Which Pentax camera film should I buy ?

netuser · 08-07-2009, 09:18 AM

Hi

Title says it all.

I have some FA lenses and I'm feeling the urge to try them on film and not only on digital.

I was thinking about MZ-50 (ZX-50 on US). It's a good choice ? Seems there are some (plastic) problems...

I would appreciate the education that help me choose a pentax film camera.

Thanks in advance

**Buffy** · 08-07-2009, 11:29 PM

If you want autofocus, the MZ-5n is a good inexpensive choice. The MZ-S is excellent but usually much more expensive, and the PZ-1p has a lot of fans in this forum.

Andi Lo · 08-08-2009, 01:01 AM

All of the MZ except MZ-S have the plastic shutter mechanism problem. The ones that ends in 0 and the MZ-M has the plastic lens mount.

MZ series is nice with not much fuss, and with the 7 and L you can even use DA lenses and control aperture

netuser · 08-08-2009, 03:04 AM

Thanks. And out of curiosity, without autofocus ?

lithos · 08-08-2009, 03:43 AM

No AF?

* LX
* MX
* ME Super
* superA/superPROGRAM
* K2
* K1000

More or less in that order.

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-08-2009, 04:13 AM

no one yet has mentioned the best overall film camera (IMO)

You can't ignore the PZ-1 or PZ-1p on any list when looking at a do it all film camera.

great AF, best shutter ever at 1/8000 and sync at 1/250 along with 4.5 fps on the PZ-1p

K-9 · 08-13-2009, 08:08 AM

I second the PZ-1P being the best Pentax AF film camera. With the prices it goes for these days, you can't find a better features to price ratio.

As for MF, I actually use Ricohs as I'm not a fan of the K-series flat metal slab grips, and tank size bodies.

Andi Lo · 08-13-2009, 02:28 PM

I just tried PZ-70 and wow, that shutter is like a ninja, REALLY silent. Is the PZ-1p like this too? The MZ'L and MZ-7 isn't half as silent as this.

**monochrome** · 08-13-2009, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by Buffy

If you want autofocus, the MZ-5n is a good inexpensive choice. The MZ-S is excellent but usually much more expensive, and the PZ-1p has a lot of fans in this forum.

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

no one yet has mentioned the best overall film camera (IMO)

You can't ignore the PZ-1 or PZ-1p on any list when looking at a do it all film camera.

great AF, best shutter ever at 1/8000 and sync at 1/250 along with 4.5 fps on the PZ-1p

Hi Lowell - you are so predictable

(and so right

) Bufffy did mention the PZ-1p in her reply

**Buffy** · 08-13-2009, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Bufffy did mention the PZ-1p in her reply

Thank you, Monochrome.

K-9 · 08-13-2009, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by Andi Lo

I just tried PZ-70 and wow, that shutter is like a ninja, REALLY silent. Is the PZ-1p like this too? The MZ'L and MZ-7 isn't half as silent as this.

I don't know if I'd call it silent, but my ZX-L is definitely noisier.

vow20 · 08-14-2009, 12:53 AM

I am also looking to buy a film pentax and the PZ-1P looks very appealing. What should be a fair price for the body only? Is it true that AF is faster than k10D?

VF-19 · 08-14-2009, 08:36 AM

I have a PZ-1P, and the shutter is quiet. It's the mirror that makes a nice *BANG* as it goes through it's cycle. Vow20, the autofocus on the 1p is very very fast... with fresh batteries.

**mnovikov** · 08-14-2009, 12:43 PM

Ashamed to admit, never handled PZ-1P and I know some people swear by it.
Otherwise, MZ-S is beyond competition. It's more advanced than PZ-1P (although, no aperture wheel), AF is very fast and decisive, it is built to last, but small and pleasure to handle, it has a very soft and quiet shutter/mirror function - so soft that I got couple perfectly sharp 1.5 sec exposures by just bracing my elbows against a table even without mirror lock-up. *ist and the others are just another (lower) class IMO. Since MZ-S can be purchased relatively cheap by now, I would get it.

Andi Lo · 09-12-2009, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by K-9

I don't know if I'd call it silent, but my ZX-L is definitely noisier.

Alright I just discovered why my PZ-70 is silent. The mirror doesnt even go up! Please disregard my last anecdote on the shutter sound

08-07-2009, 09:18 AM	#1
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236	Which Pentax camera film should I buy ? Hi Title says it all. I have some FA lenses and I'm feeling the urge to try them on film and not only on digital. I was thinking about MZ-50 (ZX-50 on US). It's a good choice ? Seems there are some (plastic) problems... I would appreciate the education that help me choose a pentax film camera. Thanks in advance

08-07-2009, 11:29 PM	#2
Buffy Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greater Boston area, Massachusetts Posts: 389	Which camera? If you want autofocus, the MZ-5n is a good inexpensive choice. The MZ-S is excellent but usually much more expensive, and the PZ-1p has a lot of fans in this forum.

08-08-2009, 04:13 AM	#6
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	PZ-1 / PZ-1p any one no one yet has mentioned the best overall film camera (IMO) You can't ignore the PZ-1 or PZ-1p on any list when looking at a do it all film camera. great AF, best shutter ever at 1/8000 and sync at 1/250 along with 4.5 fps on the PZ-1p

08-13-2009, 04:07 PM	#10
Buffy Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greater Boston area, Massachusetts Posts: 389	PZ-1p Originally posted by monochrome Bufffy did mention the PZ-1p in her reply Thank you, Monochrome.

08-14-2009, 12:53 AM	#12
vow20 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco Posts: 8	Pz-1p I am also looking to buy a film pentax and the PZ-1P looks very appealing. What should be a fair price for the body only? Is it true that AF is faster than k10D? Last edited by vow20; 08-14-2009 at 12:54 AM. Reason: type error

08-08-2009, 01:01 AM	#3
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	All of the MZ except MZ-S have the plastic shutter mechanism problem. The ones that ends in 0 and the MZ-M has the plastic lens mount. MZ series is nice with not much fuss, and with the 7 and L you can even use DA lenses and control aperture

08-08-2009, 03:04 AM	#4
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236 Original Poster	Thanks. And out of curiosity, without autofocus ?

08-08-2009, 03:43 AM	#5
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	No AF? * LX * MX * ME Super * superA/superPROGRAM * K2 * K1000 More or less in that order.

08-13-2009, 08:08 AM	#7
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	I second the PZ-1P being the best Pentax AF film camera. With the prices it goes for these days, you can't find a better features to price ratio. As for MF, I actually use Ricohs as I'm not a fan of the K-series flat metal slab grips, and tank size bodies.

08-13-2009, 02:28 PM	#8
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	I just tried PZ-70 and wow, that shutter is like a ninja, REALLY silent. Is the PZ-1p like this too? The MZ'L and MZ-7 isn't half as silent as this.

08-13-2009, 02:45 PM	#9
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Buffy If you want autofocus, the MZ-5n is a good inexpensive choice. The MZ-S is excellent but usually much more expensive, and the PZ-1p has a lot of fans in this forum. Originally posted by Lowell Goudge no one yet has mentioned the best overall film camera (IMO) You can't ignore the PZ-1 or PZ-1p on any list when looking at a do it all film camera. great AF, best shutter ever at 1/8000 and sync at 1/250 along with 4.5 fps on the PZ-1p Hi Lowell - you are so predictable (and so right ) Bufffy did mention the PZ-1p in her reply

08-13-2009, 10:54 PM	#11
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	Originally posted by Andi Lo I just tried PZ-70 and wow, that shutter is like a ninja, REALLY silent. Is the PZ-1p like this too? The MZ'L and MZ-7 isn't half as silent as this. I don't know if I'd call it silent, but my ZX-L is definitely noisier.

08-14-2009, 08:36 AM	#13
VF-19 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 364	I have a PZ-1P, and the shutter is quiet. It's the mirror that makes a nice BANG as it goes through it's cycle. Vow20, the autofocus on the 1p is very very fast... with fresh batteries.

08-14-2009, 12:43 PM	#14
mnovikov Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 37	MZ-S, hands down Ashamed to admit, never handled PZ-1P and I know some people swear by it. Otherwise, MZ-S is beyond competition. It's more advanced than PZ-1P (although, no aperture wheel), AF is very fast and decisive, it is built to last, but small and pleasure to handle, it has a very soft and quiet shutter/mirror function - so soft that I got couple perfectly sharp 1.5 sec exposures by just bracing my elbows against a table even without mirror lock-up. *ist and the others are just another (lower) class IMO. Since MZ-S can be purchased relatively cheap by now, I would get it.

09-12-2009, 05:32 PM	#15
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Originally posted by K-9 I don't know if I'd call it silent, but my ZX-L is definitely noisier. Alright I just discovered why my PZ-70 is silent. The mirror doesnt even go up! Please disregard my last anecdote on the shutter sound

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