PentaxEspio 738
Autofocus Compact
The story
Place the Pentax Espio 738 in context and you land in the last full decade of mass-market film, before APS and digital fought over the leftovers. Catalogued as a autofocus compact, it pairs the Pentax 38–70mm f/4.8–8.5 with a 35mm film path. Worth knowing up front: compact and pocketable take on the Espio formula with a modest 38–70mm zoom.
Specifications
- Format
- 35mm
- Year
- 1996
- Lens
- Pentax 38–70mm f/4.8–8.5
- Min. focus
- 0.6 m
- Flash
- Built-in auto multi-mode
- Battery
- 1× CR123A
Notable features
- 2× zoom lens
- Multi-point autofocus
- Programmed AE
- Panorama switch
- Self-timer
Shooting it today
The Pentax 38–70mm f/4.8–8.5 is the convenience play: a single optical formula that handles groups, snapshots and tighter portraits without ever leaving your hand. Film supply is a non-issue: any 35mm cassette from any lab works. A single CR123A lithium cell powers everything including the motor; still cheap and stocked at most camera shops. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.6 m, close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. Worth knowing in the field: sold as the IQZoom 70S in some markets. The zoom range covers the obvious bases: groups at the wide end, half-length portraits at the long end, no lens changes ever.
Who it's for · Verdict
Quietly underrated, the Pentax Espio 738 is the kind of camera people brag about owning five years from now and ten times the price.
Fun facts
- §1Compact and pocketable take on the Espio formula with a modest 38–70mm zoom.
- §2Sold as the IQZoom 70S in some markets.
Field note
I took the Espio 738 to a friend's first gallery show, where the plan was two frames and a glass of wine. I never left my chair — the Pentax 38–70mm f/4.8–8.5 on the Espio 738 covered everything from the awning to the bell tower. Two thousand kilometres later the Espio 738 had earned dashboard rights, and the glovebox is officially its home.
Creative field note — inspired by this camera's character, not based on real events.
Find one
Most copies turn up second-hand on eBay. We've linked a saved search so you can see current listings.
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