Pentax MZ5 35mm SLR (ZX5 in the USA)

A missing feature on the ZX5 (and the entire ZX series)is the absence of a built-in AF focus beam. This feature was on my former SF1n and SF10 bodies. For available/darkness Flash photos, the AF beam is quite essential.

I love the MZ-5N. The only thing that should have been added is the option for *not* rewinding the filmleader in the can.

although the writer of this review raises a few worthy bad points, I disagree with what they have said about the MZ5 35mm SLR. I use this model camera as my main piece of equipment and find that it is an excellent camera that is worthy of a better review than this. Overall a good page.

I've been using the MZ5n for 12 months now, and it's an excellent camera. I write articles and take pictures for fishing magazines, and when already carrying two rods, a large fishingbag, a camera bag and a tripod, it's not a bad thing with a lightweight camera. For me, the MZ5n has got all the features I need. I've no need for x-number of different programs (macro, landscape, portrait etc.), as I mainly shoot in manual or semi-automatic. What counts is the cameras lightmeter. And believe it, the lightmeter on the MZ5n is truly excellent. For difficult conditions, switch to spot, and arm yourself with a grey card. This camera is all I need. And I shoot A LOT of pictures.

I borrowed the ZX-5n from a helpful photo shop and tried it for a week before I ended up buying a Canon EOS-5. See comment on main Pentax page for why. I have long taken some excellent pictures with my K-1000 and a few older lenses. Here are the reasons I didn't buy the ZX-5: 1/2000 sec too slow (if you want to use automatic/autofocus it is anoying to have to watch to make sure your shutter speed is not too low with a wide apperture); compared to the Canon, the autofocus hunts--a lot; and, the LED meter in the viewfinder is impossible to see. Other than that, there are some features that make the camera a joy to use: nice controls (probably the best if you grew up with older cameras); excellent meter (this camera meters as well as I do--something I can't say for my Canon); and compatability with older lenses.

By the way, this camera does (as do all Pentax cameras) have DoF preview--simply unscrew the lense!

I have used both the ZX-5n and the ZX-50 which is similar to the ZX5n, but lacks a number of important features, including six segment, spot, and center weighted metering as well as DoF preview, exposure lock, and some others. One thing that the ZX-5n doesn't have but that the cheaper ZX-50 has is metering information on the camera body LCD screen. The analog dials are nice to use, but don't provide the accurate readings expected. The viewfinder readings are difficult to see in sunlight, so the additional digital readings would help. These are minor criticisms that I can live with and which Pentax can fix on new models. Overall, I agree. The ZX-5n is an excellent SLR.

Though I am primarily a Nikon user, I've found the Pentax ZX 5N and the ZXM cameras to be very attractive and more than adequate camera bodies. True, Nikon/Canon AF bodies have more features in terms of metering, AF modes, etc... the Pentax bodies user interface is the best there is. Simple, elegant, and capable.

Too bad many beginners in photography don't start with the Pentax ZXM and the 50mm lens as the kit. The ZXM with its traditional user interface design is perfect for learning photography but without the hassles of a manual camera (i.e. hand forwarding and rewinding the film). In addition, the ZXM allows P, A, and S modes.

I'd love to see more pentax review articles and more comments from other pentax users

I've used this and other sites to thoroughly research a camera purchase. Just bought a Pentax ZX-5n after considering Canon Rebel 2000, Nikon N60, Minolta HTsi. I'm a former Minolta user so I was predisposed to Minolta, since my SRT-101 still performs admirably. But the lenses won't work with a newer camera so I started anew, in shopping for an easy to use, full featured SLR that I could grow with as I rekindle my love of photography. Chief advantages of the ZX-5n over the others: Metering, for one. The Pentax has 6 panel matrix, center weighted and spot. All 3 of them, and an ANALOG switch to pick amongst them. I emphasize that because, as you go to look at these cameras at camera shops, the sales clerks don't even know how to work all the cameras. Sure I can learn but I am a great believer that, in industrial design, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". This is one of the strongest features of the Pentax over the Nikons, Canons and Minoltas. It is simply the easiest and most intuitive of the comparables to use. You can pick up the camera and before even turning it "on", determine your meter setting, whether you're in full program mode or aperture priority or shutter priority; whether you have the self timer on or whether you have the automatic bracketing on (a great feature by the way... brackets your shot with 2fps speed, too). It has Depth of Field Preview, a diopter adjustment (for aging eyes), and yes, the gimmicky (but cool for snapshots) panoramic setting. A remote shutter release port, metal lens mount, full manual, bulb setting and is one of the smallest and lightest of the comparably priced cameras. I got a date back version from B&H Photo for $329 (body), May 2000. In sum, it has all the features, great quality and plenty of lenses to choose from. I think it gets too little notice, in the shadow of Nikon and Canon for their comparably priced offerings. It is simply a better deal with more features. And Pentax makes great stuff, just like the others. Don't leave it out of the mix if you are comparison shopping.

Regarding the comment from Har Har, November 24, 1999.. Great comment from way back then, 1999 :)

I'm a beginnig photography hobbyist and these are the 3 cameras i'm looking at. I was in another camera forum yesterday and asked questions about the Rebel 2000 and the N60 when repondant also suggested the Pentax MZ5. I looked into this camera and am now seriously considering it for the following reasons: 1)has similar if not the same capabilities as the 2000 or N60 2)more backward compatibilty with older lenses vs. the 2000 or N60, and 3)I've read that the Pentax lenses are very good in terms of their image quality, where I have not seen this specific topic discussed elswhere regarding the 2000 or N60. The lens issue means that tthere are more available lenses int he used arena for purchase,,,,possibly.

I have owned a ZX 5 for about 2 months.I have only 1 lens.A 28 FA 2.8.The AF fails intermittently.Actually I don't know if what fails is the lens or the camera.The darn thing does not move...!It happens mostly after some hiatus of say 3 hours or more without shooting.I turn it on and press the shutter button half-way and no focus....I have to tap the lens or do a half-dozen intuitive actions and starts working one more time... I went to a camera store with it and tried other lenses and it worked from the first time....ergo...I suspect the fault lies in the lens.It is a cheaply manufactured lens.Yes , I took it apart.The electrical contacts inside are of doubtfull longevity and strength. Optically on the other hand it shows a nicely finished surface and the slides are nice. I like the camera.I,then ,have the dilemma of investing in another lens to find out that it was the camera's fault all along on one hand and on the other limping along with the old lens and maybe sending it to Pentax for a "tune-up".But being a cheap lens it probably makes more sense to buy another one. Oh well...! So if there's anybody out there with similar experiences or with solutions to this problem I certainly appreciate a comment this way. The little camera deserves a better performing lens so I am begging for suggestions.I am thinking of a Tamron 28-200 bought cheaply at ebay or something alike.Are all FA lenses as frail?Hope not. On happier notes...I find that the AF focusing(when it works)is very competent.Foolable but very competent.That is 90% of the time or better you will get sharply focused shots ...even in situations where other systems do not bother to even try.You can feel it adjusting to very minor focusing distance changes...literally ticking a gear tooth or two to find "perfect" focus.All that in a camera that I bought with little money. Would I buy a new one? Probably.Especially if I get answers to the lens problem

I love my ZX-5N, which replaces the POS ZX-30 that I used to own. The only goody I think its missing, is a better way of manual focusing than just a matte screen or little light indicating focus. Split screen focusing, or any other aids would be great - as one of the great features of this lens is to use older K mount or even screw mount lenses - obviously no autofocus there.... Aside from this I love her!

Goodday. I've been shooting for years as a kid with a Konica POP and lately I've been using my parent's Praktica STL3. They are both great cameras in their class, by the way. As I wanted to have my own camera I started searching for as much information as possible and I found the Pentax MZ-5 to be great. As a beginner in photography I've bought one a few weeks ago for about $160, together with a bag, manual and the SMC FA 28-70mm f4. I have not regretted this... As told by others the metering is absolutely awesome. I shoot mainly with aperture priority and not any of my Av photos are too dark or too bright. They are all clear so I guess the MZ5 metering can be called legendary ;) The autofocus works as can be expected: just fine, and the controls are easy and intuitive.

Drawbacks: it's a pity that the MZ-5 doesn't support auto-bracketing, exposure memory, which are available in the MZ-5n. Futher on mirror lock-up and slower manual shutter speeds would be nice.

Apart from this, it's a great, strong, light-weight camera. If you want to have a reliable, classical, great allround camera and you encounter one for little money, go for the MZ-5/MZ-5n.

I've been enjoying my zx-5n camera for already two years and I absolutely believe that this is the best choice for that amount of money. It sustained a number of drops, still works perfect. Nothing excessive don't-know-how-to-use, rational set of features, and, of course, a great comfort of use.

What settled the choice for me was that I could use my old PK lenses and get a "manually-assisted autofocus". Set the camera to autofocus, press the release, turn the focus ring. When the autofocus mechanism is satisfied, it triggers the shutter. This also works for pre-focusing: when the subject moves into the sharp area, the picture is taken!

After I read the article, I know why Pentax produce MZ3. I use MZ3 with non-Pentax manual lenses. Compare with same grade EOS, its lighter but strong, brighter and easily focusing view (same as professional Pentax67II), with infocus indicator, quality build in flash just like my Broncolor. However, TTL flash with my Metz 40MZ3 seem not accurate. Overall speaking, "A camera design for shooting but for advertisment".

I've used the first and second generation of Pentax-AF-SLR but the AF was simply too slow, too noisy - not to be compared with the build-quality of the former non-AF Pentax-SLR. Therefor I still used the Pentax-non-AF-System but for AF I switched to the Canon EOS.

Then I found the MZ5 and : YES the AF is great ! YES the SLR is not that noisy any more (as been told above you can even use it for theatre-shots !).

I cannot confirm the problems with AF or any lens. I use/d the Pentax AF 1.7/50, 35-105 and the Sigma 24-70 asph. and had a trip to France with the Sigma 28-200. Never had any problems. I also use the recommended 1.7x-AF-converter for my 1.2/50 and 2.5/135 to get longer focus for low-light-situations. And it works great ! - even the optical qualuty of the AF-converter is not that good as the Pentax-lenses are ... But I also use the manual-lenses without the converter and have no problems with focussing for the viewfinder is easy to use: The viewfinder of older SLR are simply darker than the MZ5.

I found the MZ5-body quite small so I took a battery-grip for it and now it perfectly fits in my hand - and I can use the AAA-standard-cells instead of the more expensive lithium. The MZ5 with battery-grip for me fits better than the Z1 without such a battery-grip (there isn't any one as I expect ?).

So now I'm happy again with the Pentax-System ! Just want some other AF-lenses as the other AF-systems have (and the former Pentax-MF-lenses) .

I've used the MZ-5n for seven years and it's easily the most user-friendly camera I've come across. It takes a pretty good picture most of the time (albeit with the caveat that my 28-70 zoom absolutely refuses to focus at infinity unless switched to manual.

The built-in flash has a tendency to over-expose so an external fash is de rigeur.

I have had one of these since 98, picked it up in Ritz fairly cheap, but without a lens. Since then I have acquired several Pentax SMC lenses. Coupled with the F1.4 50mm SMC auto lens it is virtually a point and shoot camera. My wife likes the 35-70mm zoom and uses just it with the Pentax as her do all point and shoot. There is a pop up flash. What I like is the broad spectrum of lenses that can mount to this body. Everything from Q rays to 60s vintage Takumars lenses (K mount adapter required). I agree with Steve regarding the panorama switch. Don't want, need, or use it. Something for kids I guess. The most annoying feature I note is the date panel sometimes shows up on the print, and sometimes it doesn't. Doesn't seem to be any consistency there. A depth of field preview would have been nice, but I can live without that.

Well, actually, The body is almost perfect for me, only the special batteries (like all modern camera's, too bad) are not nice and it is not digital (yet). Would be nice to buy a camera-back with digitall possibilities and it would stay perfect for the next 20 years!

What I like most about this camera is the panorama-mode -> brilliant simple system and makes beatifull pictures in this mode. Autofocus is sometimes nice but, not really needed most of the time. I've used some other camera's with autofocus and this MZ-5 is by far the best autofocus so far I've tested in difficult conditions. By the way, use your flash in difficult lightning conditions for the autofocus as is written in the manual... if you want autofocus at all.

I've been using an MZ-5 for about ten years, more or less. Although digital photography cut into my use, when the one I had died as the result of a bent camera case (perhaps the two happened together), I got another one thru e*ay for about a third of the $100 it would have cost for repairs to the original. Now I have "Mr Z" and a Pentax Ds digital. You know the best part? They both use the same lenses and flash. And they give me excellent pictures. And they fit my hands. And I want to keep using the pair for a long long time, despite any "improvements" that may appear.

A couple of years later....My zx-5 died after it when the case it was in got crunched. Estimate of repair was a LOT more than I wanted to pay, so about six months ago I went on the net and ended up with an older Made-in-Japan zx-5 with a 35-80 lens thrown in. After transferring my battery pack, I started using it as a film alternative to my Ds. It works great and gives me exactly what I was hoping for. It's made a couple of trips and has been banged around some but the meter and shutter speeds are right on and exposures are right on about 96-97% of the time (or better). I have decided I'll keep it and use it quite often over the next few years. After all, there are times when film is more suited to ones photography than digital. Oh, I forgot to mention: cost of this delight---$35.

i had used a screw Mt Mamiya for 30 yrs,and found that even the button up/button down of an ME Super bugged me. I also had lenses, macro stuff in M42 and PK. The ZX-5 gives me spot meter and multi exposure..real major. Mine came with the battery pack, so it runs on 4 AA NiMh.. I have (for now) 3 AF Pentax lenses but mostly use my K mt gear, Tamron SPs,M seroes Macro 100, A series 50mm, Sigma YS 135 1.8 and 500 mirror.

I even have a rare gizmo that lets me use M42 on it....WITH auto stop down....so I get full benefit of my auto bellows. Basically..it integrates well with my DTL Mamiyas (M42) my Chinon CP5s (K) and my lenes and stuff.

Chronic to ZX5....the pop up flash won't stay up on it's own. Mickey mousing a spring s do-able but I just use a spare finger. I can put the Vivitar 283 on a bracket with a slave and get a mix of the small built in and the powerful bounce with it all nicely automated. I like the option of the Diopter slider, I can shoot without my specs. Yay.

The BUMMER.....the VERY hard to read info in the viewfinder. Compared to an SF-1...quite a regression. The SF-1 finder seems huge and bright and everything is easy to see. Pentax SHOULD at least have done a simple ..VISIBLE...3 LED setup for manual...I'd welcome a needle. The display is GOOD in low light. The first time I took it out,it was a sunny day and I thought the viewfinder had died. I was seeing nothing. Ironic in that the Super Program had the opposite issue, it depended on ambient light to display some viewfinder info..