Pentax 16X25 UCF X II

Advantages: Handling, quality of results
Disadvantages: Frequent film changing

...Pentax 67 I’ve owned a 67 for around 8 years, after deciding I liked the tonal quality of medium format negs. I had a look at a number of alternatives: 645, 6x6 and 6x7: I chose the Pentax because it had a sound specification, a good range of lenses, and required neither three hands, nor gorilla-sized ones. The fact that essentially the same camera had been in production for over 20 years (and it continues now, with the 67 II) means that there are plenty of second-hand accessories around. I looked at used bodies - a lot of them are rather tatty, as they seem to be popular with professionals, who don’t give them an easy life. So I bought new, and economised with second-hand lenses and a non-metering pentaprism. I’ve never regretted any of my choices. Watch out, as with all other second-hand cameras, for chewed-up tripod... Read review

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Advantages: image quality,shake reduction, backwards lens compatibilty
Disadvantages: DSLR's are still too big

...Pentax K mount lenses ie open aperture metering and no 'A' setting. These will work in aperture priority mode but only at full aperture ie the lens isn't stopped down. That's fine for my 80-200mm which is f4.5. I still get an acceptable picture. I also planned on using my Chinon 50mm for portraits which is f1.9. To use the full aperture range you need to use manual mode (set the menu to allow use of aperture ring and depth of field preview to stop down the lens). When you use the depth of field preview (on the on/off switch) the camera stops the lens down and gives you a meter reading. You can adjust the exposure with the thumbwheel (or aperture ring) while stopped down. Not bad once you've got used to it and it allows you to use all those lenses you have. DISPLAY AND MENUS The 2.5 inch LCD is excellent. Pictures can be set to display... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Solid, light, reliable, good-looking, easy to use, a name you can trust
Disadvantages: Guzzles batteries (as they all do), a bit slow to start up

...for you to select which you require and which is most appropriate for the conditions you find yourself in. With an easy icon so you know which setting is suitable for which scenario (i.e. a flower icon for taking pictures outside where you require lots of vibrant colours in your snap), it's a piece of cake to take great photos every time. Portrait, landscape and night scene modes are on the mode dial, too. You can customise the camera so that it remembers your preferred, and more frequently used, options (such as size and image quality). It has a digital filter, so you can shoot in black and white, sepia, and apply red, green and blue tints to your photos. Finding these options is simple using the easy-to-navigate menu and dial. It has a 3x optical zoom lens. Incidentally, it has the famous Pentax 'sliding lens' system, which allows... Read review

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