MZ s woes

I bought my MZs in May last year, over winiter the film advance got very noisy, then in March the autofocus packed up intermittently. I retutned it to Pentax via my retailer with a letter explaining both faults.

Camera came back in a few weeks with quiet film advance but AF problem not fixed. I returned it to Pentax with an explanatory letter.

After a few more weeks they sent me a replacement refurbished body, apparantly unable to fix the original, I recieved it this morning by special delivery. After a few test shots without film mirror locks up after avery shot and "Err" displayed on LCD (reset by removing and replacing battteries)

I will call Pentax again on Tue to complain and seek a way forward (Hopefully my 12 month warrenty expiring whie body at Pentax for 2nd time won't be a problem)

Is the Pentax MZs inherently reliable or have I just had bad luck?

I am worried about future reliability if Pentax can only now supply refurbished bodies. I would be much happier if I could get a new Pentax AF body having invested in a Pentax 24-90 and Sigma EX 100-300 lenses: £1000 of worthless glass without a decent AF body (No I don't want to go digital)

Any comments, suggestions or shared experience would be much appreciated

I think you've been unlucky. The MZS doesn't have a bad reputation for reliability. However, you're going to have to go digital sooner or later, so why not get Pentax to give you a new *ist D?
G

Hi,
I have had an MZ-S for a while now with no problems. I think you have just been unlucky. I would press for a "new" replacement. There are always the odd rogue body and I wonder why the body they sent you was "refurbished". This probably means it had a fault in the first place. I am sure when you get a working replacement that you will be delighted. I also have a "D" but despite what many people may say, the future may be all digital but not for a while yet.

Kim

Kim,
Do you do your own processing? Printing in particular.
George

Pentax called me this morning, offered to send me a new DS body or send my MZs to Germany for further investigation/repair. If I downgrade to the DS I will have to fork out £300+ for a 16-45 lens (plus other bits and pieces).
I will make up my mind today, but probably ask then to persevere with the MZs

Kevin

Hi George,
I have down a lot of B&W and used to do my own E6. If I want a print in extra short order, I can use the D and run a print off. For other work I am never in that much of a hurry.

Kim

Hi Kevin...

Your problems struck a chord with me - I had a problem with one of my MZ-S's earlier this year and guess what the prob was - noisy and unreliable film transport! Went back via my dealer and was back with me 6 weeks later (after waiting for parts). Everything appears to be fine now and it's had 50 odd rolls of film thru it since returning to me...

Will