Pentax Z-1p / PZ-1p

Author: Petre, normal AmateurDate: Sun, Mar 6, '05 at 08:54 CET
Pro1. It gives you sheer pleasure to just hold the thing
2. Everything you need is right at your finger tips
3. The top display is a strike of genius not only for the early 90s, but to this very day. Nikon couldn't top it, so they copied it.
4. It allows you to use all that fantastic Pentax glass from the 70s to the present
Contra1. No battery pack available
2. Pentax's perrenial problem: inadequate auto-focus capabilities
3. Not particularly well sealed
4. Noisy shutter and rewind. Neither of the two bother me much
ThoughtsWell, after listing the pros and cons, I have to say that I simply love this camera. I love its strengths as well as its inadequacies. The noisy slap of the mirror has something old-fashionedly sweet about it. I can go on forever about the ergonomics of this camera. I have had a Nikon F4 and F5, as well as Canon 1n. Compared to the PZ-1p, they feel like grotesque monsters. OK, they are built like tanks. I don't slam my cameras on the ground and try not to rinse them with water. I don't see why a camera has to be like a block of granite in order to be considered great. The PZ-1p gives you everything you need and nothing you don't (except, perhaps, for the panorama mode, which I never needed). It gives you two wheels: one for you thumb, one for your index finger. With them you control 95% of everything the camera does. Once you set your main mode of operation (Hyper Program and Hyper Manual are my favorites), you don't have to take your eye of the viewfinder. You just wheel your way through all the possible combinations of aperture and shutter speed. It is absolutely blissful!
 
Author: Sergei, normal AmateurDate: Sat, Nov 15, '03 at 01:00 CET
Provery nice metering, easy and convenient operating, pro functions
Contranot so good viewer, only one AF sensor
Thoughtsi'm using z1p for 2 years and can say that it's a very good camera...
 
Author: Gerhard WanningerDate: not recorded
ProI have compared new Nikons and Canons but have choosen a used Z-1p instead. Just the feeling of the Pentax is a world apart. I am coming from an mechanical camera background and I will not miss the manual aperature setting.
Excellent metering (I could not believe the night shots and macro can be this gorgeous), outdated but very reliable focus, easy use.
ContraPhoto is not 100% what you see, expensive and difficult to get batteries
ThoughtsI am using it since one year, its is an amazing camera for a reasonable price. It is a pity that the new MZ-S is soo expensive.
 
Author: David RodriguesDate: not recorded
ProVery Acurate , and the optics of pentax are fabulous
Contraviewfinder
ThoughtsVery acurate , pro functions at a amateur price
 
Author: Mike KuhneDate: not recorded
ProSupior aggregate of features compared to other brands and models. The new Pentax MZ-S is nice, but it has no electronic control of aperture and cannot maintain aperture with a variable-aperture zoom lens- it must use the lens aperture ring (which can be very handy at times). The PZ-1p has both options, and many other features the new camera lacks.
ContraA fast, selective, sensitive but single-sensor AF system.
ThoughtsI would like to add my shopping experience to my report as a PZ-1p owner. In my evaluation of the other brands I found- CANON: the A2 has no precision meter scale in the viewfinder, nor does it or the Elan 7 have a separate on-off switch ( a real inconvenience for frequent luls in shooting). Neither has a lighted LCD panel for dim surroundings. The Elan 7's flash tops out at 1/125 sec and shutter speed at 1/4000 sec. The EOS 3 has no built-in flash (so convenient for fill and for quick shots), and costs a bundle for the extra fancy AF system with the light show. The metering systems did not test as accurate as the PZ-1p. the CANON IF lenses are attracive, although expensive, and others will probably make them soon. The Eye-Control focus system is unique- some like it, others find it an anoyance or unnecessary. MINOLTA Maaxum 7 and 9, 800si: very full-featured cameras, but pricy and no focus indicator for manual focusing, at least so on the 7. The 800si has no mirror lockup. NIKON: The N80 has no mirror lockup, 1/125 top flash sync, 1/4000 top shutter speed. None of the above models have manual-focus lens compatibility. With NIKON, to get a mirror lockup, one has to go to an F5 ($2,000+), lose the built-in flash, and get a heavy-style camera otherwise not needed. It is good for pros shooting such as car races with its fine AF tracking system. The F100 also has no built-in flash, nor a mirror lockup, and is quite costly. I have heard of some 3rd-party AF lens incompatibility problems with both the Maaxum 7 and Elan 7. I chose between having a fancier multi-sensor AF system and the PZ-1p's otherwise clearly superior aggregate of useful features.
 
Author: Mike KuhneDate: not recorded
ProExtremely accurate metering, extremely fast, versatile operation- the best out there. mirror lockup via 2-sec timer. Exclusive variable-output dual-flash system with built-in flash and swivel/tilt dedicated flash allows auto TTL bounce and fill for most natural results by elimminating or reducing shadows- outstanding! Exclusive instant-set and tandem-shift systems for metered manual: another outstanding feature. A scene can be spot-metered in seconds! this feature can be biased for highter shutter speeds or smaller apertures by setting a sub-program then switching to metered-manual. Exposure settings can also be transferred when switching from program to metered-manual via the IF button. The only Pentax model which can maintain aperture with a variable-aperture zoom lens when not wide open. Large, lighted LCD panel. Precision meter graph, 1/3 EV intervals, in viewfinder and LCD panel. Choice of 1 stop or 1/2 stop readouts. Choice of 1/2 or 1/3 EV settings for exposure comp, autobracket, and variable flash output. Auto slow-speed flash in low light and daylight flash sync. without need to use switch. Flash sync can be changed to any shutter speed up to 1/250 sec instantly at any time with Tv dial. Limited-mode operation for extremely fast switching of modes or regular static-mode operation to prevent accidental change or for electronic aperture control when using flash in low light while preserving selected aperture with variable-aperture zoom lens. Built-in non-obtrusive near infra-red focus assist beam for very low light conditions. Manual lens compatibility for specialty and good used lenses. Film leader in or out upon rewind. Many other fine features.
ContraNo LCD or viewfinder reminder when sub-program has been selected unless mode button is depressed. Pentax could have upgraded AF system with switchable multi-sensors and central cross-sensor. But multiple-sensors can grab onto something other than what is intended and require constant monitoring. The PZ-1p's sensor is very selective, very fast, and very sensitive in low light.
ThoughtsThe dual-flash system with bounce and fill also yields greater coverage. I have shot interiors with fine edge-to-edge coverage and with outstanding shadow reduction using a 20mm lens! I have gotten shots with this camera not possible with any other camera in the world! After careful shopping of all brands and models, after over 25 years and 4 other cameras, this has been the camera to have! It has been a couple of years of delightful shooting- a real pleasure to use.
 
Author: D. Hayden CarrDate: not recorded
ProThe metering seems to be very well balanced and is fast and easy to change from spot to matrix at the tap of your thumb.
Mid roll rewinding comes in very handy for changing speeds or color to B&W. It is also easy to pop in a mid roll..cover the lense and fire away till you get back to the point of fresh film.
Lots of personalizable (?) features and options.
Long battery life.
1/8000 shutter....!
ContraI wish Pentax had a more rounded Pro lense selection. ( and cheaper) No grip options No battery opytions Auto Focus hunting can kill a shoot!!!
ThoughtsI have had my PZ-1p for over two years now and am very pleased with the results... I start wondering if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence (Nikon's) but keep talking myself out of it. All in All - a Very Hot Camera!!!
 
Author: unknown (legacy entry)Date: not recorded
ProI am very satisfied with Pentax Z1p body I use together with both SMC Pentax 50/1,8 and Sigma 28-200/3,5-5,6 lenses. I do very appreciate the fast shutter (1/8000!!!)and the possibility of 4 frames per sec.! This is EXCELLENT in this price level!
And I also value the position of external flash hot shoe allowing to use both external and internal flash!!! Pure genius !
ContraNone
ThoughtsThe best (semi-)profi camera I have ever used!
 
Author: unknown (legacy entry)Date: not recorded
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Contra-
ThoughtsI'm upgrading from my MZ-3 and can say that I'm completely satisfied with the price/performance factor. The ergonomics on the camera beat similar class models from other makers by a mile with easy to understand displays and one-handed easy operation.

If you are a Pentax users, look no further for a better body.
 
Author: unknown (legacy entry)Date: not recorded
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Contra-
Thoughts>Of all the $450 range cameras on the market, I have to say this one is easily the best. And I was a former Canon and Nikon user. Everything you need is there, none of the slick sounding brouchure stuffers that are long on techno-hip appeal, but short on practical, thoughtful usefulness.
This camera has everything you need, in exactly the quantity you will ever need it. Even the control layout are as perfect as any I've seen, definitly superior to Canon, better than even the most recent Nikon, and better than any Minolta as well. Not just intuitive to understand, but lightning fast to operate.
 
Author: unknown (legacy entry)Date: not recorded
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Contra-
ThoughtsI've had Z1p for 3 months. Stellar performance all around. Has many excellent features (mirror lock-up, autobracketing for example) that are found on cameras costing much more. The manual exposure mode is outstanding!! The handling and ergonomics are probably the best of any camera out there. There are a few things that I wish Pentax would upgrade:
1) the autofocus (slighty dated and it "hunts" at times when it can't lock-on to something)
2) an accessory grip with other battery options (the grip-strap greatly improves handling, however it has no provision for AA batteries or a vertical shutter release)
3) Weather-proofing; I've always had great success with Pentax equipment (very reliable), and the Z1p seems very rugged (I'm a wildllfie biologist who takes this camera out everyday). However, given the caliber of camera, it would be nice if it were moisture and dust resistent.
These are only minor quibbles for one of the best thought-out cameras on the market. Highly recommended for anyone looking at the mid-pro class 35 mm SLR
 
Author: unknown (legacy entry)Date: not recorded
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Contra-
ThoughtsI've had my PZ-1p for about 6 months (upgrade from Super Program) and I love it. It has a good feel to it and has many pro features (mirror lock up, dof preview) found only on much more expensife cameras. Pentax offers a wide choice of lenses with both price and quality differences!) and there is also a wide selection of excellent 3rd party lenses. My Super Program is still working fine after 15 years. Only time will tell if the PZ-1p will last as long. I would have stayed with the older model but wanted more refined metering and a multitude of other new (but maybe not essential) features. So far, so good.