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The Pentax IQZoom 170SL is a camera that one should always have with them. The camera is small in size (measuring in at only 115mm X 60mm). Designed for both the professional photographer and beginner using standard sprocketed 35mm DX film. DX coding is printed on the outside of the film cassette. There is no need to set the ISO (ASA) speed. There is no option to set the ISO on this camera. You can still use a bulk loader and load your own cassettes provided you have a cassette that will match the film speed you are using. The camera uses shutter preferred exposure. The aperture is preset to about a f12. There is an option for turning the built in flash on/off. It comes with a built in self timer and the photographer can use a remote control (optional) to fire the shutter. A nice feature of the camera is the adjustable diopter in the viewfinder. The electronic zoom allows the of using either spot or averaging light meter computations. Use the exposure lock by holding the shutter button down half way. The IQZoom 170SL operates smoothly with auto rewind or mid-roll rewind. If you use this option and want to later use your mid-roll rewound film, remember to open the door before or at the countdown of 1. If you wait the film will roll all the way into the cassette. You will also need to use a lens cap to advance rewound film. The lens cap on the 170SL opens automatically with the press of the ON button. There is a back lighted in green digital display on top of the camera. The lens on this camera is a SMC Pentax. I've found other brand name cameras similar to the Pentax. The other cameras use the same lens. I can only deduce that all the lenses on those cameras come from the same blueprint. A 38mm to 170mm lens comes standard on the 170SL. What more do you want? Most of my shooting is done in the range of 55-60mm. You always have the option of using the remainder of the 170mm lens for those special shots when nothing else will do. Or go to 38mm for tight spots. I always find it best to move closer to the subject rather then zoom in. At first one might think this camera is either titanium or aluminum, that's how good the finish is. But it is neither. The camera is made of durable lightweight polycarbonate. It's nice. Plastic is not like it used to be many years ago. If you drop a camera like this it is much more likely to survive the blow than a metal bodied camera that would dent. The Pentax IQZoom is auto focus and can easily compete with the larger N series Nikon SLR film cameras, the Canons and Minoltas that are full bodied using similar AF (auto focus) technology at a fraction of the cost! There is also a Panoramic mode. Flip the switch at the bottom of the camera and internal shutters will give the 35mm frame a 12X9 (or close to it) format. Use the option as is or simply use it as a guide then switch back to 35 and print in wide. This is not an obtrusive camera. A professional photographer using this camera will blend right into the crowd and surroundings. People will think it is a tourist snap shooting. A standard 1/4-20 thread mount is at the bottom of the camera for tripod mounting. Take a picture today. Keep a good filing system for your photographs on your computer. And keep a second and maybe a third copy. You'll have to carry it for life. You'll be proud with order and the ease of finding your photographs when labeled correctly. - BEK-Read full review
I first bought this camera when it was a new product - many, many years ago. Now, it's available only on Ebay or some other secondhand place. I now have 2 of these cameras- always want to have one as a backup in case the first one has problems. I love that it uses film and is not digital. Pictures are sharp and of good quality. I especially like the powerful zoom, although I do not always use the most powerful setting. Whenever I travel (which is often), I always make sure that my Pentax is with me. I have used several other cameras in the past but none have ever surpassed this camera for quallity.
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