Pentax ZX-30 A Great Starter AF SLR The entry-level model in the Pentax AF SLR line, the ZX-30 is a fine starter camera that provides enough features to take the user well into more serious shooting. Seven Picture Modes set the camera for fully automatic shooting of portraits, landscapes, action, close-ups 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 mode 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 2 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 attractive, compact body; easy-to-learn-and-use controls; TTL six-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-30 TYPE: AF 35mm SLR LENS MOUNT: Pentax Kaf bayonet FOCUSING: Phase-matching AF with focus lock and predictive AF, manual focus SHUTTER SPEEDS: 30 seconds to 1/2000 plus B METERING: Six-segment TTL EXPOSURE MODES: Seven 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 2 fps) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR2 lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 5.3x3.6x2.5 in. WEIGHT: 12.7 oz. STREET PRICE: $200 Sigma SA-7 Ideal for the Serious Shooter on a Tight Budget With a street price of around $250, the new SA-7 offers the budget-concerned serious shooter a great option. It offers most of the features of the 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: $250 Sigma SA-9 Lots of Bang for the Bucks Sigma recently introduced two new 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: $400 Olympus ZLRS All-in-One Zoom-Lens Reflex Models Olympus introduced its first all-in-one ZLR (Zoom-Lens Reflex) back in 1990. The IS-1 was followed by IS-2, IS-3, IS-10, IS-20 and IS-30 models, with the most recent additions to the line being the new IS-5 and IS-50. The ZLR concept is a neat one—a single-lens reflex camera with a built-in power-zoom lens. The IS-5 has a 28-140mm f/4.9-6.9 ED Extra-low Dispersion) lens, and the IS-50 a 28-120mm f/4.9-6.8 ED. Other notable features of the family include accurate phase-detection autofocusing (predictive in Stop Action mode), powerful built-in pop-up Intelligent Vari-Power Twin Flash system with sync at shutter speeds up to 1/2000 for excellent exposures from macro to normal shooting distances (the system even detects fluorescent light and fires the flash to automatically balance color), built-in motor drive (for automatic threading, advance and rewind), a variety of exposure modes (program AE, subject programs and aperture-priority AE, plus shutter-priority AE and metered manual in the IS-5), fuzzy logic ESP metering plus center-weighted average and spot metering, built-in viewfinder eyepiece adjustment (-2 to +1 diopters), quartz date imprinting, very simple operation, and more. The ergonomic shape almost forces you to hold the camera in the steadiest way possible. While the IS-series cameras are self-contained, Olympus does offer some accessories, including tele and wide-angle converters, a remote control and an even more powerful accessory flash unit. SPECIFICATIONS CAMERA: Olympus IS-5 Deluxe TYPE: AF 35mm ZLR LENS: Built-in 28-140mm f/4.9-6.9 FOCUSING: TTL phase-detection AF (predictive in Stop Action mode) SHUTTER SPEEDS: 60 sec. to 1/2000, B METERING: Dual-zone fuzzy-logic ESP metering, center-weighted average, spot EXPOSURE MODES: Multiple-program AE, shutter- and aperture-priority AE, metered manual FLASH: Built-in TTL autoflash; accepts dedicated G40 accessory flash unit FILM TRANSPORT: Automatic threading, advance (single-frame and continuous) and rewind POWER SOURCE: Two 3V CR-123A or DL-123A lithium batteries DIMENSIONS: 4.9x3.4x4.8 in. WEIGHT: 23.1 oz. STREET PRICE: $349.95