Manual vs auto focus film SLRs

08amczb · 08-12-2017, 01:13 PM

Hi!
I'am a happy MZ-5n (and KP) user. I really like take family shots whith the MZ-5n in full automatic mode or in Av. I never developped the film at home and I started with the digital K-30.
I never understood why are manual focus, full manual SLRs like the MX or the automatic LX are so popular. Why are you prefer them more then modern full automatic film SLRs? Automatic cameras can be switched to full manual mode also. Thanks for your opinions!

(PS.: I understand 67 users and 645 users, talk about 135 cameras now.)

ctrout · 08-12-2017, 01:17 PM - **2 Likes**

The build quality and ruggedness of the older cameras is what makes them so popular. Also the fact that many of them can be used without batteries at many, or in most cases, all shutter speeds. Additionally, when a fully mechanical camera fails, it is usually easily repairable. When the more modern cameras fail, many times it is not economical to attempt repair.

dsmithhfx · 08-12-2017, 01:25 PM

I've used both, and while I appreciated the idiot-proof AE (my manual cameras have not had working TTL metering since almost forever, so I use a cheap handheld meter of dubious accuracy), I found the autofocus to be a PITA. Also it only worked with kit zooms in bright sunlight, and was useless for my faster, older primes. And, what ctrout said about the build quality and ruggedness.

08amczb · 08-12-2017, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by dsmithhfx

I found the autofocus to be a PITA. Also it only worked with kit zooms in bright sunlight, and was useless for my faster, older primes

Hmmm... My MZ-5n focuses well with the F 50 F1.7 @F2 in general.

The MZ-S or PZ line build quality is so much inferior to MX and LX?

dsmithhfx · 08-12-2017, 02:05 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by 08amczb

Hmmm... My MZ-5n focuses well with the F 50 F1.7 @F2 in general.

The MZ-S or PZ line build quality is so much inferior to MX and LX?

All my lenses are the only mount you'll ever need: m42.

Dartmoor Dave · 08-12-2017, 02:22 PM - **3 Likes**

Because there is a deep pleasure to be had from doing a skillful thing, and knowing that it is your own skill that has made you do it well.

**TomB_tx** · 08-12-2017, 02:31 PM - **2 Likes**

While autofocus cameras allow manual focus, the focusing screens are usually not designed for focus discrimination, making it harder to judge the best focus. I find old-fashioned plain ground glass best for judging sharp focus.
Having used manual focus for over 50 years, it is "automatic" to me, and I find it simpler to just focus on what I want than to try and tell an AF camera where that is.

timw4mail · 08-12-2017, 04:05 PM

Is there a single autofocus Pentax film SLR that doesn't suffer from the dreaded plastic stripped gears?

ctrout · 08-12-2017, 04:10 PM - **1 Like**

I think that my ME F is immune.

timw4mail · 08-12-2017, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

I think that my ME F is immune.

You do have a good point. I meant screw-drive autofocus.

**Jacquot** · 08-12-2017, 04:13 PM

Whatever the body, automatic focus has frustrated me.

LesDMess · 08-12-2017, 04:51 PM - **1 Like**

There are many reasons but specifically to the LX are:

The only Pentax 35mm with interchangeable viewfinders.
The only camera by any brand that you can advance or rewind to any frame accurately for multiexposure.
The only camera - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose a scene for as long as it takes - even hours long, all the while adjusting exposure based on the scenes lighting conditions.

ctrout · 08-12-2017, 04:58 PM

My MX has interchangeable viewfinders.

**boriscleto** · 08-12-2017, 05:15 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ctrout

My MX has interchangeable viewfinders.

Focusing screens, not viewfinders...

You can't do this with the MX...

ctrout · 08-12-2017, 06:08 PM

Ah yes. You are correct. I was thinking of focusing screens. It's nice to have the flexibility of the LX system but I would bet that the vast majority of users have no need for any but the standard viewfinder and will most likely never need the long exposure low light metering capability of the LX either. The KX has all the features to serve 99.9% of photographers and is actually the highest rated manual focus 35mm SLR on this site bar none. Yes, we as a community have cast our vote that the KX is the undisputed king of the hill.

But back to the OPs topic, which of the AF models ishas the most reliable AF mechanics?

08-12-2017, 01:13 PM	#1
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796	Manual vs auto focus film SLRs Hi! I'am a happy MZ-5n (and KP) user. I really like take family shots whith the MZ-5n in full automatic mode or in Av. I never developped the film at home and I started with the digital K-30. I never understood why are manual focus, full manual SLRs like the MX or the automatic LX are so popular. Why are you prefer them more then modern full automatic film SLRs? Automatic cameras can be switched to full manual mode also. Thanks for your opinions! (PS.: I understand 67 users and 645 users, talk about 135 cameras now.)

08-12-2017, 04:51 PM - 1 Like	#12
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	There are many reasons but specifically to the LX are: The only Pentax 35mm with interchangeable viewfinders. The only camera by any brand that you can advance or rewind to any frame accurately for multiexposure. The only camera - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose a scene for as long as it takes - even hours long, all the while adjusting exposure based on the scenes lighting conditions.

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08-12-2017, 01:17 PM - 2 Likes	#2
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	The build quality and ruggedness of the older cameras is what makes them so popular. Also the fact that many of them can be used without batteries at many, or in most cases, all shutter speeds. Additionally, when a fully mechanical camera fails, it is usually easily repairable. When the more modern cameras fail, many times it is not economical to attempt repair.

08-12-2017, 01:25 PM	#3
dsmithhfx Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,146	I've used both, and while I appreciated the idiot-proof AE (my manual cameras have not had working TTL metering since almost forever, so I use a cheap handheld meter of dubious accuracy), I found the autofocus to be a PITA. Also it only worked with kit zooms in bright sunlight, and was useless for my faster, older primes. And, what ctrout said about the build quality and ruggedness.

08-12-2017, 01:36 PM	#4
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796 Original Poster	Originally posted by dsmithhfx I found the autofocus to be a PITA. Also it only worked with kit zooms in bright sunlight, and was useless for my faster, older primes Hmmm... My MZ-5n focuses well with the F 50 F1.7 @F2 in general. The MZ-S or PZ line build quality is so much inferior to MX and LX?

08-12-2017, 02:05 PM - 2 Likes	#5
dsmithhfx Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,146	Originally posted by 08amczb Hmmm... My MZ-5n focuses well with the F 50 F1.7 @F2 in general. The MZ-S or PZ line build quality is so much inferior to MX and LX? All my lenses are the only mount you'll ever need: m42.

08-12-2017, 02:22 PM - 3 Likes	#6
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,882	Because there is a deep pleasure to be had from doing a skillful thing, and knowing that it is your own skill that has made you do it well.

08-12-2017, 02:31 PM - 2 Likes	#7
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	While autofocus cameras allow manual focus, the focusing screens are usually not designed for focus discrimination, making it harder to judge the best focus. I find old-fashioned plain ground glass best for judging sharp focus. Having used manual focus for over 50 years, it is "automatic" to me, and I find it simpler to just focus on what I want than to try and tell an AF camera where that is.

08-12-2017, 04:05 PM	#8
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Is there a single autofocus Pentax film SLR that doesn't suffer from the dreaded plastic stripped gears?

08-12-2017, 04:10 PM - 1 Like	#9
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	I think that my ME F is immune.

08-12-2017, 04:12 PM	#10
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by ctrout I think that my ME F is immune. You do have a good point. I meant screw-drive autofocus.

08-12-2017, 04:13 PM	#11
Jacquot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sun City Center, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,544	Whatever the body, automatic focus has frustrated me.

08-12-2017, 04:58 PM	#13
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	My MX has interchangeable viewfinders.

08-12-2017, 05:15 PM - 1 Like	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by ctrout My MX has interchangeable viewfinders. Focusing screens, not viewfinders... You can't do this with the MX...

08-12-2017, 06:08 PM	#15
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	Ah yes. You are correct. I was thinking of focusing screens. It's nice to have the flexibility of the LX system but I would bet that the vast majority of users have no need for any but the standard viewfinder and will most likely never need the long exposure low light metering capability of the LX either. The KX has all the features to serve 99.9% of photographers and is actually the highest rated manual focus 35mm SLR on this site bar none. Yes, we as a community have cast our vote that the KX is the undisputed king of the hill. But back to the OPs topic, which of the AF models ishas the most reliable AF mechanics?