Pentax MZ 50

...had used until then (a Pentax P30): it had accompanied me from my beginnings in this world (if the Polaroid and children machines are excluded), helping me to learn and with results always very good. That is to say that went for another Pentax (this is called fidelity to a brand)

I looked at the market offer (between my budget,) in specialized stores, big chains, Internet... I made myself this way an idea of the prices (of all the ...
...I was not recommended a Pentax but a Canon, but like I am stubborn person I went on and I bought myself this Pentax MZ-50. I got it by Dixon (there were in sales during that time). And the places where you can inform yourself better, to see, to play and to prove are usually the most expensive, but nobody prevents you to get the information in that way although then you don't buy there. Inside the range I was interested, this was the one that had ... more

Some months ago I had to buy myself a new camera because the previous one was stolen.

At the beginning, I thought of going to the second hand market and buying a classic model (and who knows, perhaps to find “my” camera), but at the end I had my boyfriend convincing me to give a vote of trust to the modern technique and to choose something more up to date. Although some time will pass before I opt for a digital camera.

I am not a professional photographer, not even an advanced fan, but I like to be able to take the picture that I want, not the one that decides the machine. That is to say, I need control: that what I am focusing is exactly what appears in the picture, to decide the aperture and the speed to which I want to take it. Therefore a compact camera is of no use to me and I want a réflex camera

I was very happy with the one that I had used until then (a Pentax P30): it had accompanied me from my beginnings in this world (if the Polaroid and children machines are excluded), helping me to learn and with results always very good. That is to say that went for another Pentax (this is called fidelity to a brand)

I looked at the market offer (between my budget,) in specialized stores, big chains, Internet... I made myself this way an idea of the prices (of all the makes and models, yes) and of what I could expect to buy. I was not recommended a Pentax but a Canon, but like I am stubborn person I went on and I bought myself this Pentax MZ-50. I got it by Dixon (there were in sales during that time). And the places where you can inform yourself better, to see, to play and to prove are usually the most expensive, but nobody prevents you to get the information in that way although then you don't buy there. Inside the range I was interested, this was the one that had the more adjusted price

And we go now with the camera. I have already taken enough pictures under all the conditions to have got a general idea. And I will begin with the defects:

* The incorporated flash is not very potent: it is worth for the typical and not very difficult pictures: it would need an external flash to improve.

* The colours: although the definition of the pictures is perfect, the colours are not as good as they should. I am speaking of an ideal, but it is one that this camera doesn't reach. I always thought that this it was a matter more of the printing and of the film that of the own camera, but I have made tests making the same pictures with my sister's camera, same film and laboratory, and I have the results visible. It is not a very big difference, but there is. Of course, in poor conditions of light it can be flash blame, but in others I am not very sure of what happens.

The autofocus: this more than a defect it may be my obsession. Although you can force it to focus what you want, it will always be easier (for me, at least), to focus by hand what you decide (not what the camera thinks that it is more important). Although I am aware that it is more practical for very quick pictures or when you leave the machine to somebody else to take a picture.

As advantages, I have to admit that I like the camera in general, it is very flexible and easy of using and the pictures that are obtained are of quite good quality; a great sharpness. It has enough possibilities, from completely automatic with programs for portraits, action pictures, landscapes or close-up until totally manual, going by priority to opening or speed. More or less a standard right now, but it doesn't lack anything.

Besides the flash (with red eyes reduction) that I have already indicated, it incorporates a small motor that advances the pictures and it rewinds automatically at the end of the film (or from the point you want). This motor also facilitates to take out several consecutive pictures (there is a switch for it) although the speed you could not consider it professional. And of course you also have the possibility to incorporate yourself to your pictures. Or to leave open the objective the whole time that you need (well, up to 8 hours): those pictures of starred landscapes in the night or spectacular storms.

You can also compensate the exhibition, and in short, that whole type of things that they are sometimes necessary, it is totally versatile (here, there is not any failure at all)

The weight is much slighter of what I was accustomed to (I prefer not to think of the reasons), and the size a little more reduced, what converts it in very easy of carrying.

The objective that came incorporated was of 35-80 and they offered a package that also included a tele 80-200 to a reasonable price (that perhaps I don’t use very often, but if for those one or two pictures of each film that you find it indispensable). Perhaps if it had not been for this offer I would have opted for a different combination.

And if I say that the speeds go from 30 seconds (here it is a little short another time) up to 1/2000 I can end up and I believe that you will have made yourselves a clear idea of my camera.

Do I give him 3 * or 4 *? I will be good...

 

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