which 35mm cameras used real prisms?

Drew Saunders wrote:

I know the question is about 35mm, but at least Mamiya fesses up to
using mirrors, provided you know that "reflex" refers to a mirror. I

I would imagine though with MF the user is making an informed choice, the
size of the prism is so much larger that 35mm that I imagine the weight
difference is appreciable. I presume that there is the option for a
pentaprism or porroprism?

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

"Mark Roberts" wrote in message
...
Bandicoot wrote:

"joe mama" wrote:
i know the nikon Fs did, but what about the older Pentax line?
Specifically the Spotmatics?

Very few SLRs until very recently used other than a 'proper'
pentaprism. Certainly all the Spotmatics did - as did all Pentaxes I can
think of subsequently. I hear that maybe the new K100D uses a
'pentamirror', in which case that's the first Pentax I know of to use
such an abomination: let's hope it's also the last to do so!

In the digital era, the ist-DL was the first to use a pentamirror. The
new K100D and K110D both use pentamirrors.

With film cameras, the ist and several of the cheaper ZX/MZ cameras
used pentamirrors instead of prisms. I know the ZX-M/MZ-M used a
pentamirror, as did the ZX-30/MZ-30, the ZX-7 and ZX-L. There may
be other ZX/MZ series cameras that use pentamirrors (the ZX-50,
perhaps?) but I think everything from the PZ/Z series and earlier are all
pentaprism.


Hmmm, worse than I'd thought! Seems a shame to put a mirror in the *ist DL
and K100D after all the trumpeting they gave to the little prism in the
original *ist D. The most 'low end' Pentax of the current generation that I
have direct experience with is my 'backup' MZ-3, and that's a prism as far
as I can tell.

Oh well...



Peter

you might wanna specifically say "penta prism" I know Leicas use prisms
in their rangefinders or view finders, old zeiss ikon also used prisms
for their simple rangefinders...

others probably have given you the answer u wanted, so this is all I'd say

joe mama wrote:
i know the nikon Fs did, but what about the older Pentax line? Specifically
the Spotmatics?

thanks....

Bandicoot wrote:

Hmmm, worse than I'd thought! Seems a shame to put a mirror in the *ist DL
and K100D after all the trumpeting they gave to the little prism in the
original *ist D.

Yep. With DSLR's you're going to be looking at the "close to $1000"
price range before you get a pentaprism, whichever brand you choose.

I expect the upcoming 10 megapixel Pentax to have a pentaprism.

--
Mark Roberts Photography & Multimedia
www.robertstech.com
412-687-2835

"Mark Roberts" wrote in message
...
Bandicoot wrote:

Hmmm, worse than I'd thought! Seems a shame to put a mirror in the
*ist DL and K100D after all the trumpeting they gave to the little prism
in the original *ist D.

Yep. With DSLR's you're going to be looking at the "close to $1000"
price range before you get a pentaprism, whichever brand you choose.

I expect the upcoming 10 megapixel Pentax to have a pentaprism.


I certainly hope it does - though as you say it'll also have a matching
price tag.


Peter