Hi Kostas, Almost all the times I decide to use the MZ-3 or 5n instead of the Z-1p is when I want to save room and, more important, weight. Many times I had the the Z-1p + FA*85/1.4 + flash AF400FTZ combo hanging from my neck all day long and it was a real pain at the end of the day... In terms of functions, the Z-1p is almost unbeatable. It is even easier in use (example: if I want to use exposure compensation I don't have to move the camera from the eye or modify the position of the hands, all I need is the finger and thumb of the right hand, the same for the metering selection - on the MZ cameras the latter requires only the finger, but you don't have a feedback in the finder so sometimes you forget which metering you are using and have to check). The finder of the Z-1p is bigger, brighter and shows more infos. The focusing screen is better for manual focus, too (and it is easily interchangeable: my Z-1p mounts a grid screen). I don't think that the AF of the MZ-5n/3 is better - although it finds something to focus on more often, due to the wider area - than that of the Z-1p, which BTW is definitely faster. Sometimes I find the metering of the MZ cameras to be more suited for shooting negative film (read: they overexpose a bit, say 1/3 of a stop or little more, in multisegment mode), so I usually chose the MZ-3/5n when negatives are the film of choice. Usually when I think I'm going to use the built-in flash instead of a separate one, the advantage of using AA batteries lets me lean over the MZ series and AA battery grip. The Z-1p eats the battery more quickly and I have the tendency of forgetting a spare 2CR5... WRT the built in flash: the MZ series one, although less powerful, is placed higher over the optical axis, so it makes more difficult to have red eyes in the subjects. But... the Z-1p has body selectable flash compensation - independent from the normal exp. compensation (a must when you do fill flash). Works with any TTL flash (on the MZ-3/5n I usually switch to manual, set a not-so-slow-nor-so-fast speed to keep a good amount of ambient light and select -1/2 compensation - not so akward but akward indeed...). I have the tendency to use the MZ-3/5n camera like an MX with AF, while the Z-1p is used more like a very different - and more complete - instrument. I'm very fond of the user interface of the Z series: I like to select aperture and speed using the wheels (although i would have liked to have the choice of inverting the functions between the wheels - the front wheel always select speed, but sometimes I'd like to use it to select the aperture...). Oh, I forgot: the Hyper Modes are a true gift to the photographer, and the IF button (which lets you go back immediately to the program line when in manual or when you are far from a decent speed/aperture combination). I'm used to the old manual cameras, so sometimes I don't use a lot of the features of the Z-1p, but they are there, and sometimes they can make the difference. Hope this helps.
Ciao, Gianfranco PS: forgot to mention: I have large hands and the Z-1p, being bigger, fits better in my hands (even more with the FDp grip attached). The MZ series cameras, even with grip, do not fit that well, especially when big lenses are attached. When I first held a Z-1p there was a FA 300/2.8 on it... it was a wonderful and very well balanced combo. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kostas Kavoussanakis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: Gianfranco Irlanda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 11:19 PM Subject: Re: What cameras do you use; why and for what? > On Mon, 25 Aug 2003, Gianfranco Irlanda wrote: > > > time) and a MZ-5n (sometimes the Z-1p, > > How do these two compare with each other? In your account the MZ > features many more times that the Z. I guess the Z-1p has more > functions, are they rarely used? Is the Z-1p's viewfinder noticeably > bigger and brighter? Is the AF of the MZ-5n much better than that of > the Z-1p? I am also attracted to Z-1p's offset flash hotshoe, which > would allow for simultaneous use of the built-in with an external > flash, any idea why Pentax did away with it? > > Thanks, > Kostas > ===== __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
