The stealthy MZ-S

Jamey777 · 08-14-2014, 10:35 AM

One thing that is certain about using film cameras is that you draw attention to yourself. In family or public situations this can either be a drawback or benefit depending on what you want to do.

Sometimes you just want to not be terribly obvious, and I found out at a family gathering the other day that the Pentax MZ-S is easily confused for a digital camera :-)

The only person that knew I was shooting film was the two year old who wanted to see her picture on the back of it :-)

If I bring the LX, or Voigtlander attention is immediately drawn and its not always fun explaining (for the 12th time that day) why you are still shooting film.

On a side note, I saw my first canon full frame with a 50mm on it at a birthday party this weekend. Good Lord that thing is massive!!!! I was very happy with my tiny and non-attention drawing MZ-S F 50 1.7 combo.

Jamey

AldaCZ · 08-14-2014, 10:40 AM

Can this camera work with DA 40 lens? (IT doesnt have aperture ring) I'm thinking about trying film again..

Andi Lo · 08-14-2014, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by AldaCZ

Can this camera work with DA 40 lens? (IT doesnt have aperture ring) I'm thinking about trying film again..

I know it works with bodies that can control aperture via body dial (MZ-6 and MZ-7) but to my knowledge, this doesnt include the MZ-S, CMIIW

Jamey777 · 08-14-2014, 10:50 AM

If you don't have an aperture ring, you have to shoot in full auto or shutter priority. I believe the DA40 is one of the digital lenses that will work with full frame bodies?

Nick Siebers · 08-14-2014, 11:06 AM

As Jamey said, you can shoot in program mode or Tv on an MZ-S with a DA 40. I have done it with good results, although the edges vignette a bit.

**monochrome** · 08-14-2014, 11:14 AM

I just sold an MZ-S (I had tried it out to see whether it would help solve some visual acuity issues with manual focusing - that surgery has since corrected). I recall being somewhat confounded by the fact that Aperture Priority is dependent upon using the aperture ring on the lens. Now I know why FA Limiteds have an aperture ring.

Once I made that adjustment I was delighted with the camera - I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it.

Jamey777 · 08-14-2014, 11:47 AM

@nick vingetting is cool :-) well... gentle ones are.... hard ones are nasty...
@monochrome you have the best username on the forums, love it!

Last edited by Jamey777; 08-14-2014 at 11:48 AM. Reason: clarity

**monochrome** · 08-14-2014, 11:52 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Jamey777

@monochrome you have the best username on the forums, love it!

Life is all shades of gray, right?

6BQ5 · 08-14-2014, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by Nick Siebers

As Jamey said, you can shoot in program mode or Tv on an MZ-S with a DA 40. I have done it with good results, although the edges vignette a bit.

If you scan your film you can correct for some of this in post processing. It's ideal or perfect but it's something you can try.

Nesster · 08-14-2014, 01:50 PM

Agree re the stealth camera - the other extreme, an extremely obvious antique beast, also can work because people think it 'fun' and probably just assume you're nuts.

WIth the fancier less ancient cameras, they have to check to see if we're nuts or not.

6BQ5 · 08-14-2014, 02:02 PM

I'm ok with people asking about my camera whether it's digital or film. It gets people talking about photography and that's good in my book.

**Pål Jensen** · 08-14-2014, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it.

Silly argument. I have lots of cameras I don't use. Including an MZ-S...

Nick Siebers · 08-14-2014, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by Jamey777

@nick vingetting is cool :-) well... gentle ones are.... hard ones are nasty...
@monochrome you have the best username on the forums, love it!

Yeah, the DA 40 on film does not give a bad vignette. It is there, but mild and I wouldn't notice unless looking for it.

I miss my MZ-S. What a great camera.

**monochrome** · 08-14-2014, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

Silly argument. I have lots of cameras I don't use. Including an MZ-S...

I know - but I have a capital allocation budget. And I want another Princess.

And I Kept the LX.

OregonJim · 08-14-2014, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by Jamey777

One thing that is certain about using film cameras is that you draw attention to yourself.

Nah... The wildlife around here doesn't much care what type of camera I'm using. Nor do the mountains, oceans, rivers, insects, plants, or stars.

08-14-2014, 10:35 AM	#1
Jamey777 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 426	The stealthy MZ-S One thing that is certain about using film cameras is that you draw attention to yourself. In family or public situations this can either be a drawback or benefit depending on what you want to do. Sometimes you just want to not be terribly obvious, and I found out at a family gathering the other day that the Pentax MZ-S is easily confused for a digital camera :-) The only person that knew I was shooting film was the two year old who wanted to see her picture on the back of it :-) If I bring the LX, or Voigtlander attention is immediately drawn and its not always fun explaining (for the 12th time that day) why you are still shooting film. On a side note, I saw my first canon full frame with a 50mm on it at a birthday party this weekend. Good Lord that thing is massive!!!! I was very happy with my tiny and non-attention drawing MZ-S F 50 1.7 combo. Jamey

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08-14-2014, 10:40 AM	#2
AldaCZ Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: North Bohemia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,251	Can this camera work with DA 40 lens? (IT doesnt have aperture ring) I'm thinking about trying film again..

08-14-2014, 10:43 AM	#3
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Originally posted by AldaCZ Can this camera work with DA 40 lens? (IT doesnt have aperture ring) I'm thinking about trying film again.. I know it works with bodies that can control aperture via body dial (MZ-6 and MZ-7) but to my knowledge, this doesnt include the MZ-S, CMIIW

08-14-2014, 10:50 AM	#4
Jamey777 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 426 Original Poster	If you don't have an aperture ring, you have to shoot in full auto or shutter priority. I believe the DA40 is one of the digital lenses that will work with full frame bodies?

08-14-2014, 11:06 AM	#5
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	As Jamey said, you can shoot in program mode or Tv on an MZ-S with a DA 40. I have done it with good results, although the edges vignette a bit.

08-14-2014, 11:14 AM	#6
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I just sold an MZ-S (I had tried it out to see whether it would help solve some visual acuity issues with manual focusing - that surgery has since corrected). I recall being somewhat confounded by the fact that Aperture Priority is dependent upon using the aperture ring on the lens. Now I know why FA Limiteds have an aperture ring. Once I made that adjustment I was delighted with the camera - I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it.

08-14-2014, 11:47 AM	#7
Jamey777 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 426 Original Poster	@nick vingetting is cool :-) well... gentle ones are.... hard ones are nasty... @monochrome you have the best username on the forums, love it! Last edited by Jamey777; 08-14-2014 at 11:48 AM. Reason: clarity

08-14-2014, 11:52 AM - 1 Like	#8
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Jamey777 @monochrome you have the best username on the forums, love it! Life is all shades of gray, right?

08-14-2014, 12:07 PM	#9
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Originally posted by Nick Siebers As Jamey said, you can shoot in program mode or Tv on an MZ-S with a DA 40. I have done it with good results, although the edges vignette a bit. If you scan your film you can correct for some of this in post processing. It's ideal or perfect but it's something you can try.

08-14-2014, 01:50 PM	#10
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Agree re the stealth camera - the other extreme, an extremely obvious antique beast, also can work because people think it 'fun' and probably just assume you're nuts. WIth the fancier less ancient cameras, they have to check to see if we're nuts or not.

08-14-2014, 02:02 PM	#11
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	I'm ok with people asking about my camera whether it's digital or film. It gets people talking about photography and that's good in my book.

08-14-2014, 02:37 PM	#12
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by monochrome I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it. Silly argument. I have lots of cameras I don't use. Including an MZ-S...

08-14-2014, 02:42 PM	#13
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Originally posted by Jamey777 @nick vingetting is cool :-) well... gentle ones are.... hard ones are nasty... @monochrome you have the best username on the forums, love it! Yeah, the DA 40 on film does not give a bad vignette. It is there, but mild and I wouldn't notice unless looking for it. I miss my MZ-S. What a great camera.

08-14-2014, 03:17 PM	#14
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Pål Jensen Silly argument. I have lots of cameras I don't use. Including an MZ-S... I know - but I have a capital allocation budget. And I want another Princess. And I Kept the LX.

08-14-2014, 04:19 PM	#15
OregonJim Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 1,327	Originally posted by Jamey777 One thing that is certain about using film cameras is that you draw attention to yourself. Nah... The wildlife around here doesn't much care what type of camera I'm using. Nor do the mountains, oceans, rivers, insects, plants, or stars.