Question:
Did either the PZ-1p or the LX have otf, prefire or/and spot meter ?
The PZ-1p has a spotmeter and maybe mirror pre-fire. The LX didn’t have a spotmeter but had otf and true mirror lockup, not sure about pre-fire (but locking the mirror up is like using DoF preview – same lever in fact). — John Preston, Lancs, UK. Photos at http://www.photopia.demon.co.uk
Response:
Did either the PZ-1p or the LX have otf, prefire or/and spot meter ?
LX has mirror lock-up; PZ-1p has prefire. PZ-1p has spot meter. E.R. http://members.aol.com/ernreed If you aren’t spamming, avoid the junktrap
Response:
:I actually started to add this, John, but decided the post was getting too :long. :Best-kept Pentax secret (in general): that they make cameras other than the :Spotmatics and K1000. (Most of which are better cameras than the Spotmatics and :the K1000.) :Best-kept secret — specific 35mm SLR model: LX (runner-up: PZ-1(p); just :because the LX was "secretly" on the market so much longer) :Best-spec’d Pentax 35mm SLR ever: PZ-1p :Most intuitive control interface in an autofocus 35mm SLR (all brands): ZX-5n 
maybe also MZ-3?) : :Best ever? PZ-1p would be my guess. Yours? : I didn’t make a nomination because I couldn’t decide. If I really had to : choose one, it would be the PZ-1p just a shade ahead of the LX. : Having said that, I haven’t a PZ-1p (but have a PZ-1) but I have two : LX’s, must be reason for it? Did either the PZ-1p or the LX have otf, prefire or/and spot meter ? Alan
Response:
I didn’t make a nomination because I couldn’t decide. If I really had to choose one, it would be the PZ-1p just a shade ahead of the LX. Having said that, I haven’t a PZ-1p (but have a PZ-1) but I have two LX’s, must be reason for it?
bucky boy commented: I agree with you. There are shots/things I couldn’t do with my LX (which I love) that I can with my Z1p (I actually have 2). I think that the LX is better built, but the Z is just so capable in so many areas that it eclipses most of the other considerations.
I don’t have a PZ-1p either, John. I have a PZ-1. And an LX. (And a ZX-5n.) If I were going somewhere, didn’t know what situations would present themselves and could only take one body, I’d take the PZ-1. But the others are just so much fun to use! E.R. http://members.aol.com/ernreed If you aren’t spamming, avoid the junktrap
Response:
I agree with you. There are shots/things I couldn’t do with my LX (which I love) that I can with my Z1p (I actually have 2). I think that the LX is better built, but the Z is just so capable in so many areas that it eclipses most of the other considerations. It’s a great camera. I don’t think there’s an SLR out there that can even come close to it, in terms of what you get for the money.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I didn’t make a nomination because I couldn’t decide. If I really had to choose one, it would be the PZ-1p just a shade ahead of the LX. Having said that, I haven’t a PZ-1p (but have a PZ-1) but I have two LX’s, must be reason for it?
Response:
Are the specs for MZ-S available anywhere? Andrew
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http://digilander.iol.it/aohc/photokina2000_1e.htm For starters. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are the specs for MZ-S available anywhere? Andrew
Response:
I actually started to add this, John, but decided the post was getting too long. Best-kept Pentax secret (in general): that they make cameras other than the Spotmatics and K1000. (Most of which are better cameras than the Spotmatics and the K1000.) Best-kept secret — specific 35mm SLR model: LX (runner-up: PZ-1(p); just because the LX was "secretly" on the market so much longer) Best-spec’d Pentax 35mm SLR ever: PZ-1p Most intuitive control interface in an autofocus 35mm SLR (all brands): ZX-5n (maybe also MZ-3?) Best ever? PZ-1p would be my guess. Yours?
I didn’t make a nomination because I couldn’t decide. If I really had to choose one, it would be the PZ-1p just a shade ahead of the LX. Having said that, I haven’t a PZ-1p (but have a PZ-1) but I have two LX’s, must be reason for it? — John Preston, Lancs, UK. Photos at http://www.photopia.demon.co.uk
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I wrote (summary of current Pentax "top offerings") John added Best ever, now that is an interesting question? I actually started to add this, John, but decided the post was getting too long. Best-kept Pentax secret (in general): that they make cameras other than the Spotmatics and K1000. (Most of which are better cameras than the Spotmatics and the K1000.) Best-kept secret — specific 35mm SLR model: LX (runner-up: PZ-1(p); just because the LX was "secretly" on the market so much longer) Best-spec’d Pentax 35mm SLR ever: PZ-1p Most intuitive control interface in an autofocus 35mm SLR (all brands): ZX-5n (maybe also MZ-3?) Best ever? PZ-1p would be my guess. Yours?
Yes and no. Maybe a tie – PZ1p and, for different reasons, the LX. My favorite is the old K2, but the aforementioned are "better" cameras. Regards, Ed M.
Response:
I wrote (summary of current Pentax "top offerings") John added Best ever, now that is an interesting question?
I actually started to add this, John, but decided the post was getting too long. Best-kept Pentax secret (in general): that they make cameras other than the Spotmatics and K1000. (Most of which are better cameras than the Spotmatics and the K1000.) Best-kept secret — specific 35mm SLR model: LX (runner-up: PZ-1(p); just because the LX was "secretly" on the market so much longer) Best-spec’d Pentax 35mm SLR ever: PZ-1p Most intuitive control interface in an autofocus 35mm SLR (all brands): ZX-5n (maybe also MZ-3?) Best ever? PZ-1p would be my guess. Yours? E.R. http://members.aol.com/ernreed If you aren’t spamming, avoid the junktrap
Response:
OK, let’s have some fun and see if we can really nail this down. Top of the Pentax SLR line: 645n Top of the Pentax 35mm SLR line: PZ-1p (aka Z-1p) Top of the MZ line: MZ-3 (MZ-5n in #2 position) Top of the ZX line: ZX-5n Top current manual-focus SLR: 67II Top current 35mm manual-focus SLR (no contest): ZX-M (aka MZ-M) (and most of this will change when the MZ-S actually hits the market, but for now, these are the rankings)
Best ever, now that is an interesting question? — John Preston, Lancs, UK. Photos at http://www.photopia.demon.co.uk
Response:
Slightly OT, but I’ve noticed that the ZX-5(n) owners like their cameras, while thePZ-1(p) owners seem to go past that to emotional attachment.
<Grin I have both – agreed. Regards, Ed M.
Response:
Almost correct – the MZ-3 is the same as the ZX-5n aka MZ-5n, except has a 1/4000 top shutter with 1/125 sync. It was never imported into the USA though, so there is ZX-3, so the ZX-5n is the top of the line of the ZX/MZ cameras Pentax imported into the USA. Todd I agree that it is not the top of the Pentax line. But it occurs to me that there is a way that someone could legitimately claim that it is a "top of the line" camera. It is precicely the top of the ZX line of Pentax 35mm SLR’s.
– Spam filters in place. If you are accidently blocked, remove nospam.
Response:
Almost correct – the MZ-3 is the same as the ZX-5n aka MZ-5n, except has a 1/4000 top shutter with 1/125 sync. It was never imported into the USA though, so there is ZX-3, so the ZX-5n is the top of the line of the ZX/MZ cameras Pentax imported into the USA.
in response to Dave: I agree that it is not the top of the Pentax line. But it occurs to me that there is a way that someone could legitimately claim that it is a "top of the line" camera. It is precicely the top of the ZX line of Pentax 35mm SLR’s.
which I think was a response to me when I said the ZX-5n is not and never was the top of the Pentax 35mm SLR line. OK, let’s have some fun and see if we can really nail this down. Top of the Pentax SLR line: 645n Top of the Pentax 35mm SLR line: PZ-1p (aka Z-1p) Top of the MZ line: MZ-3 (MZ-5n in #2 position) Top of the ZX line: ZX-5n Top current manual-focus SLR: 67II Top current 35mm manual-focus SLR (no contest): ZX-M (aka MZ-M) (and most of this will change when the MZ-S actually hits the market, but for now, these are the rankings) E.R. http://members.aol.com/ernreed If you aren’t spamming, avoid the junktrap
Response:
Slightly OT, but I’ve noticed that the ZX-5(n) owners like their cameras, while thePZ-1(p) owners seem to go past that to emotional attachment. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a little new to the camera thing. I have been taking classes on photography and have a couple of cameras and a/f lenses. I have a Pentax K1000 and I just purchased a ZX-5N about 3 months ago. At the time I thought that the ZX-5N was the "top of the line" body for the Pentax, and I was told so by my local camera shop. But now I see a thread on the PZ1P and the new MZ-S. My question is,….. did I purchase a middle of the road model ? And what are the differences between the one I have and the MZ-S? Please let me know. Thanks in advance NoSpamMan
Response:
I am a little new to the camera thing. I have been taking classes on photography and have a couple of cameras and a/f lenses. I have a Pentax K1000 and I just purchased a ZX-5N about 3 months ago. At the time I thought that the ZX-5N was the "top of the line" body for the Pentax, and I was told so by my local camera shop.
Just amazing the kind of information people can get from their local camera shop. The ZX-5n is not now and never was the "top-of-the-line" Pentax; it is second from the top of the 35mm line and has always been that (since the PZ-1p was there first). (And the top Pentax models, it may be argued, are the medium format bodies.) It *is* a very nice camera; I’m not suggesting otherwise, but it’s not the one with the most features. And the PZ-1 seems to me to be more rugged & durable (assume the same for PZ-1p, which I’ve never handled). But now I see a thread on the PZ1P and the new MZ-S. My question is,….. did I purchase a middle of the road model ? And what are the differences between the one I have and the MZ-S?
Again, no, you bought the second from the top. E.R. http://members.aol.com/ernreed If you aren’t spamming, avoid the junktrap
Response:
For one thing, the ZX-5n is currently available, while the MZ-S has not yet been released. For discussion on specs, release dates, etc. see the Pentax Discussion Mailing List at http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss%40pdml.net/. The PZ1P is a more expensive and in some ways more advanced camera than the ZX-5n. It has higher shutter speeds, higher flash sync speeds (I think), psuedo-mirror lockup, and some other features that the ZX-5n doesn’t have. However, the ZX-5n is much more compact and has a better interface (especially if you’re used to the K1000). I have a ZX-5n and think it’s a great camera.
I am a little new to the camera thing. I have been taking classes on
photography and have a couple of cameras and a/f lenses. I have a Pentax K1000 and I just purchased a ZX-5N about 3 months ago. At the time I thought that the ZX-5N was the "top of the line" body for the Pentax, and I was told so by my local camera shop. But now I see a thread on the PZ1P and the new MZ-S. My question is,….. did I purchase a middle of the road model ? And what are the differences between the one I have and the MZ-S? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Please let me know. Thanks in advance NoSpamMan
Response:
I am a little new to the camera thing. I have been taking classes on photography and have a couple of cameras and a/f lenses. I have a Pentax K1000 and I just purchased a ZX-5N about 3 months ago. At the time I thought that the ZX-5N was the "top of the line" body for the Pentax, and I was told so by my local camera shop. But now I see a thread on the PZ1P and the new MZ-S. My question is,….. did I purchase a middle of the road model ? And what are the differences between the one I have and the MZ-S?
Please let me know.
Thanks in advance
NoSpamMan
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