fast focusing, usually on target. switching between manual and automatic / MF and AF very easily.

doesnt work well in bad weather. but that is to be expected.

top of the line camera for anyone between begginer or intermediate

Similar Products Used:

nikon f5
nikon f100
pentax Z10

Stylish look
Light weight
Easy to use

Not able to focus in low light. Lens is somewhat noisy when focusing. Built in flash lacks ability to adjust to zoom. But I guess I can't expect too much of a built in flash at this price.

I was sweet talked by the sales person when I purchased this camera. I didn't even know what an SLR was, but definitely was attracted to the look of the camera. So I bought it.

That was 4 years ago, and I have grew to like this camera a lot. I have learned a lot about photography with this camera when setting it to manual mode, but yet, when I just need it for some quick shots, I can set it to full auto and the results still turn out great.

This is a great camera at a great price and it will give you lots of excellent memories !

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS

light (compare w/ k1000)
Easy controls
Fast
Superb picture quality
Full range of tones, crisp photos

None . . . except the high price for PX flashes and synch chords (but I bought a dedicated flash from Sunpak--$99.00, 110GN!)

I bought this camera with a 28-80 3.5/5.6 and a 70-300 3.5/5.6 lenses (I forget the brand). My only complaint at first was that the flash was too weak; I try not to use flash whenever possible, but it is impossible to photograph groups of people, effectively, at dance clubs, etc. That's why I bought a dedicated flash from Sunpak. I still own a K1000 and while I learned a lot from it (I am mostly self-taught), it's bulkiness, weight and "petty annoyances" (like having to set up the ISO every time) bugged me. W/ the zx50 I can set it to manual and do everything myself, or I can let it choose for me; it doesn't make me do anything or surprises me w/ a weird action (like pop-up flashes--that comes in handy when you're trying to photograph a cop taking a bribe in low light (!)). I've read (and experienced myself) the difficulty of the zx50 to focus in low light, but w/ the help of the sunpak lens I've been able to accomplish it very, very easily. Great camera . . . I can use an old pentax manual lens and still get great pictures on it! I've done portraits, fireworks, group pictures, landscapes and of course, low light and flash photography. It has a range I've not seen anyone accomplish with just one camera.

Customer Service

never needed it

Similar Products Used:

K1000

Build quality, value for money, ease of use, reliability.

AF struggles under low-light conditions; pop-up flash won't pop-up anymore; no DOF preview; not much else!

This is my first automatic SLR after having used 2 other (in my opinion) bullet-proof cameras. Bought it during late 1997 and it has not disappointed me ever since. The body came with a Sigma 28-80 aspherical AF lens. Since then, I have recently purchased a SME Pentax 80-320 AF lens as well to go along with the camera as well.
I found the pop-up flash to be a joke. It was ineffective & later the spring that 'pops' it up gave way. Forking out more hard-earned cash for a dedicated Pentax flash (AF 330FTZ) saved the day.
I have volunteered my services of wedding photographer to numerous close friends and I think it is because of the consistently excellent quality of the pictures and solid performance of the MZ 50 (for its price) that has endeared me to this wonder of a camera.
Brought the camera to Europe for about a month and took pictures which included outdoor, architectural & candid ones. Performed flawlessly most of the time.

Overall, a very capable but not perfect camera for beginners. This camera, I feel, brings out the shutterbug in everyone. It makes taking pictures fun and exciting.

Customer Service

Not been called upon yet.

Similar Products Used:

Yashica FX-3 Super; Minolta X-300.

Quick autofocus, simple.

Loud film advance motor.

A nice camera for those starting to take photography seriously. I am ready to move into something else but am over all satisfied with the Pentax line.

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

None

I love the quickness in which the camera focuses. The ease of operation is also excellent. The camera is very light. My wife loves the quickness in which it focuses and snaps the picture. When small children are involved the quickness of the camera is very important.

None

The Pentax is very agile, it is light, and it is very fast as far as focusing and snapping the picture which is very important when those precious moments with the children pop up.

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I bought a new Minolta STsi, I kept it about 3 weeks then returned it and swapped it for my Pentax ZX50. The Minolta was

Simple easy to use camera. My wife who knew almost nothing about photography , picked up shooting quickly with this camera.( i own the MZ -50 which i think is sold as ZX -50 in the states)

The camera could have done well with a depth of field preview & should have allowed old K mount lenses to be used.Autofocus not as fast as in canon & hunts in tricky light situations.Camera tends to expose incorrectly especially in tricky light situations.

Good first buy , but better offerings available in the pentax line itself. However for an amateur a fantastic first camera.Moreover pentax does not have the same lens back up as nikon or canon. However in india pentax has a very good image thanx to the rugged spotmatic & K 1000 , so they will be able to capitalise with this product by the brand image itself.

Customer Service

owned for last 2 years. No probs as yet

Similar Products Used:

Only old manual cameras like Nikon fe2, pentax MX & k 1000

None

It eats batteries at a very rapid rate and the motor drive lacks sufficient strength to rewind most films. Also no manual rewind option.

Too many rolls of film ruined because it couldn't rewind them all the way.

Similar Products Used:

None

Easy, easy, easy. What most point and shoot buyers should try out, and GET It's very light Lighter than some P+S cameras I've seen.! The meter is not the most sophisticated, but it does an admirable job. My wife also likes the small size that fits in her small hand.

None, zippo! Has been used steadily for 3 years at construction sites, bike races, a trip to China, and backpacking trips without a burp.

Fantastic. The only limitation of this camera is the fact that it can't use K-mount lenses. NOT an issue for most folks. I loved this camera so much, I hated to give it to my wife when I got a PZ-1p. She loves the camera too! I had to get a Pz-1p for the faster motor drive, but that's it.

Customer Service

None needed. Oh, but Pentax did come to a store near me and "tune it up" for free one day.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N60, Canon rebel 2000.

It is SO easy to use. I get perfect shots every time with no difficulty!

None

My husband bought me this camera for Christmas last year, but substituted a higher power lens for the one which comes with it. THIS IS THE BEST PRESENT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED!!!!!

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None