Actually I would call neither MZ-7, nor MZ-6 an entry level camera,
especially if the MZ-60 is also called this way - the former are much >more complicated, as well as the *ist is, and all of them are too >complicated to be put into the same group with the MZ-60.
But the *ist serie replaces the MZ-serie.
The MZ-60 is far more complicated than my MZ-10, and this was actually replaced by the MZ-7, not the MZ-50 which was a lesser complicated model. If "complicated" means "loaded with features". (I actually finds the MZ-60 to be more complicated to use than a MZ-6).
When Minolta released the Dynax 5, they put mid market features (1/4000 shutter, 3 fps, etc.) in a beginners body.
Back in the old days - Pentax, and Nikon, didn't have a presence in the low end SLR field. This was covered by EOS 1000 and Dynax 303Si. They were auto-everything zoom compacts in an SLR design. For Pentax, "entry level" meant Z10, Z70 and MZ10. EOS 500 and Nikon F50 was the competition. The MZ-50 was Pentax first attemp in the low end SLR field, and this was actually a Dynax 303 competitor with manual features!
I'm happy that Pentax leaves the absolute low-end SLR field and begins a little step higher. And new cameras has more features than before. Look at the MZ-6. It's more advanced than the MZ-5n (1/4000 shutter instead of 1/2000, user programmable functions, more advanced flash system etc.), but it replaced the MZ-7 - not the MZ-5n. And the *ist replaces the MZ-6 (which only lived for a year...). We are still waiting for the MZ-5n and MZ-3 replacement. We have waited many years for this...
Two more upcoming models?
Yes, according to the managing director of Pentax UK who said last year that Pentax are about to reduce it's filmbased SLR line to consist of only three models. The complete *ist serie will feature...
* *ist - entry level (replaces MZ-60, MZ-7 and MZ-6) * (unknown) - mid market (replaces MZ-5n/3) * (unknown) - up market (replaces MZ-S)
I remember the rumours of 10 new Pentax cameras being introduced in the
2003, but IMHO actually it will be VERY STRANGE if we see another film >SLR from Pentax in this year.
Pentax has officially said that they are going to release 10 new *digital* products this year. (So far, 5 of those has been released) "digital products" can be everything... It doesn't have to be cameras. To my knowledge, they have not said how many filmbased cameras, or products, they will release this year.
Best wishes, Roland
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