Pentax ZX-L /MZ-6

TriggerFinger

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $180.00 from ebay

Summary:
Very easy to use 35mm camera with all the features I need. Takes good pictures in point and shoot mode as well as in manual. Autofocus is fast and smooth and I have tried it in low light situations too. Sometimes it hunts a little but not more than any other cameras I don't think.

Strengths:
1/4000 shutter speed, user friendly, lightweight, well built, very good battery life, compatible with old manual focus K-mount lenses.

Weaknesses:
Pop up flash is weak but so are all others. I recomend buying an external flash if you plan on using flash alot.

Similar Products Used:
Pentax MG, Fujica stx-1.

Customer Service:
Never needed.

macinyourface

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
3 votes

Price Paid:  $189.00 from adorama

Summary:
I bought the zx-L to compliment my zx-m for situations where autofocus was necessary. I mainly use it on manual or Av/Tv modes. Overall, it's a good camera for the price one pays. Meter works quite well but on occasions it did tend to over-expose by 1/2 to 1 stop. Handling of the camera is not bad but I do have the additional AA Battery grip for more comfort (I have long fingers).

Strengths:
Build quality very good Attractive pricing (currently)

Weaknesses:
No CenterWeight Metering 3-point Autofocus (Not enough auto-focus points)

Similar Products Used:
Pentax ZX-M Pentax 50mm A 2.0 Pentax 50mm FA 1.4 Pentax 135mm M 3.5 Vivitar 28mm A 2.8 Sigma 28-70 2.8-4.0

bobinarabia

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Jeddah, Arabia

Summary:
This camera has worked flawlessly and intuitively since I bought it. I have used it with an advanced Pentax flash and several lenses without problems. Very satisfied with the results. I wear glass and the viewfinder has been bright enough for me.

Strengths:
Uses all Pentax lenses. Autofocus indicator light works with non-Autofocus lenses.

Weaknesses:
Lack of mirror lock up is not a weakness since I knew that before I purchased it.

Similar Products Used:
Pentax MZ-5. This camera feels better to me.

Customer Service:
No need.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $239.00 from San Jose Camera & Vi

Summary:
Outstanding camera for the price and intended market segment! Best of all other entry level SLRs with no question. I have owned the ZX-M, ZX-5n, MZ-3, and now the ZX-L. It only gets better folks! The ZX-L has the features and utility of cameras costing nearly twice its price and the quality is all there to boot. More advanced than the ZX-5n and MZ-3 with 1/4000-30 sec manual speed, electro-coupled aperture (no need to set the aperture on the lens any more), AF and AE Lock together with PF-6, spot meter (PF-5), and lots of other advanced features. At the same time, the Auto-Picture mode allows anyone with one eye and an index finger to make awesome pictures. Combine this innexpensive body with a Pentax FA 50mm and a Pentax FA 24-90mm and I dare you to find a more capable travel setup for under $1000. I know! I am a professional photographer with a ton of PRO Canon gear. You know what? I will never give up my Pentax ZX cameras and FA lenses because nothing comes close to them in image quality, ease of use, portability, and price. The ZX-L only makes things better!

Strengths:
1/4000-30sec and 1/125 x-Sync for just over $200. AE and AF Lock together (with custom function PF-6). Small size, light weight, easy to use, and advanced features you rarely find combined and certainly not for this price.

Weaknesses:
Mirror lock? It seems that's the only thing missing... Really! User's manual poorly writen.

Similar Products Used:
Numerous SLRs from Canon, Minolta, and Pentax over the last 20 years, that are too many to list.

Customer Service:
Never needed it so I really don't know.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $240.00 from YM Camera

Summary:
The Pentax ZX-L is a capable camera with many features however, it is not an intuitive machine. It's biggest problem is its DARK viewfinder even with a fast 1.4 lens. I wish i would have opted for the slightly more espensive *ist body. The batter pack FG is a must for this camera although it lacks a vertical shutter release although is is quite comfortable vertically if you use your thumb to trip the shutter. The camera has needs a mode dial to switch between its three metering paterns(spot, centerweighted and evaluative), it needs a dial instead of a toggle for selecting shutter/aperture, a camera with this feature set should have mirror lock up and superimposed AF points, and the auto bracketing only goes to + or - 1 stop! great for slides but one stop bracketing is not enough for print film. A decent top sync(1/125), custom functions, great rubber grip, advanced flash support, custom functions(including leaving the leader out), depth of field preview and compatability with a billion SMC lenses and other PK lenses make this camera a good deal but i would recomend steping up to the *ist. i am going to buy one and bump the ZX-L to a capable back up body.

Strengths:
Huge lens compatability, Good feel/grip, 1/4000 top shutter, Advanced flash support, 3 meters, GREAT light up LCD, Custom functions and a reasonable price.

Weaknesses:
Dark Viewfinder(non replacable focusing screen), only +-1stop autobracket, toggle instead of dial for shutter/aperture change, no dial to select between available center, spot and evaluative metering, no superimposed AF indicator, no shutter realese on battery pack FG, no Flexible Program Mode.

Similar Products Used:
Canon EOS 3, Elan 7, Elan IIe, A2, Rebel 2000, Rebel G, Pentax ME Super, ME.

Customer Service:
The camera came with a 5 Year Pentax Warranty but i have not needed service so far.