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

the pentax UK's website no longer shows the excellent 24-90 AF zoom, also no more 50mm primes

To me it looks like they are running down stocks of lenses suited to 35mm; zero commitment to support 35mm

Now I wish I had bought an EOS3 instead of my MZs (which is now in for repair)

any more news of when and how much?

Sorry that was me (Vivitar S1, forgot to log in)

vigorous pressing and releasing shutter button (without winding on) may clear electrcial contacts- worked for me. But I also had to rewire meter - battery circuit due to corrosion when camera got splashed by the sea

Wouldn't like to try that mwith my MZs, but nice to have the MX as a backup

Good luck

Kevin

there are some user reviews here:

http://www.photographyreview.com/35mm,Zoom/Pentax/PRD_83562_3128crx.aspx

Personally I would want a standard (ie not distorted WA zoom before getting a fisheye)

also autofocus is less critical on WA lenses so second hand Pentax K mount 28mm and 35mm are good buys?

I am going to send my MZs to pentax via dealer under warreny to get a grinding noise furing film advance/rewind checked out-fixed. Apart from this thecamera works fine for now.

I don't want to be without it for too long.

Has anyone recent experience of Pentax Service's typical turn round time?

Thanks

Kevin

congratulations on the second hand prices John and Kim found for the 20mm f4 and f2.8

After trawling the net and AP the best i have found recently is Nichols in London, asking £345 for the f4 and £425 for the f2.8.

I guess these rarer lenses will continue to rise in price.

Also found a second hand FA 20/2.8 at £399, better lock up my credit card now!

I've not seen any 20mm f4 for sale second hand, how much do they go for?

The current FA 20mm f2.8 seems extortionate at 600 GBP! I can't understand why/how Pentax can charge so much for this.

I will probably get a Sigma EX 20mm f1.8 for around £250
I can anticipate the howls of protest from those who tar all sima lenses with the same brush as their cheaper zooms, but i would be surprised to see 350 GBP of difference between 5400 dpi scans of trannies from the two lenses.

Kevin

Alternatively the focussing screen may have become displaced (it is interchangeable on the MX)