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PENTAX MZ-7
Pro 35mm SLR Film Camera
The Pentax MZ-7 is a light wait heavy-duty automatic 35mil still camera with fully manual functions if you would desire it so. With the Pentax MZ-7, Pentax provide all the lovely automatic functions found on all the MZ models (except the MZ-N) the frame of the camera is a mix of plastic and metal, which makes the camera quite durable in ruff as well as preserved environments. It is the perfect 35-mil camera for Students, Amateur and Professionals or throws who just wants to take well exposed pictures without worrying to much about exposure settings. The double exposures is also a very lovely creative contribute. If you are looking to buy an automatic 35 mil, with all the traditional features and a professional touch the MZ-7 will certainly pull its wait without pulling to out of your pocket.
*This Camera is sold as spares or repair. The film winder engine is not working. Good cosmetic condition*
Physical Attributes. The camera is particularly compact, with a protruding rubberized grip for convenient holding. This is a polycarbonate body, but the lens mount, film guide rails, and pressure plate are made of metal, giving Pentax an edge over some competitors. In order to reduce weight, size, and price, a penta mirror type viewfinder is used, instead of an all glass prism. (This is becoming common in the industry.) Thanks to a new type of focusing screen, the view is surprisingly bright and contrasty. The large selector dial allows even the novice to begin using this camera without reading the instruction manual. Other manufacturers use a similar control, but this one has an advantage: whenever a Program mode is selected, the pertinent symbol on the dial is illuminated, very useful in low light. Pentax should be congratulated for including this amenity. I hope that subsequent cameras will offer illumination for the other symbols on the dial, too, making their functions easier to select in the dark. Yes, there are a few buttons as well but all are extremely well marked with logical symbols and ideally located. (Apertures are selected with the ring on the lens, but only in Manual mode.) Both data panels provide plenty of useful information and are illuminated in low light. | | The wide area autofocus sensor allows for off-center compositions instantly. Since the point in sharpest focus is not indicated by a signal, do check the viewing screen carefully when critical focus is important. (FA* 80-200mm f/2.8ED; AF 500 FTZ flash; f/11 in Aperture Priority AE; Fujichrome Sensia II 100. |
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The built-in TTL flash pops up automatically when needed in Program modes, if the flash mode is set to "Auto." In bright light, the head can be manually raised and forced to fire in Program modes--for fill flash. Though not powerful, such heads are fine for fill-in flash with a nearby subject: e.g., to soften shadows cast by a hat. I recommend ISO 400 film with "slow" zoom lenses for an effective "reach" up to 13' at f/5.6 indoors, and far greater outdoors in bright light.
Primary Capabilities. While the Specs lists all ZX-7 features, let's consider the most important of these and their performance in actual photographic situations. | | Though not a true "panoramic" effect, the stretch format can be useful for excluding distracting elements in any scene. It's not simply for landscapes and it can be equally useful in vertical compositions. (FA* 80-200mm f/2.8ED; Sports Program; Fuji Superia 200.) |
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o The seven Program modes make this a camera that anyone can operate. Simply turn it on and rotate the large selector dial to the symbol that represents the subject type. Surprisingly, however, Continuous film advance in Sports Program must be manually selected by pressing a button. o The [Auto Pict] setting on the dial is used to access an "intelligent" system that automatically selects the most appropriate Program mode for the type of subject encountered. Frankly, the system is not foolproof in its determination process; personal choice of a specific Program offered a more predictable combination of aperture/shutter speed. o Automatic fill-in flash--balanced with ambient light--is provided in bright conditions with the built-in head or an accessory flash. With slide film, I found the output a bit excessive; if you shoot negative film, the lab can simply print the images slightly darker. Surprisingly, flash will fire even in the Sports and Landscape mode when set for "Auto" operation. In these situations, the small unit is unlikely to be of any value, so set another flash mode. In the Manual and Aperture, or Shutter-Priority AE mode, the head never pops up automatically but can be manually raised and will fire for every exposure, a highly suitable arrangement. o The only metering option is six-segment "multi-pattern," adequate for a camera of this type. It is surprisingly successful with light-toned subjects and in moderate backlighting, often preventing underexposure, a real benefit with slide film. Overall however, the meter is optimized for color print film, a wise precaution because that is what most ZX-7 owners will shoot. The multi-segment system produced printable negatives in 95 percent of test situations. It tends to slightly overexpose mid-tone scenes, because print film definitely benefits from this strategy: shedding grain and increasing color saturation. In quick shooting with slide film, I found an exposure compensation factor of -0.5 to be useful with scenes of "average" reflectance. |
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| Technical Specifications
Type: 35mm autofocus SLR with KAF bayonet mount; also accepts KAF2, KA, and K-mount lenses; autofocus possible with KA-and K-mount lenses with AF adapter; does not operate power zoom lenses
Shutter: Electronically controlled vertical run focal plane shutter; 1/2000-30 sec speeds, and Bulb in Manual mode; flash synch at 30 sec to 1/100 sec and Bulb
Focusing System: TTL phase matching three point (wide area) AF; single shot AF with AF Lock and Continuous predictive focus, automatically activated; manual focus with confirmation signal; AF detection range EV -1 to EV 18 (ISO 100 at f/1.4)
Viewfinder: Penta mirror type; 92 percent field of view; 0.7x magnification; fixed bright matte focusing screen; rubber eyecup provided; mechanical blackout type panorama frame selectable
Exposure Control: Six-segment TTL metering coupled with lens and focus info; range: EV 0 to EV 21 (at ISO 100 and f/1.4); exposure compensation selectable, +/-3 EV (1/2 EV steps); AE Lock; f/stops and shutter speeds selectable in half step increments
Operating Modes: Metered manual, Aperture and Shutter Priority AE, seven Programs
Flash: Retractable pop-up TTL head with 28mm coverage; GN 11; slow synch and automatic daylight synch; discharge level automatically adjusted; redeye reduction mode selectable
Data Panels: Full information viewfinder panel (nine items) and external LCD panel (15 items)
Film Handling: Motorized advance and rewind (mid roll rewind possible); single shot or continuous (to 2 fps) advance; DX code reader (ISO 25-5000); manual film speed setting (ISO 6-6400)
Other: Self-timer; multiple exposure; cancelable beeper; accepts electronic cable release and infrared remote controller; optional Data Back FG
Dimensions And Weight: 5.3x3.6 x2.5"; 13.9 oz (135.5x 92x63.5mm; 395 g) Power Source: Two 3v lithium batteries (CR2 type) or four AA with optional battery pack FG |
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