MZ-S p.I

	The MZ-S is a costly camera, more expensive than expected from showing as a prototype at Photokina 2000. Is it worth its price? This is the most common question I’ve been asked since late May, when its price was announced at Pentax Day. Such a question comes natural, as it costs twice the price of an MZ-3 and 25% more than a Z-1p, without featuring the 1/8000 sec and 4 fps of the Z-1p.

Hands on

The MZ-S is a stylish camera. Maybe the front view is not so appealing, with those high shoulders recalling the ugly Leica R8. However, just turn it a few degrees and things change completely: each and every different point of view shows you a far more dynamic shape.

The MZ-S is compact, very compact for being so packed with features. So compact and tough, decidedly it has nothing to do with the ugly, bulky R8. Accustomed to the clean, streamlined look of the MZ-5/MZ-5n (in my opinion the nicest camera of the Nineties), at first the tough MZ-S puzzled me a bit, but I now love it.

The build quality of the MZ-S looks very good, with the only exception of the back, which sags a bit under your thumb as you grip the camera. By the way, when you buy an MZ-S you’ll get an MZ-S Quartz Date, since it comes equipped with data back. I didn’t expect that, I don’t know if you need it, and I don’t even know if that happens worldwide. However, it helps in understanding its price.

Grip is very good, better than that of other MZ-series cameras and, for my hands, also better than that of the PZ-1p. With the battery grip BG-10, the grip even gets better.

The viewfinder is nice and bright, better than that of other MZ-series cameras. Its glass pentaprism and reduced magnification probably help. Also, the viewfinder readouts are more visible in bright light than those of the MZ-5.
The slanted top panel is comfortable and the hybrid (dials and LCD panel) user interface of the MZ-S works very well. Dials, switches and buttons are easy to understand and operate and you’ll quickly get in control. Once you’ve read the instruction manual, you’ll only need it from time to time, unless you have to use some special flash mode or set a PF (Pentax Functions). However, Pentax gives you a small reference sheet with the meaning of the PF, so that you can take it with you instead of the whole camera manual. About flash, in case you’ll notice some strange behaviour, read the manual again before you think it doesn’t work. In fact, if you change batteries (or replace them with the BG-10) the automatic firing when built-in flash is popped up is disabled. Well, I won’t advise you to forget the camera manual, since the MZ-S is a highly sophisticated camera and it is better you practice a bit with it and its operating manual.

The multi-function dial outside the display also works well and it’s easy to operate by your thumb with the camera at eye level.

The only operation I truly don’t like is manual selection of a single focusing area, since you have to hold up the selector switch on the front (to the right of the lens) with your right hand, while turning the multi-function dial on the right top of the camera with your second right hand, while keeping the camera with you left hand and looking into the viewfinder to see which segment is selected! We all lack an extra right hand for doing that straight on! After some training, you’ll be capable to hold the switch with your right ring finger and turn the dial with your right thumb, but it’s awkward. Anyway, how often will you have to select a single focusing segment other than the central one? To the contrary, simple toggling between wide-area and spot AF is easier, and that’s what you’ll do usually. However, I’d rather replace the almost useless ‘hold’ switch beneath the multi-function dial with a WAF-SAF (Wide AF - Spot AF) selector. Then, a dedicated pushbutton on the front could set focus segment selection. I asked myself "What’s the use of the ‘hold’ switch?", which I never used in the ten rolls of film I exposed since mid-June. Well, I believe it’s just intended for when you ask somebody to take a picture of you. By sliding the switch to the right, you’ll prevent he or she will unintentionally either turn the dial or push the reset button on the front, thus changing your exposure settings. Sort of a foolproof protection.

go to part II