Help with the purchase of my next film camera please
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I have two MZ-5Ns and they are very nice cameras to use, aside from being plasticky. The viewfinders aren't the best though - no focusing prism of any kind and not the biggest or brightest, but they are usable with manual lenses.
If you want the best viewfinder possible then get an MX. If you want something with a bit more automation or a bit cheaper then the ME, ME Super, P30 or P30N - all have viewfinders almost as good as that of the MX.
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
With manual lenses you may prefer a manual focus camera - the focus aids give more confidence than the green hexagon in my opinion. My choice would be either a P30n, ME Super, MX or K1000 because they use cheap readily available batteries and will shoot for ages on them.
John.
Check out ones photographs on Flickr!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/awprentice/
With the optional grip its a joy to use, I find it a little small without the grip, fingers fall off the bottom.
It works fine with all my FF lenses (K, M and FA) and will work with DA lenses although you can not shoot in Av mode, just Auto or Shutter Priority.
The main thing its so easy to use, leave all the dials in 'Auto' (and lens in 'A' mode) and shoot away, or go all out and shoot fully manual, no menus just turn the dials!
It is a bit plasticy, but seems solid and open to abuse, advantage is its really light, and balances well with the grip and big lenses (M* 300mm).
Mine was £50 with a Sigma 28-200mm lens off ebay, and has the well known fault of broken flash (works but the spring that holds it up has broken).
Pentax MZ-5N / FA 50mm f1.7 by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
Pentax MZ-5n + Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 APO-Lanthar by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
Some of my favourites with the MZ-5N/Voigtlander 90mm APO combo (I have since sold the VL 90mm)
Viv! by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
Pond in the Rain by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
FA20-35:
Oxford Covered Market by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
K85:
Viv 1 by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
Pentax K1 | Pentax K-01 | Pentax MZ-S | Pentax MZ-5n
Flickr Photostream
Best
"when will that plastic gear that runs everything break and completely incapacitate my camera"
feeling will never leave you.
Better to avoid the sad "plastic Pentaxes" as my repairman calls them.
To truly appreciate Pentax quality, precision and user experience suggest you try a manual focus
model from the K or M series.
Chris
On old cameras condition is most important. Cameras with manual film advance levers are more reliable than 20yr old in-built auto-winders, mechanical shutters are more reliable than electronic and electronics degrade with age much faster than mechanical bits.
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1489 posts
12 years
Can someone recommend me another film camera to buy from Pentax that is keeping in with the look of the Z series but with better viewfinder etc?
Cheers in advance
Check out ones photographs on Flickr!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/awprentice/