On 7 Mar 2003, Levente -Levi- Littvay wrote: > 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)
I thought the *ist used a pentamirror system, and had a really atrotcious viewfinder, at least based on specs... however, I stopped reading ist threads after the ist D took over the list.. > 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. There's coverage, and there's magnification. I don't fully understand magnification, but what I do know is bigger is better. The lower that number, teh darker,dimmer, and further away it all seems through the camera. I didn't really grasp this (very crucial) concept until I had a camera with an entirely different viewfidner than the other.. I quickly learned the difference, and the bias. > 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? All the ZX/MZ series cameras (except teh MZ-S) have poor viewfinders. They're small and they're dim and they're flat and they're generally unpleasant. Now, I need glasses, so I can't see perfectly through the -5n's viewfinder, and when I focus with my -5n I use the focus confirmation LED/beep function. Maybe your eyes will be better and you won't need it. > Someone suggested that "People have changed the screens out of their > ZX-5 and -5n cameras with the split screen from the ZX-M body. It will > affect teh spot metering on these cameras, but it can in fact be done." > What is the spot metering? How will it affect it? Spot metering uses a 3 degree circle in the exact center of the view to determine the exposure. Like a really small center weight metering. I'm not sure if the split screen will completely render the spot meter useless, or just make it unreliable. Either way, I suppose, its pretty much the same thing. > Someone also suggested that the MZ-5 (not the n) is the same as the > MZ-M. Does that mean it focuses the same? It is the same, except the -5 has auto fofucs, the -M does not. The -5 will have the focus confirmation option, the -M will not. The -5 will have a plain matte screen and spot meter. The -M will have a split screen and no spot meter. The -5 has RTF flash and TTL flash. The -M has neither. > 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? People have said the MZ-S has a wonderful viewfinder, bright and contrasty. I saw one once, and it was unfari because immediatly after it I picked up an LX and enjoyed its viewfinder that much more. Also, I used neither, so that would also affect your deiscion. I commented shortly on the Ist above, but I don't feel qualified saying anythign else as I've never seen one and I stopped paying attention to the threads.. -g -- http://www.infotainment.org <-> more fun than a poke in your eye. http://www.eighteenpercent.com <-> photography and portfolio.
