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Print ArticlePRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Pentax Professional MZ-S
Flagship 35mm SLR Defines Ease of Use, Functionality
BY THEANO NIKITAS • IMAGES BY STEVE TINETTI
"Cirque du Soleil" Flexibility
The MZ-S is out-of-the-box easy to use for basic shooting, with
choices of Program, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, and
Manual exposure, as well as Spot, Multi, and Center-Weighted
metering—all the standard settings and then some.
The biggest problems we had out of the box were getting used to the
tight fit of the film chamber (we had a little trouble loading the
first couple of rolls) and not changing the date imprint to blank.
We assumed (therein lies the problem) the default was set to "off"
and wound up with the date embedded in our first few rolls.
The MZ-S goes beyond the basics, however, and while we're not
usually enamored of instruction manuals, we found the accompanying
booklet was clear, easy to understand, and opened up a world of
advanced shooting options.
It's definitely worth the time to set up the camera's 19
customizable functions before you start shooting. Keep the manual
handy for reference, though; without it, you won't be able to
figure out what you're setting. Some of the settings probably won't
change very often, like enabling or disabling the audible PCV
signal. Unobtrusive but clear, the beep lets you know when the
image is in focus and when the film count reaches 30, both of which
we found helpful.
Although we were initially skeptical about function
F2—setting the exposure program line—we made good use
of it while shooting with a slow zoom lens (f/3.5-4.5) and slow
film (Fuji Velvia/ISO 50). Even though it was a bright, sunny day,
the default Program mode wouldn't give us much above a shutter
speed of 1/90. That is, not until we adjusted the program line to
shutter speed priority. Basically, this function allows you to
program the program-default, shutter priority, aperture priority,
or to match your specific FA lens. A nice feature when you want to
shoot Program, but want at least some control.
The other advanced function we found useful was the ability to
customize auto bracketing. F3 allows you to set the number of
bracketed exposures (2, 3, or 5). F4 further tailors the feature
with a choice of exposure sequence, so you can either start with no
bracketing, under exposure, or over exposure. While you might want
to change the F3 settings on the fly, it's probably best to leave
the sequence setting of F4 to avoid confusion.
Other functions that can be customized include autofocus points
(they can be adjusted manually as well), auto exposure, flash
(including wireless), data imprinting. The list goes on, with a
solid choice of practical settings.
As we mentioned earlier, the MZ-S body is designed to complement
its features and functions. With few exceptions, controls are
fingertip convenient and quite easy to operate. Although
lightweight (the body weighs 18.3 ounces), the camera provides a
solid and comfortable grip.
The top panel is slanted, eliminating the need to tilt the camera
to read the dials and see the controls. We especially liked the
bright LCD panel, which clearly displays current exposure mode,
shutter speed, aperture, flash
setting, and more. The viewfinder, with diopter adjustment, is
bright and clear, making for easy composition and quick reference
to exposure.
Although all the controls were, in theory, conveniently located, a
few were difficult to access or operate. Even small hands will have
a problem changing flash functions, since the button is located in
a tight space to the left of the lens mount. One-handed operation
of the exposure compensation dial was also tough. Even when we were
able to depress the lock/unlock switch and turn the dial at the
same time, the dial was stiff and did not move easily from notch to
notch. But these are fairly minor quibbles; as always, it's
important to try a camera on for size before you buy.
Oh, yes, the camera has a built-in, pop-up flash. The flash is good
in a pinch, with decent coverage and accurate exposure. More
importantly, however, it can be used as a wireless controller
(Pentax has a wireless TTL flash unit-AF360FGZ). There's also a
built-in PC connection, so your studio flash will work, as
well.
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