From owner-pentax-discuss@kw1.knightweb.com Tue Aug 20 07:16:16 1996 Received: by matuc2.mat.uc.pt (5.57/Ultrix3.0-C) id AA18760; Tue, 20 Aug 96 07:16:16 +0100 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by kw1.knightweb.com (8.6.12/8.6.11) id XAA07617 for pentax-discuss-outgoing; Mon, 19 Aug 1996 23:13:58 -0600 Received: from ratatosk.algonet.se (mail.algonet.se [194.213.74.38]) by kw1.knightweb.com (8.6.12/8.6.11) with ESMTP id XAA07591 for ; Mon, 19 Aug 1996 23:13:23 -0600 Received: from (rolamo@kairos.algonet.se [194.213.74.18]) by ratatosk.algonet.se (8.7.4/hdw.1.0) with SMTP id HAA29220 for ; Tue, 20 Aug 1996 07:29:34 +0200 (MET DST) Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 07:29:34 +0200 (MET DST) Message-Id: <199608200529.HAA29220@ratatosk.algonet.se> X-Sender: rolamo@mail.algonet.se Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: pentax-discuss@KnightWeb.com From: rolamo@algonet.se (Roland Mabo) Subject: PTX - MZ-10/ZX-10, short test in Buying Camera August 1996 X-Mailer: Sender: owner-pentax-discuss@KnightWeb.com Precedence: bulk Hi friends! The Pentax MZ-10/ZX-10 has been given a short test in the august issue of Buying Camera. Here's some interesting quotes... I hope that you will find this informative. * About the autofocus... "The camera focused speedily and accurately in most situations. However, it was noticeable in situations where there was a lot happening in the frame that the wide-frame autofocus-sensor struggled slightly. It focused, but not always on what you wanted." My comment: True. If a lot of action occurs, like for example in a big crowd with lots of moving people all over the place, the three AF points is pointing at different subjects and the camera gets confused. The test doesn't mention if the MZ-10 has a spot AF function to overcome this problem, but I believe it has. * About the exposure... "On two rolls of slide film, we didn't have one seriously duff picture. Sure, there was the odd tranny that was very slightly under or overexposed, but nothing that was beyond the bounds of acceptability. This is remarkable considering the prevaling extreme lighting conditions - bright sun, deep solid shadows and lots of light bouncing around." My comment: This is in line with my own experince of the multi-segment metering. It's rare that it's off and when it is, it's seldom more than +/- 0.5 EV. * Final verdict... "A lovely little camera that's light, easy to use and highly competent." 8 out of 10. ... Specifications ... Lens mount : Pentax KAF2, polycarbonate mount. AF system: Three point SAFOX IV with single, predictive and manual focus modes. Shutter speeds: 30 - 1/2000 sec, and B setting. Flash: TTL auto flash, with a flash sync of 1/100 Exposure metering: Six segment metering. When using a M or K lens the camera automatically switchs to a centreweighted metering pattern. No spot and no manually selectable centreweighted metering. Exposure modes: Smart Picture Modes (auto-set) and manually selectable picture modes, aperture and shutter priority, manual mode. No standard program mode. When set at the picture modes, moving the aperture ring away from the 'A' position sets the camera in aperture priority mode. Moving the function selection dial to the "Tv/M" setting, it sets to shutter priority if the aperture ring is set to 'A' - otherwise it's manual mode. Shutter speeds is selected by up/down buttons. I suspect this buttons selects between picture modes with the function selection dial set at the white PICT (green PICT probably is the Smart Picture Modes). Exposure compensation: +/- 3 EV Viewfinder: 92% field of view. Motordrive: 2 fps Self timer: 12 sec delay. Battery: 2 x 3V Lithium CR2 Dimensions: 135 x 90 x 62 mm Weight: 365 gram So how does the MZ-10 compares with the MZ-5? Quite good, but remember... The MZ-10 has a plastic lens mount where the MZ-5 has a metal one, and I suspect the MZ-10 for not having the stabilazing bottom metal platter that the MZ-5 has. The MZ-10 lacks the spot and centreweighted metering of the MZ-5 and it has auto-selectable picture modes instead of a standard program. The MZ-10 also lacks the dioptre-adjustment of the MZ-5. And, the MZ-10 only comes in black. No silver/black body... :-) But with the MZ-10 you do get the same multi-segment metering, the same AF performance and the same film advance speed as the MZ-5... Best regards... Roland * --------- e-mail: rolamo@algonet.se Make your own life a celebration - Jon & Helena Marsh (The Beloved) ... Disclaimer: You received this message because you have subscribed to the PENTAX discussion mailing list. Please note that this is an unmoderated mailing list and the opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Pentax Corporation. You may remove yourself from this list at any time by following the instructions or filling out the interactive form on the mailing list web page: http://www.pentax.com/mlist.htm ...