Pentax ZX-30 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)

Other products by Pentax

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 5.3 x 3.6 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005AB9P
• Item model number: 1374
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,218 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The SAFOX VI phase-matching autofocus system assures that the Pentax ZX-30 camera body gives you high-precision, high-speed autofocus operation, even under low light conditions. If your subject is in motion, the predictive autofocus function automatically activates and predicts the subject's position at the moment of shutter release for pinpoint focusing. In addition, the six-segment multipattern metering system gives you optimum results, even in difficult, high-contrast lighting conditions, such as side-lighting and backlit situations.

With six-selectable picture modes: standard program, portrait program, landscape program, close-up program, action program, and night scene program, complicated exposure control is simplified. Mode selection is simple and straightforward; all you do is turn the mode dial to the picture mode that best fits your scene and your picture is properly exposed. To further improve the quality of your images, the ZX-30 also offers two conventional autoexposure modes, aperture-priority AE and shutter-priority AE, as well as metered manual mode and bulb mode. These features give you the creative freedom to expose your images as you want, not according to the preset picture modes.

If low-light and/or backlight conditions are detected, the built-in flash pops up and discharges automatically. The flash unit also makes a brief discharge in the dark to assist the camera's AF system. Normally complicated flash techniques, like daylight sync, slow-shutter sync, and bulb sync are simple to use (even when used in combination with a dedicated flash unit), thanks to the ZX-30's advanced TTL flash control system. When using the flash, the red-eye reduction feature helps reduce those unsightly red dots from your subject's eyes.

By pressing the memory-lock button, you can store the present exposure value in memory for 20 seconds and recompose the image without changing the value. The exposure compensation feature lets you shift exposure across a range of +/-3, in + 1/2EV increments, giving you the ability to create interesting visual effects. An easy-to-read bar-graph indicator is visible in the viewfinder, so you can see your current compensation value. Multiple exposure allows creative effects such as multiple appearances of the same subject on a single frame. Set your own pace with three drive modes, including single-frame advance, consecutive-frame advance at two frames per second, and a self-timer with a 12-second delay.

The fixed molded penta-mirror viewfinder has a natural-bright-matte focusing screen and lets you check on several of your camera's indicators, including: shutter speed, aperture value, exposure compensation, close-up program, action program, and night scene program. You can also check settings on the external LCD, such as: film loading, film advance, film rewind, film loading error, auto pop-up flash function, red-eye reduction flash, and battery exhaustion warning.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good, fast, sturdy little camera, March 14, 2005

By	Casey Crookston "Casey Crookston" (St. Cloud, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I was 15 years old my dad bought me a Pentax K-1000 which I used until I purchased my ZX-30 about a year ago. The great thing about learning on the K-1000 was that it was 100% manual, so I was forced to learn all about f-stop and shutter speeds.

Upgrading to the ZX-30 has been a treat. It's extremely easy to use in auto mode, and I will confess that I use it this way almost exclusively. But, if I want more control over light or speed, it's fast and simple to switch to manual. It did take some getting used to, as the control are now thumb-driven instead of on the lens where they were for the K-1000.

I'm of course aware the film is fading fast and is being replaced by digital, but I'm not quit ready to take that jump (waiting for prices to decrease and options in digital SLR to increase.) If you're in the same boat, I can't say enough about how much you'll enjoy the ZX-30. It's light, it's fast, it's easy, and it's affordable.

3 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars easy, November 4, 2001

By	Jack Carty (ia) - See all my reviews

I like it better than my pz-70 you can get to manuel fast