What does an MZ-S feel like?

Todd Adamson · 03-30-2012, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

Hey Todd good to see you, I'll just pipe in with the try an LX (Think Nikon F2 or 3 but more compact and solid as a rock.) they really are my favourite from the film era (I haven't tried the MZ-S yet though but I have been tempted a few times)

My most sincere wish is that the first FF digital is an update on the LX actually

HI Eddie.

My buddy has a couple of them, so I've played around with them. Great camera, but I'll need to try with a winder attached, which he doesn't have.

Todd Adamson · 03-30-2012, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

IMHO if you are careful about your purchase price your money risk is pretty small if you decide you don't like it. Same with an LX. Obv if you buy from a premier Used seller like KEH, then sell here you might be at risk for 15% of the purchase price. I've never had an MZ-S - so I haven't commented until now - but I have an LX w/ grip and drive. The feel is uniquely pleasureable - unique being the key comcept. It doesn't feel like anything but an LX.

Good point, and I may end up just buying one with that in mind. Maybe I should also try to find a good winder for the LX. I could try it with my friend's LX, and if I decided to go another route sell the winder. Maybe to him, LOL.

Nick Siebers · 03-30-2012, 07:34 PM

Hmmm, reading this thread makes me wish I had my MZ-S still. With grip, it was a joy in the hand.

**LaurenOE** · 03-30-2012, 07:53 PM - **1 Like**

I love my MZ-S. I also love my K5. It's hard to choose, but I think the MZ-S is more...elegant.

DaveHolmes · 03-31-2012, 07:31 PM

I keep drooling over the MZ-S... Maybe as a graduation present to my self this summer (assuming I can get some paid work upon completion of my degree!)..

My AF 35mil camera is a MZ-7 (ZX-7 in the US I believe...) it's great and all but nowhere near the weapon-like build quality (or elegance) of the MZ-S!

twitch · 03-31-2012, 08:48 PM - **1 Like**

It doesn't get much better than a gripped mz-s and a FA limited. A joy to use and iq in spades.

**LaurenOE** · 04-01-2012, 12:34 PM - **1 Like**

I got an MZ-S recently and immediately fell in love with it over/along with my K5. I must admit, I was on the fence for years. Now I wish I had bought it sooner. I think the MZ-S got caught in the MZ-D fiasco and the transition to digital. In a nutshell - the MZ-S is sublime as a film camera. Fitting as the last serious film (35mm) camera Pentax made.

Duncan J Murray · 04-02-2012, 01:58 PM

I use a Nikon F6 as my main camera, but have drooled over the MZ-S many times before!

Nothing really beats the solid ergonomic brick-like quality of the Nikon, but I do really like Pentax's control ergonomics. Hyper-manual is my ideal mode, and the lack of the 'green' button on the F6 makes it seem a bit dated (though not that any of the newer nikons or canons have this feature).

I also recommend the Nikon LX and Winder, which has a very nice chunky and solid feel to it.

D

Todd Adamson · 04-03-2012, 05:22 AM

Ah, well I just pulled the trigger. I guess I knew I would, LOL. Pretty soon I may have a PZ-1 or an MZ-S up for sale.

séamuis · 04-03-2012, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by Duncan J Murray

solid ergonomic brick-like

haha, isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms? I've never cared for nikons design philosophy. I have had several nikon F's and they all felt clunky, big and unnecessarily brutish. give me the simplicity of a Pentax any day.

Todd Adamson · 04-03-2012, 10:07 AM

Originally posted by séamuis

I've never cared for nikons design philosophy. I have had several nikon F's and they all felt clunky, big and unnecessarily brutish

I can tell by the scrunched-up cramped appearance of your hands while shooting, in your avatar.

Originally posted by séamuis

haha, isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms?

Hey now, bricks can be quite ergonomic, in the proper context.

séamuis · 04-03-2012, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by Todd Adamson

I can tell by the scrunched-up cramped appearance of your hands while shooting, in your avatar.

Hey now, bricks can be quite ergonomic, in the proper context.

haha, thats from a movie (An Education), its not me. I have smaller, girly hands. I agree though, they can be. I'm just not sure a camera is one those. we do have the K-01 though...

Duncan J Murray · 04-03-2012, 01:19 PM

I have larger-than average-sized hands, so find that generally the larger grips seem to fit it better. If you've never handled an F100, I'd recommend it - there isn't a camera that feels better in the hand, apart from the F5 and F6. Ergonomic brick is the best way to describe it I think.

D

Todd Adamson · 04-03-2012, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by Duncan J Murray

If you've never handled an F100, I'd recommend it - there isn't a camera that feels better in the hand, apart from the F5 and F6.

It's all personal preference, of course, but I'd have to agree. I hadn't picked up my F100 in a long time when a friend came over recently to let me use his PZ-1p. After using his camera for a while, I was very impressed. I even told him it felt pretty much as good as the F100. But I only had to pick up the F100 again to realize how wrong I was.

Not to knock Pentax bodies at all. I do a lot of shooting with Pentax gear these days, and very happily. They are different companies with different design philosophies, and there are all sorts of different priorities among end-users. But Nikon hits my sweet spot ergonomically speaking.

I mostly just feel sorry for Canon users.

séamuis · 04-03-2012, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by Todd Adamson

I mostly just feel sorry for Canon users.

so do canon users.

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03-30-2012, 04:40 PM	#16
Todd Adamson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 722 Original Poster	Originally posted by eddie1960 Hey Todd good to see you, I'll just pipe in with the try an LX (Think Nikon F2 or 3 but more compact and solid as a rock.) they really are my favourite from the film era (I haven't tried the MZ-S yet though but I have been tempted a few times) My most sincere wish is that the first FF digital is an update on the LX actually HI Eddie. My buddy has a couple of them, so I've played around with them. Great camera, but I'll need to try with a winder attached, which he doesn't have.

03-30-2012, 04:42 PM	#17
Todd Adamson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 722 Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome IMHO if you are careful about your purchase price your money risk is pretty small if you decide you don't like it. Same with an LX. Obv if you buy from a premier Used seller like KEH, then sell here you might be at risk for 15% of the purchase price. I've never had an MZ-S - so I haven't commented until now - but I have an LX w/ grip and drive. The feel is uniquely pleasureable - unique being the key comcept. It doesn't feel like anything but an LX. Good point, and I may end up just buying one with that in mind. Maybe I should also try to find a good winder for the LX. I could try it with my friend's LX, and if I decided to go another route sell the winder. Maybe to him, LOL.

03-30-2012, 07:34 PM	#18
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Hmmm, reading this thread makes me wish I had my MZ-S still. With grip, it was a joy in the hand.

03-30-2012, 07:53 PM - 1 Like	#19
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	I love my MZ-S. I also love my K5. It's hard to choose, but I think the MZ-S is more...elegant.

03-31-2012, 07:31 PM	#20
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	I keep drooling over the MZ-S... Maybe as a graduation present to my self this summer (assuming I can get some paid work upon completion of my degree!).. My AF 35mil camera is a MZ-7 (ZX-7 in the US I believe...) it's great and all but nowhere near the weapon-like build quality (or elegance) of the MZ-S!

03-31-2012, 08:48 PM - 1 Like	#21
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	It doesn't get much better than a gripped mz-s and a FA limited. A joy to use and iq in spades.

04-01-2012, 12:34 PM - 1 Like	#22
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	I got an MZ-S recently and immediately fell in love with it over/along with my K5. I must admit, I was on the fence for years. Now I wish I had bought it sooner. I think the MZ-S got caught in the MZ-D fiasco and the transition to digital. In a nutshell - the MZ-S is sublime as a film camera. Fitting as the last serious film (35mm) camera Pentax made.

04-02-2012, 01:58 PM	#23
Duncan J Murray Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 97	I use a Nikon F6 as my main camera, but have drooled over the MZ-S many times before! Nothing really beats the solid ergonomic brick-like quality of the Nikon, but I do really like Pentax's control ergonomics. Hyper-manual is my ideal mode, and the lack of the 'green' button on the F6 makes it seem a bit dated (though not that any of the newer nikons or canons have this feature). I also recommend the Nikon LX and Winder, which has a very nice chunky and solid feel to it. D

04-03-2012, 05:22 AM	#24
Todd Adamson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 722 Original Poster	Ah, well I just pulled the trigger. I guess I knew I would, LOL. Pretty soon I may have a PZ-1 or an MZ-S up for sale.

04-03-2012, 09:36 AM	#25
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Duncan J Murray solid ergonomic brick-like haha, isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms? I've never cared for nikons design philosophy. I have had several nikon F's and they all felt clunky, big and unnecessarily brutish. give me the simplicity of a Pentax any day.

04-03-2012, 10:07 AM	#26
Todd Adamson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 722 Original Poster	Originally posted by séamuis I've never cared for nikons design philosophy. I have had several nikon F's and they all felt clunky, big and unnecessarily brutish I can tell by the scrunched-up cramped appearance of your hands while shooting, in your avatar. Originally posted by séamuis haha, isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms? Hey now, bricks can be quite ergonomic, in the proper context.

04-03-2012, 10:21 AM	#27
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Todd Adamson I can tell by the scrunched-up cramped appearance of your hands while shooting, in your avatar. Hey now, bricks can be quite ergonomic, in the proper context. haha, thats from a movie (An Education), its not me. I have smaller, girly hands. I agree though, they can be. I'm just not sure a camera is one those. we do have the K-01 though...

04-03-2012, 01:19 PM	#28
Duncan J Murray Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 97	I have larger-than average-sized hands, so find that generally the larger grips seem to fit it better. If you've never handled an F100, I'd recommend it - there isn't a camera that feels better in the hand, apart from the F5 and F6. Ergonomic brick is the best way to describe it I think. D

04-03-2012, 02:52 PM	#29
Todd Adamson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 722 Original Poster	Originally posted by Duncan J Murray If you've never handled an F100, I'd recommend it - there isn't a camera that feels better in the hand, apart from the F5 and F6. It's all personal preference, of course, but I'd have to agree. I hadn't picked up my F100 in a long time when a friend came over recently to let me use his PZ-1p. After using his camera for a while, I was very impressed. I even told him it felt pretty much as good as the F100. But I only had to pick up the F100 again to realize how wrong I was. Not to knock Pentax bodies at all. I do a lot of shooting with Pentax gear these days, and very happily. They are different companies with different design philosophies, and there are all sorts of different priorities among end-users. But Nikon hits my sweet spot ergonomically speaking. I mostly just feel sorry for Canon users.

04-03-2012, 03:56 PM	#30
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Todd Adamson I mostly just feel sorry for Canon users. so do canon users.