More Viewfinder Opinions
Chris, Among the models you've named, my experience is limited to Super Programs. But I can tell you the magnification of certain models: MZ-M: 0.77X MZ-5: 0.78X (I think) PZ-1P: 0.8X Super Program: 0.82X Program Plus: 0.82X KX: 0.88X LX with FA-1 finder: 0.9X ME Super: 0.95X MX: 0.95X (0.97X?) ME: 0.97X LX/FF-1 finder: 1.05X LX/FE-1 Magni-Finder: 1.35X PDMLer Mark McMaster has written: "The view through the FE-1 is so huge, you'd almost think you were looking at a medium-format screen." I assume the Magni-Finder is the same as the Sports Finder, which reportedly offers the largest viewfinder in the Pentax line. There are other considerations, of course, such as screen brightness, matte texture, and what not. For nonbright lenses like f/5.6 telephotos, you may be better served by a viewfinder that has no rangefinder patch. The ME Super is available in two versions; horizontally split rangefinder and 45-degree split RF. One site says that the ME has perhaps the best viewfinder of any manual-focus SLR ever made. Yoshi has written (Feb. 2, 2000): "Considering easiness of focus, I rate the viewfinders of K-mount bodies I have ever tried as below: KX, MX, PZ1-P, ME Super, MZ-10 KM, ME, Ricoh XR-8 Super, MZ-3, LX, MZ-M K1000, MV-1 (KR-III), ZX-5n, MG I have never tried A-series nor SF series bodies. I feel very easy to focus even 50mm f/1.2 lens with K series bodies. I feel slightly hard to focus 50/1.2 lens with LX." Paul Franklin Stregevsky 13 Selby Court Poolesville, Maryland 20837-2410 [EMAIL PROTECTED] H (301) 349-5243 - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: More Viewfinder Opinions
Until recently, the only 35mm slr's I used were Spots. I didn't think of them as dim - until I got the MX! I really noticed it this weekend, taking flash piccies of a daughter's birthday party, in a dim room, with one of my Spotties. It was so dim, it was hard to focus. I wished I had colour film in the MX! I don't know about ME's, but I have a non-working MV, and the MX is a bit brighter than that. Not as noticeable a difference as with the Spot, but it seems to be there. FWIW... regards, frank Alan Chan wrote: > The MX has among the highest magnificant. With a bright screen from the new > LX, there's nothing can compare. > -- "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: More Viewfinder Opinions
>Among the later Pentax manual focus bodies, can folks compare the various >viewfinders? I'm looking at the P3, Super Program, Program Plus, ME Super, >and MX. Are all these real pentaprisms? May I assume these are all better >than my MZ-5 (which is practically useless for MF). They all have pentaprisms, and they all have better viewfinders than any MZ/ZX bodies (including the MZ-S's viewfinder which is too damn small). >For comparrisons sake, I own a Spotmatic, K1000, ME, and MZ-5. I have a >motley collection of (mostly MF with a few AF) lenses. > >I picked up a beat up ME on a whim and the VF blew me away for all my >manual focus lenses! The size and handling! I must have MORE! I'm 'gonna >leave the screwmount adapter on that old one. > >Is the MX any better than the ME? Are the program cameras as good as or >worse? The MX has among the highest magnificant. With a bright screen from the new LX, there's nothing can compare. But even with the old screen (that I use), it's still pretty good with fast primes. One thing to remember is, a good quality viewfinder can appear dark due to an old dark screen. Super A/Program is a good example. regards, Alan Chan _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
