which pentax-body for manual and autofocus lenses?

I used to have a ricoh kr 10 with 3 manual lenses, and it doesn't work any more. Now i'd like to keep my lenses and to use a tamron autofocus 28-200 lense as well (a could get one from a friend). My old ricoh has a pentax K-mount I think, and the tamron is for pentax as well. What's the best body to buy now, if I want to use all these lenses? If I can't get all in one camera, i could go without the autofocus function, but what I really would like to use with all the lenses, is the exposure meter of the camera.
Does anybody have a good idea?

Assuming that price is an issue, the Super A is the best Pentax manual-focus camera with aperture and shutter priority options, and sells for £60-£80 on Ebay.

The SFX and SFXn are solid, well-made, AF cameras which go for very little money on Ebay. Their AF is often derided, but it works perfectly well in normal lighting conditions. The cameras have a full range of auto/manual exposure options.

Check before you buy however, because I have a couple of SFXs, and for some bizarre reason they don't work with one Sigma lens I have.

I'm surprised when this question arises that nobody mentions the MZ-M. a truly manual body with a lot of up to date features Although it is probably not as well manufactured and robust as other bodies (having a polycarbonate mount ring) it is great value when you compare features/cost.

The MZ-M isn't AF, and it's not IMHO as good as a Super A. It is also rare on Ebay.

From the origonal poster.

From my post.

The Super A is not auto focus either.
There are 2 MZ-M's from the UK and 1 from Oz on eBay at the moment.

The intent of my post was to highlight that you don't always have to go back to go forward, its another option the poster might want to explore. The MZ(ZX)-M is a very capable fully manual camera, has a lot of features at a very reasonable price and within the specs the origonal poster requires.

I'm certainly not knocking the MZ-M, and if there are two on Ebay, then that is definitely an opportunity to explore. As I said, my experience has been that they are rare on Ebay, compared to the other cameras I listed (1 MF and 1AF), so I didn't mention them.

I would suggest an MZ5 or MZ5n - would give you the autofocus capability but has a similar control layout to many manual Pentax bodies - superb camera with great metering and I have found to be very robust and reliable. Normally a few around on Ebay and plenty secondhand in the shops.

Hi,
Just to add my penny's worth, I would agree with George that, if budget is a consideration, the Super A gives very good value for money. they seem togo for very reasonable prices and at the same price, is perhaps a better camera than the MZM. At he end of the day Pentax introduced the MZM as a cheap entry level camera whereas the Super A was nearly top of the range. On the other hand if you want more program modes and meter options, the P50 is a well specified camera and mght be worth considering. If you do go autofocus stay away from the "crippled mount" cameras ie the MZ30/50/60 and the *ist. These tend to be the cheaper options but only have limited compatibility with manual lenses.

Regards
Kim

Oi, Kim, what are you doing agreeing with me? Thought that was against your principles.

G

It's just not fair! Nobody understands me

It's only against principles to like the Z1p or to think that digital is the best and film cameras are dead

Kim

Kim,

Everybody is permitted their little idiosyncracies, and not liking the Z1-P is yours.

As for digital being better, and film being dead; I would never argue (at this stage of the game) that digital beats film on the basis of quality. However, on the basis of cost and convenience, it beats it hands-down. That's why film is fast disappearing, and when it's no longer economical to make, it will disappear completely. It's the same as CDs versus vinyl.

Of course, if diehard film lovers are willing to pay a lot more for film than they have done in the past, and thereby make small production runs profitable, then no doubt film will continue to be made.

So, it's up to you!

My name is also Kim and I like the Z1-P.........so there, ner!

I can't see traditional film disappearing for a long time, there are loads of brand new film cameras still being produced and what about all those handy disposables that are so popular at weddings and the like?

It seems to me that we always go full circle and embrace what once went out of fashion. In the 80s and 90s, touch buttons, slide controls and black polycarbonate bodies were all the rage but we've largely gone back to 'old fashioned' dials and chrome finishes.

The dedicated 'retro' fans will demand traditional styling and functionality for many years to come, I'm sure!

Kimbo,

I do agree that disposables may keep one film type in production for a while, but you won't find disposables loaded with emulsions like Velvia.

The problem is that film production requires expensive machinery and long production runs. There will come a point where it just won't be economical to continue. Nor will it be economical for the High Street processors to keep processing film, so you will have to post them away.

In the end, it'll all be just too much hassle.

In the end, we can always process the films ourselves - in monochrome this may well be the route of choice anyway.

I don't think film is anywhere near dead yet, and in 20 years time I'm sure will still be available for those who want it. Perhaps the drop in digital sensor will have arrived ny then for our 35mm SLRs!

Don't forget that even now, if you know where to look, you can still get film isn 116, 127, 620, 828 and quite possibly othere obsolete sizes as well. And how many photographers are out there using these sizes? I suspect very few...

I use digital and film cameras and at the moment am tending back towards film, simply because of the quality. And that is not only the image quality, but also the quality of a nicely made metal camera with beautiful, silky smooth lenses.

Simply hold a Pentax...

Hi George,
We are getting a bit off the thread but I thought I would argue again so you didn't feel unloved

I agree with Kimbo, I am going to be long dead before 35mm film stocks cease. There was a tread a while ago saying Kodak were stopping 35mm film production! I suspect all it was is that they were moving production out of Europe the the East where it is cheaper. My wife wouldn't use anything other than her Pentax 110. Kodak still produce film stock for this and it is readily available in the High Street at places like Boots. How long was it since you saw 110 cameras for sale new? On a cost basis, it would seem to make sense. However, the machinery for producing "raw" is the same, it's the packaging that changes. Therefore, they would have to be a demise in medium and large format for 35mm to stop. I can't see digital being able to produce that sort of quality for some time yet

As to sending film off, for everything other than snapshots, I always use a pro lab and send off anyway. For snap shots, I mail because the "bulk" labs are so much cheaper. I normally get the results within a week and don't find this a hassle. I find it more of a hassle spending hours in front of a computer sorting out digital images!!

As to the economics, digital is gaining ground but go to any public event and by far the largest majority of cameras being used are film. And as to vinyl, it's coming back. Many of the high street retailers are starting to sell a new generation of record player that plugs into your midi/micro system/boombox!!!

Kim