William: Thank you GREATLY for the comparison. Lots of points to consider. I have a couple of further questions if you don't mind too much:
1. How has the non-metal lens ZX-M mount fared? I currently have a SMC-A 28/2.8 and SMC-A 50/2.8 Macro (ignoring my F and FA lens). I looking at a SMC-A 135/2.8 now and thinking of adding a SMC-A 70-210/4. How do the heavier lens work? I'm really leaning towards using the second body only with primes as the rest of the family also uses the ZX-5n. 2. This may be a stupid question, but does the ZX-M require a circular polarizer like the ZX-5n? 3. You mentioned that the ZX-M's viewfinder in bright light. Is it as bad as the ZX-5n? 4. I never had my old SP CLA'ed. I've read about issues with the LX, etc. Is there anything to be wary of if I decide to go the SP route when looking for a SP body? Thanks much!!! Ed in Illinois On 09 Nov 2001 10:56:47 -0700, William Johnson wrote: > Hi, > > I have a couple of Super Programs and and have > (well, now its my 10yr old daughter's) a ZX-M. I > also have a ZX-5n like you. Here's my thoughts > comparing the ZX-M and Super Program. > > The ZX-M fits nicely with the ZX-5n because they > have basically the same interface, and use the same > accessories, such as cable release and battery > pack. AF lenses will give you aperture readout in > the finder in Aperture Priority. The exposure comp > dial turns the same direction for over/under as > the '5n, while the Super Program's turns opposite; > I've been burned by that a couple of times. The > ZX-M's finder is smaller and dimmer, but the split > image rangefinder works well with lenses as slow > as f/5.6, perhaps a consideration if you use slow > zooms, screwmount lenses with an adapter, etc. > Also, the lighted viewfinder display is nice in > lower light, and a welcome improvement over the > fiddly hard to push "illumination" button on the > Super Program. Also, if you are shooting in manual, > the readout in the ZX-M will show you when you are > within 1/2 stop of correct exposure, vs. 1 stop with > the Super Program. > > You also get electronic dof preview with the ZX-M, > which is cool. The ZX-M is pretty much all plastic, > but I found it to be pretty tough little beast, > surviving several drops and falls, rain, snow, etc. > > Despite all this, my 10 year old now has the ZX-M, > and I have 2 Super Programs. FWIW, the Super > Programs were purchased after the ZX-M. The real > joy of the Super Program is the viewfinder, > especially used with reasonably fast lenses. The > finder is larger, brighter, and contrastier than > the finder on the ZX-M. Also, I prefer the finder > display in moderate to bright light, where the > ZX-M's tends to wash out. > > Hope this helps. > > William in Utah. _____________________________________________________________ - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
