MZ-S p.IV

You won’t expect any surprise from this successful metering system, borrowed from previous MZ-series cameras. It features Pentax well-known 6-segment metering system, with no visible improvement in layout. However, it is possible that the software has been updated. In fact, from time to time my MZ-5 overexposed backlit pictures (only with flash on in bright sunlight). So far it hasn’t happened with the MZ-S, whose pictures were always perfectly exposed.

I shot some outdoor pictures of Lucia (the famous girl next door) in the shade against a well-lit background. It was in open shade in late afternoon, so that there were just a two step difference between the subject and the background, and a film (Provia 100F) much more tolerant than Velvia, maybe not enough for being the last word in comparing different meter readings. I should try a more difficult shot, but I have to finish this article and Spotmatic, don’t I?

I set aperture priority auto exposure at f/4.5 and tried center-weighted, spot, multi-segment and multi-segment with flash on. Center-weighted metering set 1/250 sec. and the subject resulted a bit underexposed, but not so bad. I’d say that center-weighted metering is more center weighted here than in older cameras. As expected, spot metering gave me a perfectly exposed subject (1/125 sec.) with overexposed background. Multi-segment metering set 1/180 shutter speed and the slides were acceptable. Multi-segment metering with flash on set 1/180 again and the flash fired balancing better the subject against the background.

Another set of pictures, closer to Lucia, gave different situation: 1/180 (center-weighted), 1/125 (spot), 1/90 (multi-segment), 1/180 (multi-segment with flash). The only wrong exposure is that with center-weighted metering, while all others are acceptable.

Somebody says that a professional camera shouldn’t have a built-in flash. I believe that if you want a professional camera without built-in flash, just leave your MZ-S flash retracted. Then, when you forget to bring your powerful pro flash with you, you can remember that hidden light source so handy, covering a field as wide as a 24mm lens. Yes, by shooting a white wall with 24mm lens you’ll see some vignetting (I’d say it covers well a 28mm angle). However, in practical use you don’t often shoot white walls, do you? For that reason I tried 24mm coverage in the field. Last July 1st, some AOHC members met at Camaldoli for the opening of the photo exhibition of Paolo Boccalini and Roberto Romano. There I shot some indoor pictures with Carlo’s SMC Pentax-FA* 24mm f/2 lens and MZ-S flash on. As you can see, the flash lighting is acceptable even with a 24mm focal length.

The autofocus system and the retractable flash work very well together. I tried shooting a cat under my car in my garage at evening, in almost complete darkness. The lens didn’t hunt and the slides turned out sharp and properly exposed. Excellent!

Then, I tried my AF500FTZ powerful flash on the MZ-S for night shots at medieval festivals in Brisighella. Perfect pictures again.

The question

The MZ-S is a costly camera; is it worth its price? Of course, everybody has to find his/her answer. I tried to tell you my impression and highlight the many pros and the few cons of this very capable camera. I bought it.