Pentax ZX-30

This set up is the most fun I have had in photography. It is easy to use, in fact its simplicity is mind boggling. I recently turned into a macro photographer and with the Pentax 35-80mm lens, it is easy and fun to do. The pics came out very sharp, with flattering bokeh and wonderful colors to boot.

The only problem with this set up is the body. I had the misfortune of having the back door suddenly open up on me and the film inside. According to the negatives, the photo was number 3A and it was partially washed out.

After having done some research on this issue, I find that the ZX-30 is notorious for this flaw/imperfection. I am confident I had closed the door securely, because I had just loaded it with film. It is an auto film loader. In other words, if the door had not been closed securely, it would not have loaded the film.

Thanks for reading.

Tony

The Pentax ZX-30 is an excellent and affordable entry-level 35mm SLR camera. It has sufficient automation features, including multiple Autoexposure modes (Sports, Portrait, etc) as well Aperture Priorty, Shutter priority, Program and Metered Manual. It's automatic "Green" mode allows it to be used as a Point-and-Shoot camera as well. The Metered Manual mode gives a certain growth potential to budding photographers who wish to explore more creative techniques. The modular body design is compatible with a wide range of Pentax and third party lenses, flashes and accessories. The drawbacks of the ZX-30 are few, but may be critical for later growth - especially the lack of a Depth-of-Field (DOF) preview button and a fairly dim viewfinder. The plastic lens mount may unnerve traditionalists used to a mostly metal body. To be fair, the mount has had a good reputation to date. The CR-2 batteries are quickly drained after 20 or so rolls, so the optional Battery Grip that employs 4 AA cells is highly recommended. The built-in flash has a relatively low Guide number, and has a tendency to pop-up too often, despite six-segment metering. Switching the mode dial to flash-cutoff solves this problem. Other comparable SLRs in this category include the Canon Rebel 2000 and the Nikon N65.