Fair price for an MZS

Hello all. I've had an MZS since 2003 that I have only used very rarely. I think I've used about 12 films with it because I tended to use my Z1 then got an *istD. With so little use it is in very good condition so I am thinking of selling it, probably on Ebay. Any ideas on a fair buy it now price would be helpful.

Thanks
Carl

£299 - £349 depending on condition, boxed or not, and accessories. I also have a little used MZ-S, but I've decided to keep it for a while yet.

Why do you prefer using your Z1 instead of the MZ-S?

Coz it's a better camera?

G

Thanks for the answer. I thought I would be lucky to get £100 with the way things are now which wouldn't be worth selling it. I do like it but I want to buy the new 16-50 DA* lens for my Dslr's so some stuff has to go.

It is in very good condition. It's just the body with data back, boxed and with all caps etc.

I find that using the MZS is not as intuitive as the Z1. I prefer the shape of the MZS but I don't like the grip which I find doesn't suit my hands. I like that the controls for different settings are all on the body with the MZs but it only takes a few minutes to work out how to get at the settings for the Z1 then they become second nature. I wish that the Z1 had the AF system of the MZs but the controls for it are in a stupid place (in my opinion) and I tend to just use the central sensor with my other cameras so I suppose I am not really missing anything with the Z1. I just found that when I wanted to use a film camera instead of digital the Z1 was the one I went for, well still do.

Carl

Thanks oh wise one. I am much enlightened. At least, I think I ought to be.

I was recently offered £200.00 by a dealer for mine, sight unseen. Another forum member recently sold an MZ-S + grip on ebay for around £375.00 - I sold a body for the same money about 12 months ago.

I would set a reserve. It's better for it to remain unsold rather than it go for peanuts, as sometimes happens on auction sites. You'd take a bit of a hit on the fees, but you still keep your camera. If you do put it on ebay, wait until there are no others being sold at the same time.

Thanks for your Z1 v MZ-S explanation.

Actually, it IS a better camera in some ways. It's got a better spec (higher flash sync, faster winder, better M/K lens compatibility, etc.) and of course it has hyper-program and hyper-manual, which have sensibly been re-introduced on the *istD and K10D.

The MZ-S is more robust, and more Pentax-like, but apart from superior flash features, it offers less.

G

George,

Thanks for the education.

There was also a Z1-P, is that model very different to the Z1?

That was an era of Pentax cameras that I missed. I was always happy with my Super-A and by the time it finally died, the DSLR's were with us and I bought the DS. Very soon I replaced that with a D and bought an MZ-6 for film. That went to my son when I bought the MZ-S. All in all I missed quite a few Pentax bodies.

That said, the life cycle of the older cameras was measured in 10's of years rather than the 3 or 4 years of modern DSLR's. By that I mean there is more compulsion/desire to upgrade to a newer DSLR much sooner than there ever was to change a film camera (IMHO).

Regards,

George I am curious, as I understand it both the MZ-S and Z1 have aperture ring couplers, what more could you want in M/K series compatibility?

I never had an MZ-S, but as I understand it, (and I might be wrong), you had to set the aperture on the lens, rather than from the body. The Z1/Z1-P gave you the choice of setting it from the body or on the lens. This was essential for using the hyper modes.

Also, the Z1/Z1-P made full use of power zoom, for those who liked them.

G

yeah but no matter what body you have you can't set the aperture from the body with a K or M series lens, since the stop down mechanism is proportional to radius and not area on those lenses. Also the camera has no way to know the maximum aperture.

Since the topic of this thread seems o be heading towards comparing different film bodies anyway...

My MZ50 is dying a slow death - repeated intermittent problems (perhaps due to one of the many drops etc. over the years...)

I do want to replace it, but thought I'd ask for recommendations... I want a body that can handle my manual as well as AF lenses, and one that could work with lenses with Aperture rings being used (non FAJ, if I understand it correctly... although none of my lenses don't have 'A' settings, I've been looking at some screw-mount Taks at the local pawn shop...

BUT, I also want to be able to hand it to my wife (a technophobe) and have it work in full auto-everything - "Dummy mode" she calls it.

So what should I get ?

MZ5, MZ5n, MZ3.

MZ-6 adds wireless P-TTL flash.

Z-1p had an improved AF system compared to the Z-1.. plus it had mirror lockup which I think the Z-1 lacks....

I have Z-1, Z-1p and MZ-S....the one I trust most is the Z-1p, the MZ-S I have to slow down when using it, but that isn't a bad thing because it does force you to think sometimes. The Z-1 is showing it's age and is the one I take to the exotic places (and it's the easiest to replace)....

Shouldn't think you'd have any problems selling the MZ-S, it took me a long while to track one down.

Peter