Pentax IQ Zoom 145M Super

My wife and I have tried to find a good point and shoot 35mm camera to replace our Konica Revio Z2 APS camera that took terrible pictures. We tried the Yashica Zoomate 140, and had ok results, but for the money, we thought we could do better. So we have tried this Pentax with 2 rolls of Fuji 400 film so far, and the pictures are superb! To get really high quality pictures, you need to use the focus-lock feature and read the manual thoroughly. Once you understand how the camera focuses, it's a snap to take amazing pictures. The color saturation is the best we've seen in any camera we've ever owned. This camera really shines in outdoor lighting, and the panorama mode takes sharp pictures. Even fully zoomed to 145mm, the pictures were crystal clear. We used the timer and a tripod and had amazing SLR-type results. For $250, this camera can't be beat. It is a little bigger than most compact cameras, but it's very sturdy. My experience with tiny cameras is that they take lousy pictures, so I was actually encouraged by this camera's more substantial size.

Very sharp pictures
Excellent color saturation
Effective focus-lock
Well built
Powerful zoom

A bit bulky for a compact camera

Yashica Zoomate 140

Haven't used it yet

This camera is one of two that are with me virtually everyday. (The other is my old reliable standard Olympus XA.) I shoot approx. 12-15 rolls of Kodak Gold 200 every week on the job. I spend everyday aboard Navy ships that are ripped apart for overhaul. There is no nook or cranny I don't get into. I use my cameras to document the actual physical conditions so we have a look at what the problems really are. To date the Pentax is the best tool for the price that I've found. The Kodak Gold 200 film delivers very clear results and I always print 5 x 7's. Yes, it is one of those little P&S cameras, and it won't do what my AE-1 and Yashica 124-G will do, but it's there when I need it and it gives me consistently good results.

Really sharp focus, the zoom makes my close up work pretty darn good. It is a very "quick" camera to use, and that is a very demanding requirement in my line of work. The size is just right for transporting in my vest. I have never had a film loading problem like I've had with Olympus and Canon products.

The lens extension was a problem until I found a padded case that fit into my vest pocket and allowed me to extract it quickly. It is noisy and at times this is a problem, especially when the camera is rewinding the film. The LCD display is not back-lit for work in the dark, requiring me to use a small LED light source. The zoom is a bit slower than I'd like.

1. Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80

2. Canon Sure Shot 85 Zoom

I haven't had to use it yet.

Don't buy it unless you intend to handle it very gingerly. It's ok for print film, but no good for slides. The shutter speed and aperature are to slow to shoot asa100 film acept in bright sunlight. Probably a good camera for rank amatures, accept for the dumb lens protrusion design. When I sent mine back for repair I asked if they would let me exchange it for something else. No dice, so it's gathering dust.

Hard to take a bad picture if your using print film in the 400 asa range and letting the camera do the work.

The inner lens protrudes out from the body slightly so that it's possible, even probable that it will get pressed on, particularly when it's on your belt and in the provided soft case. Do this a couple times and it's repair time. This is a design flaw that almost renders this camera totaly unaceptable, a really dumb design.

Cannon (38-115) Olympus XA2

Good! I had to send mine back for a sticky zoom action (guess why) It was repaired and returned in about a month. I'd hate to been waiting for it.