Pentax or bust!
Written: Jul 11 '03 (Updated Jul 11 '03)
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Pros: Weather resistant, zoom, auto focus, panorama
Cons: Small viewfinder
The Bottom Line: I recommend this camera for anyone who doesn't want to end up spending $$$ on multiple purchases of disposable cameras.
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| KayGeaLady's Full Review: Pentax IQZoom 95WR QD 35mm Film Camera |
While planning for our vacation, I encountered two problems.
1. Since we are going to several water and amusement parks, I didn't want to take our digital camera and risk it getting ruined.
2. The husband didn't want to take the cheapo cameras we have nor did he want to end up buying a gazillion disposables because he can't stand using them. Personally, I'm not overly fond of our APS camera or disposables either but the 35mm point and shoot was passable.
Solution- Go shopping for a new camera!
I wrote down the features we wanted-
Reputation for taking good to great shots despite minor operator errors
Zoom capability
35mm
Easy to use
Capable of taking a beating
Waterproof
Relatively lightweight
Must fit in camcorder bag
Not overly pricey
After looking at several sites for waterproof 35mm cameras, I immediately ruled that catagory out. Everything I found was way beyond what I wanted to spend. Then I came across a page for a weather resistant Pentax on Amazon. Wooooo doggy! Things were looking up! I checked out the Pentax website and looked up reviews on other Pentax cameras, both regular and weather resistant, here on epinions. Sold! Now I just had to find either a 90WR or a 105WR. That would prove to not be so easy.
After finding out which stores here in my area carried Pentax cameras, I did some checking both in person and on the phone. They either didn't have them currently in stock or they had the pricier 105WR model. This was getting as bad as the hunt for Crayola School Glue for my son's school supply list. I refused to give up (on the camera, not the glue). To make a long story short, after a thankfully unsuccessful bid on ebay and a major 'Duh!' moment for not first looking where I ultimately found Pentax WR cameras in stock, I gleefully came home the Sunday before my birthday with a Pentax IQZoom 95WR QD 35mm camera. Why the 95WR and not the 90WR I was originally looking for? Because the store I purchased it from didn't carry the 90 anymore. Pentax doesn't even list the 90WR on it's website, only the 95 and the 105.
Now for what's important
Ease of use- This camera is a piece of cake to use! The LCD menu window is clear and easy to read and there aren't a lot of buttons to confuse us middle age folks. The power switch in back has three settings- Off, On and Panoramic. Cool! Panorama at the flick of a switch!
How to load the film- Open the back of the camera, put the film cartridge in the right side, pull the lead over to the take up (left) side, close the back and Boom! You're done. The camera does all the rest. You do not need to have the power switch in the On position for it to load either. It'll do it in the Off position as well. Check the LCD window on top of the camera for a 1 and you know the film is in there correctly.
Buttons and Dials
Need Red Eye reduction? Upper left button on the top of the camera. You do not need to press the flash button to use the red eye feature, either. It has it's own button, which I really like. It can be annoying having to push a flash button several times to get to the red eye reduction choice.
Things look a bit blurry when looking through the viewfinder? Simply turn the diopter dial located to the left of the viewfinder until the AF (autofocus) frame appears in the sharpest focus.
Speaking of focusing You have the following choices- For normal use, leave it in the Five Point AF mode, meaning.. don't push anything. For Infinity-landscape shooting- press the AF button (top right) once. For Spot AF shooting, press the AF button twice. Can it get any easier than that?
Need to use the Timer? Lower right button on the top of the camera and you have about 10 seconds to get in the picture, so run!
Correct exposure? Lower left flash button on the top of the camera. You have the following choices-
Auto, Daylight Sync (Flash ON), Slow Shutter speed (Flash OFF), Slow Speed Sync (Flash ON), Bulb (Flash OFF)and Bulb-Sync (Flash ON).
Bulb is for long exposures for shots like fireworks and night events. Bulb-Sync is for taking a portrait shot with a night scene in the background (from the manual). The manual recommends using a tripod to keep the camera steady for both Bulb and Bulb-Sync mode. I like this feature and can't wait to use it. With our old 35mm SLR, I could never figure out how to take a decent night shot and the frustration on my husband's face the first time he tried to teach me, well, that taught me never to ask again. Now, I have a tripod and a working index finger. I'm all set.
Want the date/time on your photo? Oval button in the middle front of the top of the camera. There are several Date/Time/Month/Year formats to choose from. I keep mine in the Month/Day/Year format. I really don't need to know what time I took a picture but the date sure comes in handy for my middle aged neurons.
The best feature
It's weather resistant! Not waterproof mind you. You will not be able to go diving or snorkeling and take underwater shots with this camera. What you can do is take it to the beach or pool and if it gets splashed, it's cool. Going to spend some time at a water park or attraction anytime soon? Get this camera! Why end up spending an average of $10 to buy a waterproof disposable camera every time you are going to be around water if you aren't going to take the thing under the water? After you figure in an average processing price of another $10 (one hour service), that's $20 a pop for pictures. I don't know about you but, for me, over time that adds up to some hefty dollars. Especially if you are on vacation and use 5 or 6 disposables. The camera just about pays for itself right there. Plus, you will have a great 35mm film camera for everyday use that takes great pictures and you won't have to treat it like it's your grandmother's good china.
And pictures? I couldn't take a bad picture with the Pentax IQZoom 95WR QD and believe me, I did try.
Specifications-
Type: 35mm fully automatic lens-shutter camera with built-in zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure, auto flash and weather-resistant design.
Film: 35mm DX-coded film with 24mm x 36mm format.
Lens: Pentax power zoom 38mm-95mm F4.5-F10.5 lens; 6 elements in 5 groups.
Focusing System: Phase-matching passive five-point autofocus system. Spot focusing/infinity landscape mode available.
Autofocusing Range: 2.15 ft. (0.65m) to infinity.
Exposure Control: Programmed auto exposure control.
Metering Range: (1) Auto mode: EV10 - 18 (38mm at ISO400), EV13.5 - 20 (95mm at ISO400); (2) Slow shutter speed: EV4 - 18 (38mm at ISO400), EV5 - 20 (95m at ISO400)
Shutter: Programmed AE electronic lens shutter.
Shutter speeds: approx. 1/400 sec. to 4 sec.; 1/2 sec. to 5 min. In bulb mode.
Viewfinder: Standard/panorama switchable. Actual-image zoom viewfinder with diopter adjustment (approx. ï to 1 at 10 ft.).
Viewfinder area: 83% (at 10 ft.).
Indication: Focus and flash status, panorama-format picture area, close distance compensation frame, 5-point AF frame and spot AF frame.
External LCD Indication: Exposure counter, date indication, zooming lever, battery exhaustion warning, flash-on, flash-off, slow-shutter, bulb, spot AF, infinity-landscape, self-timer, remote control and red-eye reduction.
Film Loading: Automatic film loading with first-frame positioning.
Film Winding: Automatic film winding.
Film Rewinding: Automatic film rewinding at end of roll. Automatic stop upon rewind completion. (Mid-roll rewinding possible.)
Film-Speed Setting: Auto film-speed setting with DX-coded film from ISO 25-3200.
Self-Timer: 10-second delay electronic self-timer.
Flash: Built-in auto zoom flash. Automatic discharge under low lighting and backlighting conditions in auto mode. Flash-on and flash-off modes.
Recycling time: approx. 5 sec. with fresh lithium battery. Dual discharge in red-eye reduction mode.
Remote Control: Optional infrared wireless remote control. 3-second delay release provided.
Auto Lens Retraction: Automatic lens retraction to 38mm in approx. 3 minutes of no operation. In remote control shooting mode, automatic lens retraction to 38mm in approx. 5 minutes of no operation.
Weather-Resistant Capability: JIS class 5. Possible to shoot under rain and to wash in water.
Date Imprinting: Five-mode switchable: "Year-Month-Day", Month-Day-Year", “Day-Month-Year", "Day-Hour-Minute" and blank.
Power Source: One 3V lithium battery (CR123A type).
Dimensions: 5.2 (W) x 3.0 (H) x 2.3 (D)” (132.0 x 76.0 x 58.5mm)
Weight: 12.7 oz. (360g)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 179.99
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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Epinions.com ID:
KayGeaLady
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Location: Kailua, HI, USA
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
Wife, mom, cook, laundress, house cleaner, yard technician and experienced shopper!
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