> Artur wrote: > BTW, IMHO the MZ-S shouldn't be called > this way - this camera doesn't belong to the MZ line. It should have > started a different series.
Well, Pentax started MZ series with MZ-5 which reintroduced retro style with big enough success. Together with it (or shortly afterwards) came MZ-10 with less praise. And MZ-S is, IMO, a high end camera with MZ-5 philosophy in mind. However, I agree that MZ-5/3/S are all completely different in basic approach from MZ-50/30/7 cameras and that they could belong to different series. But since the SLR market is shrinking, I bet we won't see that at all. Nevertheless, which approach is better is only the matter of preference. Of course, my preference is MZ-S type of camera. :) Few words about that. To me, Pentax is different from other brands because of the compatibility which is the best in camera world. Because of the glass and coating. Because they can make great bodies which are compact and beautifully made (MX, LX, MZ-S). Because of the ability to use a brand new lens on an old body and vice versa. Not because it is (supposed to be) cheaper. I am willing to pay more money for a Pentax than for a C/M/N. To me, Pentax lenses HAVE an aperture ring. It is there to use it. In the mid80s, there were two ways to go from MF to AF: to retain aperture ring and lens mount and build the philosophy of the system on that or change everything and start from scratch like Canon and Minolta did. Obviously, in the term of sales, Canon (and Minolta) did better. But there was room for the first approach like Nikon and Pentax tried. While Nikon managed it somehow, although it lost big time to Canon, Pentax struggled. I think that Pentax mistake was that they tried to do everything. They tried to retain compatibility with older cameras and lenses as much as they tried new approaches with every new series of the bodies they came out with. They introduced RTF with SF series. They introduced completely new body design with PZ series, together with power zoom functions. Along with that, their marketing sucked (and still is nothing to talk about). In 1995, they were afloat only because of their P&S department. Only with MZ-5 they came out with the SLR camera that sells. MZ-S follows the same route. We shall see, what will happen in the future with digital coming along. I'm sure, they will never be bigseller like Canon is today. But they might find their place. I hope they do. Cao, Matjaz - 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 .
