| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Nagoya Posts: 577 | | Review Date: February 5, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Lens compatibility, lightweight, inexpensive | | Cons: | Noise (subjective) | |
For the very reasonable price you can pick one up, this is a great camera and the full uncrippled KAF mount is fantastic. Very simple to use, I just stick my M28/2.8 on it and fire away - great for walkabouts and street photography, especially as it's small and unassuming. When you use an AF lens it focuses fast and trouble-free.
My only real gripe about it (as with most of the consumer MZ/ZX series) is the nasty shutter and winder sound - not satisfying at all. But since that has no effect on my photos, I know it's an irrelevant complaint. And even if the gears fail, another body will cost you less than your lunch. A fun little camera and an unsung gem in the Pentax lineup. Recommended.
EDIT: Recently dropped mine, Helios 44K-4 first, onto a pavement from head height. Big impact at an angle with a heavy lens (now a dented lens) but plastic mount completely undamaged.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: February 1, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | with battery grip an excellent AF-camera | | Cons: | nothing | |
very easy to use light weight SLR. One of my analogue favorites. The indication of aperture appears in M mode;too. My K100, K200 k-x indicates nothing about aperture in viewfinder, if aperture ring of older KA-lenses are not in A-position. This is a digital step back.But my MZ-10 indicates aperture everytime
This is not the case with old analog KAF lenses on digital cameras, when turning aperture ring out of automaitic position, too. No aperture indication in viewfinder.
Very sharp shootings with single lenses. Very reliable inspite of plastic body. I've a lot of rechargeable batteries CR-2 and the AA-battery grip. So I've no battery problems with it.My black edition with the grip looks nice.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 774
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 30, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | value, ergonomics, versatility | | Cons: | relatively small viewfinder, possible mechanical unreliability | |
The ZX-10 has the distinction of being Pentax's lightest-weight film body with a fully functional KAF2 lens mount. Old K and M lenses work just as they did on the old K and M cameras; A-series lenses add shutter priority and a variety of program modes; the ZX-10 also gives good, zippy autofocus on lenses that support it.
The panorama switch introduces a shutter-plane mask with dimensions 36x13 mm, which would seem to be a gimmick that does nothing but use film inefficiently, but in practice for me, it is a legitimate composition aid from time to time.
There is not usually a lot of demand for this model, so you can often find one for not a lot of money. Make sure you get one that is working properly. It shares a mechanical weakness with the rest of the ZX/MZ cameras, where a gear on the mirror motor cracks and renders the camera inoperable. Once the gear is replaced, it can last a long time.
CR2 batteries are expensive, but if you get the FG battery grip, you can shoot till doomsday on four lithium AA cells.
Being a manual-focus guy who values metal bodies and big viewfinders, I probably shouldn't like this camera so much, but having spent some time with it, I find the ZX-10 to be a versatile and friendly bit of gear that gives good results. It would make a fine travel camera.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: Sterling, VA Posts: 70 | | Review Date: June 27, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 4 |
| Pros: | Easy to use | | Cons: | Cheap build, mine died | |
Easy to use camera. Has lots of good features for someone who wants a bit more than point and shoot. Very cheap build; mine died of mirror lock up issues.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2006 Location: NJ USA Posts: 13,072
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Tiny, light weight, effective, good mount
| | Cons: | a little short on functionality
| |
| Pros | Tiny, light weight, effective, good mount | | Cons | a little short on functionality | | Rating | 7 | | Price | 80 | | Years Owned | 10 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
This is an effective, simple camera that gives good results. Very small and light weight.
Camera Review
I bought this around 1999 - my first Pentax - to gear up for an eventual dSLR purchase.
I like this camera - it's very small and light, easy to tote, and the automation works well.
The mount is important - no crippling here - and so every Pentax lens will work. Ones without an aperture ring in Program only.
The metering is good and accurate - unlike the fancier ZX-L. The camera does suffer from metering limitations in very dim light - e.g. where a Program Plus is still working, the ZX-10 gives up.
The AF is rapid, but can hunt - and I mean from one stop to the other - in low light or low contrast, especially with the slower lenses.
There's a panorama mode in mine - a feature I sometimes appreciate.
Pentax added a lot of thoughtful touches - e.g. little pockets on the strap to put your eyepiece blind and hot shoe cover in.
This little camera offers a lot, with functional simplicity. Many may not like the lack of features, but as a basic portable camera this is very effective.
| | |
;)
;)
