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-50 (1995 in North America; called MZ-50 in Japan and some European markets) is the budget-floor member of Pentax's mid-1990s autofocus SLR lineup. It shares the KAF mount and PASM exposure mode set of the more expensive ZX-7 (MZ-3), but uses a polycarbonate body, simplified controls, and a built-in pop-up flash to hit a lower price point. Autofocus is single-point TTL phase-detection via a body-mounted screw-drive motor, compatible with all Pentax AF (F and FA series) 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.
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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
Entry-level K-mount AF SLR sold as ZX-50 in North America, MZ-50 in Japan.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Pentax KAF (K-mount, autofocus) |
| Years | ~1995-early 2000s |
| Shutter | 30s - 1/2000s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/100s |
| Meter | TTL multi-segment |
| Modes | Program, Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, Manual |
| Autofocus | Single-point TTL phase-detection |
| Battery | 2x CR2 lithium |
| ISO range | 25-5000 (DX coding) |
| Viewfinder coverage | ~90% |
Pentax built the ZX/MZ family through the mid-to-late 1990s as its answer to Canon's EOS Rebel and Nikon N series entry lines. The MZ-S (2001) topped the family; the MZ-3/ZX-L and MZ-5n/ZX-5n held the mid range; the MZ-50/ZX-50 and MZ-30/ZX-30 served as the affordable entry points.
The North American ZX branding was a regional decision - the same bodies sold as MZ in Japan and most of Europe. The ZX-50 specifically was intended to give first-time SLR buyers access to the Pentax K-mount ecosystem without the cost of the metal-bodied siblings. Pentax positioned it against Canon EOS Rebel 2000 / Nikon N55 equivalents.
The MZ/ZX line wound down in the early 2000s as Pentax developed the *ist series bodies to bridge toward digital K-mount.
The ZX-50 is modest hardware with an outstanding lens ecosystem attached. Every FA and F prime Pentax produced works on it with full autofocus: the FA 50/1.4, FA 43/1.9 Limited, FA 77/1.8 Limited, FA 31/1.8 Limited, FA 35/2. These lenses are considered among the finest 35mm SLR glass of the 1990s, and the ZX-50 is among the cheapest working bodies to shoot them on.
The full PASM mode set is worth noting at this price tier. A buyer coming from a fully auto point-and-shoot gets genuine manual control, aperture-priority, and shutter-priority without needing to step up to a more expensive body.
Pentax KAF mount. Compatible with:
Recommended pairings:
Built-in pop-up flash. Hot shoe for dedicated Pentax AF flashes.
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-50
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