I'm quite confused which support in-camera aperture priority, a couple of my lenses don't have on lens
aperture selection.

any thoughts on which Pentax AF SLR's have in-camera aperture priority mode, looking for one that's small if possible.

Many thanks
Will

**Ash** · 03-06-2012, 04:13 AM

Welcome to the forum Will, and congrats on the K-5. AFAIK, all AF SLRs have the Av priority mode since all F lenses, FA lenses and their equivalents which were designed for those cameras. They also have the on-lens aperture selection, but were still there to support cameras that didn't have auto metering modes. What lenses do you have that don't have aperture dials? Are they the DA lenses? If so, you'll find difficulty getting them to perform on film SLRs.

VictorDA · 03-06-2012, 05:57 AM

No, I can guarantee that the MZ-5 / ZX-5 at least needs the aperture value to be set on the lens' aperture ring (you can still use it in Tv though). Don't know about the other series, this was the only AF SLR I owned. My best guess would be to go for the most recent ones (*ist...).
Check out the Camera reviews pages here on the website, maybe they will answer your question!

EDIT: actually if I understand correctly, what you're looking for is not called "aperture priority" but "in-body aperture control" (or something similar). Good luck!

Austin101 · 03-06-2012, 08:08 AM

Hi and thanks for the replies

I've the 21mm f3.2, 31mm f1.8, 35mm f2.4 and the 50mm f1.4 (just arrived today) I also have a 50mm f1.7 manual focus lens which came
with the ME Super.

so the 31mm and 50mm are find because I can set the aperture on the lens but the 21 and 35 don't have one, so I guess I just use shutter priority
and adjust till I hit the f stop I want.

VictorDA · 03-06-2012, 08:26 AM

Yes, you can do that, and it should work BUT be aware that both lenses (21 and 35) are "DA" lenses, which means they are designed for digital and do not (at least theoretically) cover the full 24x36 frame. You might see some quite heavy vignetting. See falconeye's thread on the subject in the Pentax Lens forum (I think).

stanislav · 03-06-2012, 09:19 AM

MZ-7, MZ-6 (ZX-L) and *ist have all apperture priority in camera.

*ist seems to be really hard to find, but MZ-7 and MZ-6 are still "top of the line" although they have a plastic feel (plastic fantastic). If you go with MZ-6/7, try to find a battery grip also so that you can use R6/AA batteries to power your camera, rather than rather expensive Li-ion non-recharcable batteries.

Austin101 · 03-06-2012, 10:08 AM

Thanks, Just bought an MZ-7 for £25

Tom in Delaware · 03-06-2012, 06:24 PM

Does anyone know if the ZX-L suffers from the same 'broken plastic gear' syndrome that the ZX-5n does?

Austin101 · 03-09-2012, 06:28 AM

Got my MZ-7 yesterday and shot a roll with the Pentax 35mm f2.4 DA lens, no issues here and perfect edges

VictorDA · 03-09-2012, 06:31 AM

Congratulations on your new toy, have fun

Twarp · 03-09-2012, 06:47 AM

Keep in mind that the ME Super has no shutter priority mode. It needs a lens with an aperture ring to manually set it.
If you mount a DA-lens it will work but only wide open.

The DA 35/2.4 (without aperture ring) has no vignetting on FF, I used it on a Super Program (Super A) in P-mode and Tv-mode, that just works fine.

03-06-2012, 02:53 AM	#1
Austin101 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7	aperture priority Hi, I'm a Pentax newb, bought a K5 and few lenses over the past couple of weeks, also picked up an ME Super, now I'm looking to pickup a Pentax AF SLR however I'm quite confused which support in-camera aperture priority, a couple of my lenses don't have on lens aperture selection. any thoughts on which Pentax AF SLR's have in-camera aperture priority mode, looking for one that's small if possible. Many thanks Will

03-06-2012, 05:57 AM	#3
VictorDA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lyon area, France Posts: 718	No, I can guarantee that the MZ-5 / ZX-5 at least needs the aperture value to be set on the lens' aperture ring (you can still use it in Tv though). Don't know about the other series, this was the only AF SLR I owned. My best guess would be to go for the most recent ones (ist...). Check out the Camera reviews pages here on the website, maybe they will answer your question! EDIT: actually if I understand correctly, what you're looking for is not called "aperture priority" but "in-body aperture control" (or something similar). Good luck! Last edited by VictorDA; 03-06-2012 at 06:01 AM. Reason: adding info*

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03-06-2012, 04:13 AM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Welcome to the forum Will, and congrats on the K-5. AFAIK, all AF SLRs have the Av priority mode since all F lenses, FA lenses and their equivalents which were designed for those cameras. They also have the on-lens aperture selection, but were still there to support cameras that didn't have auto metering modes. What lenses do you have that don't have aperture dials? Are they the DA lenses? If so, you'll find difficulty getting them to perform on film SLRs.

03-06-2012, 08:08 AM	#4
Austin101 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Hi and thanks for the replies I've the 21mm f3.2, 31mm f1.8, 35mm f2.4 and the 50mm f1.4 (just arrived today) I also have a 50mm f1.7 manual focus lens which came with the ME Super. so the 31mm and 50mm are find because I can set the aperture on the lens but the 21 and 35 don't have one, so I guess I just use shutter priority and adjust till I hit the f stop I want.

03-06-2012, 08:26 AM	#5
VictorDA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lyon area, France Posts: 718	Yes, you can do that, and it should work BUT be aware that both lenses (21 and 35) are "DA" lenses, which means they are designed for digital and do not (at least theoretically) cover the full 24x36 frame. You might see some quite heavy vignetting. See falconeye's thread on the subject in the Pentax Lens forum (I think).

03-06-2012, 09:19 AM	#6
stanislav Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stockholm Photos: Albums Posts: 125	MZ-7, MZ-6 (ZX-L) and ist have all apperture priority in camera. ist seems to be really hard to find, but MZ-7 and MZ-6 are still "top of the line" although they have a plastic feel (plastic fantastic). If you go with MZ-6/7, try to find a battery grip also so that you can use R6/AA batteries to power your camera, rather than rather expensive Li-ion non-recharcable batteries.

03-06-2012, 10:08 AM	#7
Austin101 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thanks, Just bought an MZ-7 for £25

03-06-2012, 06:24 PM	#8
Tom in Delaware Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 177	Does anyone know if the ZX-L suffers from the same 'broken plastic gear' syndrome that the ZX-5n does?

03-09-2012, 06:28 AM	#9
Austin101 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Got my MZ-7 yesterday and shot a roll with the Pentax 35mm f2.4 DA lens, no issues here and perfect edges

03-09-2012, 06:31 AM	#10
VictorDA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lyon area, France Posts: 718	Congratulations on your new toy, have fun

03-09-2012, 06:47 AM	#11
Twarp Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 77	Keep in mind that the ME Super has no shutter priority mode. It needs a lens with an aperture ring to manually set it. If you mount a DA-lens it will work but only wide open. The DA 35/2.4 (without aperture ring) has no vignetting on FF, I used it on a Super Program (Super A) in P-mode and Tv-mode, that just works fine.