How are they running the tests on the PZ-1 and PZ-1p's, which were the cameras that were specifically mentioned as having this problem originally.
I think the reason is that the Z-1p is the only body allowed the aperture to be chosen through the bodies. With program or shutter priority mode, the very same problem still exist, but not obvious to the users. I believe, but cannot prove, any Pentax bodies with program or shutter priority modes have the same problem. However, since most users use print films, the difference is too little to be detected on film.
They have depth of field preview, but it is a manual function rather then electronic, that only works with the aperature ring actually turned to the manual settings according to the manual. It appears to work in the "A" setting but it actually always goes to the smallest aperature setting of the lense when in the "A" mode, thus making it useless there. I have noted that the aperature setting noted in the display does not always seem to match the numbers on the dial while in the middle, but rather somewhere close. However the high and low limits are the same.
I disagree. AFAIK, the shutter speed in program & aperture priority modes are not discrete. But the chosen aperture is always 1/2 stop difference in any mode. Another way to test is to fire the shutter in a dim room and the camera chosen aperture would be wide open. You would be able to see some lenses didn't fire wide open.
My biggest question in all this is the metering in Program modes going to
wind up being off because of this, or is it just the manual modes using an
external lightmeter that are messed up. This whole thing is getting a bit
confusing the more I think about it. Is the metering even going to be
accurate in the manual aperature modes? Which one is the camera going to
use for this metering...the actual position of the adjustment lever...or the
information the lens is feeding the camera electronically......ugh what a
mess
When the lens is set to non-'A', the aperture resistor determines the chosen shutter speed. When the lens is set to 'A', everything is done electronically. This also raises another problem - sometimes the readings from these 2 methods do not match each other. Confusing huh? :)
regards, Alan Chan
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