The MZ-3 and MZ-5n has the best feel for someone who is used to the dial on the MX, K-1000, LX... etc. It also has a more sophisticated pentaprism viewfinder and simple basic functions.
I do not know what "sophisticated" exactly mean here, but the viewfinders of the entire MZ/ZX series aren't exactly as well as good old manual focus cameras from the 80's. Last time I compared, the Z-1p had sharper and less distortion viewfinder than the MZ-5n.
The *ist has the best (most sophisticated) autofocus and the prism is some new bright one which sould be very cool. Also it can shoot more pics per sec. (2.7)
Whether the viewfinder of the *ist is good has yet to be determined. You cannot judge the quality of the viewfinder based on the spec. alone.
If flash is crucial (I don't use a flash, yet) the high-speed flash sync is only available on the MZ-6 (ZX-L) the top of the line MZ-S and the new model...
True, yet, many still use 1/250s x-sync... including me.
And lastly, the discussion about the viewfinders is what I find disturbing and possibly a crucial decision factor. I really don't undertsnad what the 0.7 and 0.8 magnification means but it seems to be crucial for manual focus.
Viewfinder magnification determines how big the actual image is when looking through the viewfinder. The highest K mount Pentax model is MX which has 0.97X which is almost as big as the full size 135 frame (24x36mm), ME/ME Super 2nd (0.95X). With todays AF cameras, you would be luck if they provide 0.8X (like Z-1p). Obviously, higher magnification is easier for manual focus. However, magnification alone does not determine the overall quality of the viewfinder. Overall brightness, focus screen contrast and brightness, and eyepiece quality also play an important part. With MZ/ZX cameras (except MZ-S), the biggest problem is not the screen brightness or contrast, but the poorly corrected uncoated plastic eyepieces which are no good for manual focus. Some blames the mirror prisms, but it's actually the low quality eyepiece that ruined the quality of the viewfinder. Just compared the MX with any MZ/ZX bodies and you will see the difference, big difference!!
Several people noted that they have to use the beep function of the MZ-5n (3?) to be able to focus manually. Now this disturbs me. I want to be able to focus... period. If this is true, no way will I upgrade. Is this true about the rest of the models?
If you want AF, try Z-1p or MZ-S and see if you can focus easily. If not, then your only hope is old cameras like MX, ME Super or LX etc. I still use my MX often for the same reason. I consistantly get sharper images with the MX than the Z-1p in manual focus mode. When critical focus was not required, I used AF for speed.
What is the spot metering? How will it affect it?
The split image does interfere the accuracy of spot meter. I have found no way to compensate because it seems to be situation dependent. However, centre-weight seems to work fine with correct amount of exposure compensation (although the split image still interferes the centre porton of the metering in some way).
Someone also suggested that the MZ-5 (not the n) is the same as the MZ-M. Does that mean it focuses the same?
MZ-5 is an earlier version of MZ-5n. They are AF cameras. MZ-M is very similar to MZ-5, but not the same. The MZ-M has even worse viewfinder/eyepiece (surprise!). I wonder why Pentax bother to make this camera if the end user could not focus precisely with its crappy viewfinder. I tried hard with my MZ-M but couldn't live with it. I simply spent too much time try to obtain the "focus" instead of taking pictures. Sold mine after 1 year, sadly. Otherwise a lovely camera.
What about the rest of the ZX line, the MZ-S, or older autofocus models (P series), is it as hard to manual focus with those as it is with the MZ-5n? Any word on the *ist?
P series is manual focus models, not AF. The P50 that I had had good viewfinder and built quality. It was a joy to use, almost, because it suffered from aperture variable resistor problem which was not curable. If you planned to buy any P cameras, check very carefully for this problem (turn the aperture ring slowly both ways for several times and see of the displayed shutter speed jumped randonly). Don't be tempted to buy if it had this problem, not even at dirty cheap price. I personally think any of the cameras from M, A or P series have better viewfinders than MZ/ZX bodies. The biggest problem with these 80's mf cameras is that their focus screens are rather dim and coarse. This could be a problem when you use slow zooms. However, as a prime lens user, mf is a joy with the MX and original screen, even compared to the Z-1p which has much brighter screen, but overall dimmer viewfinder (thanks to the plastic eyepiece again).
regards, Alan Chan
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