Customer Reviews

Pentax MZ-S Auto Focus SLR Body

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4 star:		(1)
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After trying out a Canon EOS1 and a Nikon F100, I bought a Pentax MZ-S because it feels more like a camera rather than a computer. Yes, this is an all-electronic camera but the controls are similar to the analog/mechanical cameras -- to change the shutter speed you rotate the shutter speed dial, to change the aperture you turn the aperture ring. This is also the smallest and the lightest professional SLR I have seen. The all-metal body is comfortable to hold and there is a grip protrusion even on the left side. This is also one of the few pro SLRs with a built-in flash which comes in handy when you want to travel light and need a fill-flash. The depth-of-field preview lever is conveniently located as a ring around the shutter button. There is no manual mirror lockup option but you can use the 2 second timer which locks the mirror then opens the shutter 2 seconds later. The exposure data imprint is a nice option which prints the speed and f stop on the film outside the frame. The slanted top panel isn't exactly a life-changing innovation but it is a nice touch.

The only drawbacks might be the slow flash synch (1/160), slow frame advance (2.5 per sec) and the difficult to reach auto focus control switches. However, none of these are problems for me because I don't shoot action or sports. Oh, another con is that it is a little overpriced.

I have been using this for over a year now and have no complaints yet. It is a great camera to travel with because of its small size and weight.

This is simply a terrific camera. Over the past several years I have used Canon and Nikon single lens reflex cameras and I keep coming back to this Pentax because it is so handy and easy to use. But most of all, because it consistently gives me great images.

This camera will rewind in mid-roll if you want to change film for some reason, and then go back and pick up on that roll where it left off and finish the roll when you put it back in the camera. This is a great feature but I have learned that there really isn't much reason to change film that often. I've put 800 or 1600 ISO film in this camera to shoot pictures indoors, and then gone outside to finish it off, coming out with perfectly exposed pictures.

This camera really has far too many features to go over but the most powerful recommendation that I can make is this. I have several cameras I can use but this is the camera that I turn to whenever I absolutely have to get the shot, and it has never let me down.