C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Pentax ZX-10 (1998) is the North American designation for the camera sold in Japan and most markets as the MZ-10. It is an entry-level KAF-mount autofocus SLR, positioned at the base of Pentax's late-1990s 35mm lineup below the ZX-5n and ZX-7. The body is lightweight polycarbonate at approximately 280 g without lens and runs on AA batteries rather than the CR2 lithium cells required by the more expensive ZX/MZ models - a deliberate cost and convenience choice for the entry-level market. A built-in pop-up flash is integrated into the pentaprism housing. Exposure modes cover the full PASM set. The KAF mount accepts all K-mount lenses, with AF available through screwdriver-driven KAF and KAF2 lenses, and stop-down metering for K and KA manual-focus lenses.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profile →C41
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
North American name for the MZ-10: Pentax's entry-level KAF SLR of the late 1990s, in a lightweight polycarbonate body with AA power.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Pentax KAF (K-mount, AF) |
| Years | ~1998-2001 |
| Shutter | 30s - 1/2,000s + Bulb, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | ~1/100s |
| Meter | TTL multi-segment |
| Exposure modes | Program, Av, Tv, M |
| Autofocus | Single-point phase-detection |
| Viewfinder | ~85% coverage, ~0.75x |
| Weight | ~280 g (body only) |
| Battery | 2x AA |
The MZ-10 was introduced in 1998 as the successor to the earlier entry-level Pentax consumer SLRs in the MZ line, which had begun in the mid-1990s with the MZ-10 as the founding entry point of the MZ family. The North American ZX-10 designation followed the same hardware under the ZX name used for Pentax's 35mm AF SLRs in that market throughout the late 1990s.
The camera was developed against a backdrop of rapidly intensifying competition in the entry-level AF SLR segment: Canon's EOS Rebel series had defined the category's expectations, and Nikon's F50 and F60 bodies set cost and feature baselines. The MZ-10/ZX-10 differentiated mainly through K-mount compatibility, which provided access to a broad and affordable used lens pool, and through the AA battery choice, which reduced operating cost relative to CR2-dependent competitors.
By 2001 the ZX-30/MZ-30 succeeded the ZX-10/MZ-10 at the entry level, with a similar feature set and specification. Pentax's 35mm consumer SLR lineup contracted rapidly after 2002 as digital capture became cost-accessible to the segment the ZX-10 had targeted.
The ZX-10 is a practical entry-level host for K-mount lenses - specifically the FA prime lens set (FA 50/1.4, FA 35/2 AL, FA 28-70/4 AL) that remains affordable and optically capable. At current used prices ($20-60), it provides KAF autofocus with full PASM at the lowest cost in the functional Pentax SLR range.
The AA battery requirement is a meaningful advantage for casual and travel use: AA cells are available globally and the camera can be powered with ordinary alkalines or rechargeable NiMH cells, unlike the CR2 dependency of the ZX-5n and MZ-3. The viewfinder at approximately 85% coverage and 0.75x magnification is noticeably smaller than the 0.85x viewfinders of mid-range MZ/ZX bodies; this is the most commonly cited limitation in user reviews.
For North American buyers the ZX-10 and MZ-10 are equivalent. Service information and forum discussions indexed under MZ-10 apply directly; buyers should search both names.
KAF mount supports:
Practical budget companions:
Built-in pop-up flash supports fill and low-light snapshot use. External flash through hot shoe with compatible Pentax-system AF units for auto-flash modes.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Pentax ZX-10
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