Hi, Peter,
The next step "up" is probably a brief step back chronologically, to the Super Program/Super A, which is a better and more advanced body than the P30t, with the sole exception of a lack of an exposure lock/hold button. It has TTL flash and program/aperture priority/shutter priority/manual modes along with program flash and TTL flash modes. It doesn't set the film speed for you, but this means you can expose film at other than its rated speed, and it has a really nice viewfinder with full information (at least in program & shutter priority mode) that's a pleasure to use for manual focusing.
Other directions to go may be the slightly harder to find P5/P50, which I believe at least has a choice of program modes, or the Program A/Program Plus, which is the budget model of the Super Program.
In autofocus, the SF1n/SFXn is actually very nice for manual focusing, with the best Pentax viewfinder (all glass) of the autofocus bodies until the MZ-S came along. Most of the autofocus bodies are fine for manual focusing, though there are no split-prism or microprism focusing aids. The cameras can give you a beep or a viewfinder indicator for proper focus with manual focus lenses. Most of the PZ/Z series and the ZX/MZ series of autofocus bodies will give you multi-segment metering if you have manual focus "A" lenses and several have spot metering and other nice features that work just fine with manual focus lenses.
The sole current manual-focus body, the ZX-M/MZ-M, is quite nice, although very small and light, and while the viewfinder is much smaller than the ME Super/Super Program's, it does have the split image/microprism focusing aid.
Joe
I prefer Pentax manual lenses for travel due to their size, weight and great optics. They are also relatively cheap secondhand.
However, the bodies have always left me a bit flat. I can't afford an LX so I started with ME Supers. More recently, the P30T has worked well ... inexpensive and looks very unassuming to the locals. But I am perplexed about what is the next step up. I understand the P30 was the last manual body made.
Could I expect better results using my manual lenses with an autofocus body instead of the P30T. I guess what I am looking for is a brief rundown of the merits of each body when used with manual lenses. What meter modes will or will not work, and what advantages are gained from those of the newer features that can be so utlilized.
Thanks for any advice.
Peter Nielsen
--
Joe Wilensky Staff Writer Communication and Marketing Services 1150 Comstock Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-2601
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel: 607-255-1575 fax: 607-255-9873
