mz-m and lens questions

Hello, I'm just venturing into the world of 35mm. Studying photography at uni and we are about to crack on with developing our own stuff etc. So I thought it was about time to buy my own 35m. Due to a distinct lack of funds, I couldn't by anything too hot. Fancied the look of the lx but sadly my money only stretched as far as an mz-m.

So I've a few things I would like to ask about. First what’s the general consensus of the mz-m? Will it work with the pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Zoom Lens or is this just madness? What would be a good lens to use? Is the mount on the K10d the same?

Sorry loads of easy questions.

Thanks for any help!

Since the MZm is a manual focus camera your best bet is to stick with K or KA mount lenses. Forget the 18-55 it wont work.

Pentax "K" mounts are the same, the only variation is electrical contacts, AF drives and aperture actuation levers, any Pentax lens will physically fit any Pentax body, but it might not work fully or even work at all. Pentax bodies are usually backwards compatable with older lenses, this is not true the other way round so using a modern lens on an old body may cause problems.

All the information you need about what works with what is here:

link

Using the 18-55mm on a film camera isn't such as good idea as it is only designed to cover the area of the APS-C sized sensor. At wider apertures and wider angles you could expect some vignetting. The lack of an aperture ring would also be very restrictive, although Program and Shutter Priority modes could be expected to work OK.

See this link

It shows some examples.

I have an MZ-M, and can heartily recommend it. You get aperture priority and shutter priority auto, with A lenses, and metered manual mode. - Basically, it's an MZ-5N, without autofocus or built in flash.
It feels a bit light and flimsy at first, but if you also buy the FG battery pack, it adds a bit of bulk and weight, and allows you to use easily available and cheap AA batteries.
As the distinguished Gents, above have said; A series lenses are best.

MZ-M bodies can be had for around £15 to £25 on ebay. Another £10-15 for an FG grip. - 'A' series lenses are becoming rather expensive now, though.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the help! Decided to get myself a PENTAX-A 50mm f2 lens, keeps the budget down and seems to be a relatively basic lens which is all I’m looking for at the moment. Looking forward so the arrival of both items to I can get this new project under way.

Thanks again.

Have used the MZ-M for some years now. It is a fine camera. In addition to the manual, shutter priority and aperture priority modes mentioned above it can also work in fully programmed mode.

So whatever you want you have it.

The metering mode for FA-,F-, or A series lenses is multi-segment, for M series, screw mount, or any other lenses with no info contacts on them the metering is centre-weighted.