2000: Pentax PZ-1p
The PZ-1p is Pentax's current top of the line 35mm SLR. It's been that since 1996, despite the 'imminent' arrival of a new pro body. It's an evolution of the PZ-1 which was introduced to the line-up in 1991. I got mine second hand in 1999 and have no manual. As a consequence, some of the stuff below, which I've figured out may be wrong. If you know better, or actually have a manual for this little beastie, feel free to contact me at webmaster[AT]diaspoir.net with further info or offers of manuals for sale, etc.
2001: update - I now have a manual, but haven't updated this page (well, apart from this paragraph, of course).
I tend to buy most of my camera stuff second hand and usually get no manuals. Sometimes you can find sufficient information on the WWW to render the manual obsolete, but sometimes not. I'd like to do my bit for users of the PZ-1p and have a page of useful information on what the various functions do, what the more esoteric features are and maybe some tips and tricks.
Features
Autofocus, SAFOX I, quite old now and rather slow.
8-segment metering, matrix, centre-weighted and spot.
Electronic Shutter from 1/8000 to 30", stepless plus B. Flash sync at 1/250.
On-Camera Flash which can be turned down. Second-curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Offset Hot-Shoe on the right hand side.
For natural looking fill in flash, set the second curtain sync on and stop the flash down 1.7 stops. This avoids the washed out look.
Exposure Modes:
- M - Manual
- P - Program mode, the correct exposure is chosen based on one of four programs stored in memory: normal, depth-of-field, high-speed, mtf-data. The program is chosen by rotating the thumb wheel with the function wheel at 'Mode'
- A - Automatic, either aperture or shutter priority
- HyP - Hyper Program, adjust either shutter or aperture, the other adjusts to give correct exposure. a tap of the IF button will restore to what the camera considers to be optimum settings.
- HyM - Hyper Manual, similar but allows you to adjust both and tells you how far away from 'correct' exposure you are.
Pentax Modes which allow you to customise the settings of the camera.
- bell on or off
- Whether or Not A-mode can be engaged
- half or third stop settings for exposure and flash compensation
- half or full shutter speed changes
- something to do with Hyper Program mode.
- Effect of hitting the IF button in Hyper Manual Mode. Program line (both Av, Tv adjusted), Shutter Priority (Av adjusted), Aperture Priority (Tv adjusted), nothing (neither adjusted)
- can't figure this one out
- Whether or not the ISO setting is automatically read from the film or no.
- ML, AF yes or no?
- flash setting. help?
- whether the film is rewound with a leader out or not.
- auto or manual film rewind.
- Power zoom functions: AF yes or no.
- Power zoom direction: oO or Oo
- a power zooming function in Manual Mode.
Large LCD display on top of the pentaprism with a backlight.
The backlight is activated by pressing the exposure compensation and metering selection buttons simultaneously.