Pentax MZ-5
| File:Pentax MZ-5 SLR.jpg Pentax MZ-5 (ZX-5) film SLR camera | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | Single-lens reflex camera |
| Lens | |
| Lens | Interchangeable Pentax KAF2 mount |
| Sensor/medium | |
| ASA/ISO range | ISO 25–5000 with DX code reading, 6–6400 manually set, 1⁄2 EV steps compensation |
| Recording medium | 135 film |
| Film advance | Automatic |
| Exposure/metering | |
| Exposure modes | Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual manual, Bulb |
| Exposure metering | 6 segment TTL, 0 to 21 EV range |
| Metering modes | Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot |
| Flash | |
| Flash | Onboard pop-up TTL flash; hot shoe, 1/100 s X-sync speed |
| Shutter | |
| Shutter speed range | 1/2000 – 30 s, Bulb |
| Continuous shooting | 2 fps with automatic rewind |
| Viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder | Pentamirror |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.8× |
| Frame coverage | 92% |
| General | |
| Battery | 2 × CR2 |
| Dimensions | 137×91×63 mm |
| Weight | With battery: 425 g (15.0 oz) Without battery: 405 g (14.3 oz) |
| Released | 1995 |
Search Pentax MZ-5 on Amazon. The Pentax MZ-5 (released as the ZX-5 in the US market) was an advanced midrange 35mm single-lens reflex camera from Pentax of Japan. It was released in 1995 as the world's smallest autofocus SLR.[1]. Instead of the menu systems of the SF and PZ series cameras, it returned to the pre-autofocus SLR style of dedicated control dials for the exposure settings[2].
It was replaced by the updated MZ-5n in 1997[3]
Design
Unlike high end offerings from Pentax, this model used a plastic construction[2]. Many of the internal components were also plastic which has contributed to longevity issues with some examples. Users report issues with plastic gears in the mirror mechanism stripping and making the camera unusable, as well as issues with the pop up flash spring becoming disconnected[4].
Despite the shortcomings of the plastic contruction users report that the camera feels robust and reasonably heavy. It also retains the metal lens mount, omitted from lower end Pentax models. Diopter adjustment is available through a slider directly above the viewfinder window, with the panoramic mode selector available beside it[5].
An optional date back was available, being compatible with other MZ series cameras, however some models are now beyond the latest date setting available[4].
Use
The top dials allow for the setting of exposure compensation and shutter speed, with aperture being set via the ring on the lens[6]. Aperture and shutter speed dials both featured an automatic "A" setting allowing that setting to be set by the cameras onboard logic[7]. Individual modes were set through the following combinations.
| Aperture value selected | Aperture "A" selected | |
| Shutter value selected | Manual exposure | Aperture priority |
| Shutter "A" selected | Shutter priority | Program exposure |
Film speed was set automatically by DX encoding on the film canister[8], but the user could override this by setting the left control dial to "ISO" and using the Spot AF button to cycle through the available options[9]. Mid role exposure compensation is done through the compensation dial. ½ EV stop adjustments are available from +3 to -3 stops[2].
The camera focuses via 3 AF sensors, auto focusing from -1 to 18 EV. No focusing screen aids are provided though the camera will do focus confirmation with manual focus lenses[5]. Film advance is automatic with either single shot, continuous drive or self timer options.
Pentax also included a panoramic photo mode. Unlike a true 35mm panorama, this operated by dropping a mask in front of the film to crop the recorded image into a panoramic form factor. Masks in the viewfinder also move when the mode is selected, showing the user the recorded area[10]
See also
Template:Pentax K-mount film SLR cameras
References
- ↑ "Pentax History Archives". Ricoh Imaging. Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Pentax MZ-5". ISO3200.org.
- ↑ "Pentax MZ‑5n announced March 1997". Lens‑DB.com. Lens‑DB. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 D, Alan (20 March 2019). "A SLR for 99p? – Pentax MZ-5/ZX-5 Technical Review". Canny Cameras (AusterityPhoto).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Pentax MZ-5 / ZX-5 35 mm Film Camera Review". 50mmF2. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ Pentax MZ-5 / ZX-5 Operating Manual, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., Japan, 1996, p. 6.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pentax MZ-5 / ZX-5 Operating Manual, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., Japan, 1996, p. 55-61.
- ↑ Pentax MZ-5 / ZX-5 Operating Manual, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., Japan, 1996, p. 20.
- ↑ Pentax MZ-5 / ZX-5 Operating Manual, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., Japan, 1996, p. 76.
- ↑ Aitken, Andy (September 1996). "The Pentax MZ‑5 (review)". Photon. Icon Publications. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
“Pentax have continued … by including a panoramic switch. This works simply by blading down the film gate and focusing screen to around 36 × 13 mm.”
This article "Pentax MZ-5" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Pentax MZ-5. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
