Nikon N65 Small, Light and Versatile It's only a half-number upgrade in name from its predecessor (the N60), but the N65 is a totally new camera. Smaller and much lighter, the N65 offers all the features of the N60 plus a much faster motor drive (2.5 fps vs. 1 fps for the N60), a depth-of-field preview button, automatic exposure bracketing (+/-2 EV), multiple- exposure capability, and a simplified control layout. Features shared with its predecessor include both fully automatic and full manual control of everything, and excellent performance. The AF system automatically sets single-shot or continuous AF with focus tracking to suit the subject (stationary or moving), and operates in light levels down to EV –1. 3D Matrix metering (with D- and G-type AF-Nikkor lenses) includes subject-position data in the exposure equation (excellent six-segment Matrix metering is provided with non-D lenses). Exposure modes include flexible (shiftable) program AE, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, five Vari-Programs (portrait, landscape, close-up, sport and night-scene) and metered manual. The built-in TTL Speedlight (less powerful than the N60's with an ISO 100 GN of 40 in feet, vs. 49) provides Matrix-balanced fill-flash, which automatically balances flash-lit subject and ambient-lit background exposures. The sturdy, attractive body, featuring a chassis of zinc alloy and film guide rails of aluminum, is comfortable and ergonomically efficient, with all controls conveniently located. The N65 will accept all AF-Nikkor lenses and many MF Nikkors. Specifications CAMERA: Nikon N65 TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Nikon F bayonet FOCUSING: Auto selection of single-shot and continuous predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/2000, T METERING: 3D/6-segment Matrix, center-weighted in manual EXPOSURE MODES: Shiftable program AE, shutter-and aperture-priority AE, five Vari-Programs, metered manual FLASH: TTL flash via hot-shoe; built-in TTL Speedlight with red-eye reduction, maximum flash-sync shutter speed 1/90 FILM TRANSPORT: Auto threading, advance (2.5 fps) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.6x3.6x2.6 in. WEIGHT: 12.7 oz. STREET PRICE: $200 Nikon N55 The Entry-Level Nikon AF SLR Nikon's entry-level model, the N55 features an attractive, compact body and very simple operation, and fits into the Nikon AF 35mm SLR lineup just below the N65. Along with fully automatic operation and Vari-Program subject modes set merely by rotating a dial to the desired icon, the N55 offers program, shutter- and aperture-priority AE plus metered-manual operation, simply set by rotating the same dial atop the camera body. A large and uncluttered LCD panel to the right of viewfinder makes it easy to keep track of camera status. Nikon's excellent five-segment 3D Matrix metering (plus Center Partial metering), Matrix Balanced Fill-Flash via its built-in unit or accessory shoe-mount Nikon Speedlights, automatic exposure bracketing and multiple-exposure capability help make this a camera the new user (for whom it was designed) won't soon outgrow. Like all Nikon SLRs, the new N55 will accept the full range of AF-Nikkor lenses, which currently number more that 40, from 14mm superwide-angle to 600mm supertelephoto, including zooms from 17–35mm to 80–400mm, shift and 1:1 true macro lenses. Three-Area autofocusing provides a wide AF area for easy action shooting. The camera automatically sets single-shot or continuous AF, with Focus Tracking and Lock-On (which keeps focus on the subject even if something momentarily comes between camera and subject). Quite a feature set for an entry-level camera! Specifications CAMERA: Nikon N55 TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Nikon F bayonet FOCUSING: Auto selection of single-shot and continuous predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/2000, T METERING: 3D/5-segment Matrix, center-partial EXPOSURE MODES: Program AE, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, five Vari-Programs, metered manual FLASH: TTL flash via hot-shoe; built-in TTL Speedlight with red-eye reduction, maximum flash-sync shutter speed 1/90 FILM TRANSPORT: Auto threading, advance, and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.1x3.6x2.6 in. WEIGHT: 12.3 oz. STREET PRICE: $260 w/28–80mm zoom lens Pentax MZ-S Versatile Top-of-the-Line Model Pentax's first pro 35mm AF SLR since the PZ-1p was introduced in 1995, the MZ-S is a more-rugged camera with an external housing of diecast magnesium alloy. A compact SLR with a good feel, the MZ-S provides well-thought-out controls and a nice array of pro features. The rear-canted top plate makes it easy to make settings and view the LCD panel. As a pro camera, the MZ-S offers a wide range of features, including a PC terminal for studio flash (along with the dedicated hot-shoe and built-in TTL flash, a handy feature not found on many pro SLRs), multiple-exposure capability, on-film data recording, six-point/spot AF, built-in finder eyepiece correction and lots more. The MZ-S's built-in TTL flash can fire off-camera Pentax AF360FTZ flash units wirelessly with TTL exposure control (the AF360FTZ also provides trailing-curtain sync), contrast-control flash (the off-camera unit provides two units of light to one from the built-in flash) and strobe-effect flash. Nineteen Pentax Functions allow you to do such things as enable/disable the audible signal, have the illumination button fire a test or modeling flash with an off-camera flash unit in wireless operation, and choose the program line for program AE mode. The MZ-S's Kaf2 mount provides full functioning with the newest Pentax lenses, and accepts all K-mount lenses (of which Pentax currently offers more than 50, from 16mm full-frame fisheye and 15mm superwide-angle to 2000mm mirror, including AF lenses from 17–28mm fisheye zoom and 20mm superwide to 600mm supertele). Specifications CAMERA: Pentax MZ-S TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Pentax Kaf2 bayonet FOCUSING: Single-shot and continuous predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 seconds to 1/6000 plus B METERING: Six-segment TTL EXPOSURE MODES: Program AE, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: Built-in TTL autoflash; hot-shoe accepts dedicated TTL flash units; wireless TTL flash possible with Pentax AF360FTZ flash units FILM TRANSPORT: Automatic threading, advance (single-frame or continuous at 2.5 fps) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CD2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.4x3.7x2.5 in. WEIGHT: 18.3 oz. STREET PRICE: $800 Pentax *ist The "Small*ist" AF 35mm SLR Comes Loaded Pentax's newest is the stylish but somewhat oddly named *ist (the asterisk is silent), a remarkable device that packs plenty of performance and features into the smallest AF 35mm SLR body ever. It accepts all Pentax Ka-, Kaf- and Kaf2-mount lenses that have an "A" setting on their aperture rings, and Custom Function 17 (of 17 built-in Custom Functions) even lets you use lenses that don't have an "A" setting. Besides the tiny size (an optional AA-Battery Grip BG-20 is available, increasing shooting capacity by 50% via the four AA batteries it carries, and making for more comfortable gripping by people with larger hands), *ist features include Pentax's latest SAFOX VIII AF system (with 11 AF sensors, including 9 cross-type sensors that can "read" both horizontal and vertical lines, all user- or camera-selectable), user-selectable single-shot and continuous predictive AF modes, three metering modes (16-segment, center-weighted and spot), multiple-exposure capability, built-in viewfinder eyepiece dioptric correction, a large and easy-to-read LCD panel on the camera back, a depth-of-field preview, and a host of exposure modes: shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual, plus 6 picture modes (standard program, portrait, landscape, action, close-up, and night-scene) and Auto Pict, which automatically selects the appropriate mode for the subject/scene being photographed. There's a handy built-in TTL flash unit, plus a hot-shoe for dedicated Pentax flash units. Wireless TTL flash is possible with the optional Pentax AF360FGZ unit. Specifications CAMERA: Pentax *ist TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Pentax Kaf bayonet FOCUSING: 11-point selectable single-shot and continuous predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/4000, B METERING: 16-segment, center-weighted and spot EXPOSURE MODES: Auto Picture, six user-selectable Picture modes, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: Built-in TTL flash plus hot-shoe for dedicated Pentax flash units FILM TRANSPORT: Auto threading, advance (single-frame and 2.5-fps continuous) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 4.8x3.3x2.5 in. WEIGHT: 11.8 oz. STREET PRICE: $300 Pentax ZX-L A Good Thing Made Better Essentially an updated ZX-7, the ZX-L adds a faster top shutter speed (1/4000, vs. 1/2000), a faster maximum flash-sync shutter speed (1/125, vs. 1/100), a depth-of-field preview button, automatic exposure bracketing, 11 programmable Pentax Functions, and selectable wide/spot AF (the latter feature replacing the ZX-7's cropped "panoramic" mode). Like the ZX-7, the ZX-L combines attractive black-and-silver styling, compact size, good performance, ease of use, and an easy-to-set (and very colorful) mode dial. The new Pentax Functions (activated by rotating the mode dial to PF and moving the select lever until the number of the desired Function appears on the LCD panel, then pressing the AE lock button and moving the select lever until the desired for that Function appears) allow you to do such things as select the auto bracketing correction value, select the shutter-release delay time for the remote control, select whether autofocusing is used for remote-control photography, leave the film leader out of the cassette after rewind or wind it into the cassette, choose whether to have the built-in flash fire when using an off-camera unit in wireless mode, and more. This is a good camera for newcomers to SLR photography, as it's very easy to use in Auto mode, yet provides lots of serious features the user can grow into as he or she progresses in photography. Specifications CAMERA: Pentax ZX-L TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Pentax Kaf2 bayonet FOCUSING: 3-point and spot predictive AF, manual focus, Snap-in focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/2000, B METERING: Six-segment (center-weighted with manual-focus lenses) EXPOSURE MODES: Auto and six Picture modes, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: TTL flash via hot-shoe; built-in TTL autoflash with red-eye reduction, contrast-control flash with accessory unit FILM TRANSPORT: Automatic threading, advance (single-frame and 2-fps continuous) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.3x3.6x2.5 in. WEIGHT: 13.6 oz. STREET PRICE: $250 Pentax ZX-60 The Simplest ZX-series AF 35mm SLR The entry-level model in the Pentax AF SLR line, the ZX-60 is a fine starter camera that provides enough features to take the user well into more serious shooting. Six Picture Modes set the camera for fully automatic shooting of portraits, landscapes, close-ups, action, night scenes or general subjects. As new shooters become more experienced, and want more control over their imagemaking, they can select shutter- or aperture-priority AE or even metered-manual exposure control, and apply +/-3 stops of exposure compensation when desired. Shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/2000, and there's a B setting for long exposures of any length. Maximum flash-sync speed is 1/100. The built-in TTL auto flash provides red-eye reduction, and there's a hot-shoe for dedicated Pentax accessory flash units. Film transport is automatic, with continuous advance at 1 fps. Film speeds from ISO 25–5000 are set automatically with DX-coded cassettes; speeds from ISO 6–6400 can be set manually. Other features include an compact metallic-look body; easy-to-learn-and-use controls; TTL two-segment metering coupled with lens and AF information; and compatibility with Pentax K-mount lenses, including autofocusers from 15mm ultrawide-angle to 600mm supertelephoto (including a 17–28mm fisheye-zoom, 1:1 macro and soft-focus lenses). Specifications CAMERA: Pentax ZX-60 TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Pentax Kaf bayonet FOCUSING: Phase-matching AF with focus lock and predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/2000, plus B METERING: Two-segment TTL EXPOSURE MODES: Six Picture Modes, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: Built-in TTL autoflash with red-eye reduction; hot-shoe for dedicated Pentax TTL flash units; max. flash-sync shutter speed 1/100 FILM TRANSPORT: Automatic threading, advance (single-frame or continuous at 1 fps) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.4x3.7x2.5 in. WEIGHT: 11.5 oz. STREET PRICE: $160 Sigma SA-9 Lots of Bang for the Bucks Noted lensmaker Sigma offers two great-value AF 35mm SLRS: the top-of-the-line SA-9, and the economy-priced but full-featured SA-7. Both offer lots of capabilities and excellent performance. The SA-9 features shutter speeds from 30 seconds to 1/8000, flash sync up to 1/180, 3-fps film advance, a convenient depth-of-field preview button, mirror pre-lock (with the optional remote control), adjustable viewfinder eyepiece dioptric correction, automatic exposure bracketing, multiple-exposure capability, a built-ion date back and more. The built-in pop-up flash unit provides TTL exposure control and red-eye reduction; add the optional EF-500 Super flash unit, and you get more power, rear-curtain sync, wireless TTL off-camera flash capability and high-speed sync (at shutter speeds up to the camera's maximum 1/8000, for easy outdoor fill-flash). Direct-setting control dials make it easy to learn and operate the SA-9. Sigma is best known as a lens manufacturer, and offers more than 40 excellent lenses for the SA-series cameras, including an 8mm circular fisheye, a 14mm superwide-angle, a 15mm full-frame fisheye, a 600mm mirror lens, an 800mm supertelephoto, true 1:1 macro lenses, and zoom lenses from 17–35mm to 170–500mm, plus 1.4X and 2X tele-extenders. All of the Sigma lenses for the SA-series cameras have metal lens mounts, and the SA-9 (and SA-7) have stainless-steel lens mounts. Specifications CAMERA: Sigma SA-9 TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Sigma SA bayonet FOCUSING: Single-shot and continuous predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/8000 plus B METERING: Eight-segment, center area and average EXPOSURE MODES: Shiftable program AE, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: TTL flash via hot-shoe; built-in TTL autoflash with red-eye reduction, wireless TTL sync with accessory Sigma EF-500 Super flash unit FILM TRANSPORT: Automatic threading, advance (single-frame and 3-fps continuous) and rewind POWER SOURCE: One 6V 2CR5 lithium battery DIMENSIONS: 5.6x3.8x2.7 in. WEIGHT: 15.3 oz. STREET PRICE: $300 Sigma SA-7 Ideal for the Serious Shooter on a Tight Budget With a street price of around $200, the SA-7 offers the budget-concerned serious shooter a great option. It offers most of the features of Sigma's top-of-the-line SA-9, in a more-compact, lower-priced package. The primary differences between the cameras are that the SA-7 has a top shutter speed of 1/2000, a top normal flash-sync speed of 1/90, and a maximum film-advance rate of 1.5–2 fps, and lacks the SA-9's date back. Otherwise, you get the same wide range of capabilities, along with excellent performance: single-shot and continuous predictive AF in light levels as dim as EV –1 (as dim as any current phase-detection AF SLR can handle), with an AF motor in each lens for optimum performance; shiftable program AE, plus shutter- and aperture-priority AE and metered manual exposure control; depth-of-field preview button, mirror pre-lock (via optional remote control) and automatic exposure bracketing; eight-segment evaluative, center-area (7.5% of the image area, indicated by a 9mm circle in the center of the viewfinder) and center-weighted averaging metering; auto setting of ISO speeds with DX-coded cassettes plus manual ISO setting; built-in red-eye-reducing TTL autoflash plus a hot-shoe for dedicated flash units; rear-curtain sync, wireless TTL off-camera flash capability and high-speed sync (at shutter speeds up to the camera's maximum 1/2000) when the optional Sigma EF-500 Super flash unit is used; the ability to accept more than 40 Sigma lenses, and lots more. Specifications CAMERA: Sigma SA-7 TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Sigma SA bayonet FOCUSING: Single-shot and continuous predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 sec. to 1/2000, B METERING: Eight-segment, center area and average EXPOSURE MODES: Shiftable program AE, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: TTL flash via hot-shoe; built-in TTL autoflash with red-eye reduction, wireless TTL sync with accessory Sigma EF-500 Super unit FILM TRANSPORT: Automatic threading, advance (single-frame and 1.5–2-fps continuous) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.2x3.6x2.7 in. WEIGHT: 13.9 oz. STREET PRICE: $200