Who Ya Gonna Call ? Zoom 90 ?

Zooming into the 90’s ?- Pentax Zoom 90 Review

Pentax arguably gave the world the first AF Zoom compact with their IQZoom series. But how do cameras like the Zoom 90 bear up in the 21st century and even against their own 90’s successors the Espio  series  ?

Although lacking the IQ moniker in many markets the 90 is the last in the iconic IQ original series and in some ways already showing signs of transition to the later Espio (still IQzoom in US) class in functionality. In some ways can be seen as a Espio wrapped up in a bulky 80’s body.  In fact the body is even showing transition to the 90s style. That said it is still a bulky camera with the lens protruding slightly even when shut down.

Clocking on I
Dumfries 2016. Pentax Zoom 90 at 38mm with expired (2014) Kodak BW400CN. Sharp generally by note subtle vignetting

Its headline feature was a X2.5 zoom. The camera is one of the few to show zoom length on the LCD, a neat feature but probably only truly useful for the obsessive shooter. Controls are a mixed bag. The key quick use features are well positioned with shutter button sitting in front of the on off switch up top. There’s a macro mode button with them and just behind on the back the zoom switch. These are all well sized and give good haptic feedback.

Rear plate of Pentax Zoom 90
Rear plate of Pentax Zoom 90

Pentax Zoom 90 Specs

  • Lens: 38-90mm 1:3.5-7.5
    • 8 elements in 7 groups
  • Focus: Active IR AF
  • Metering: Programmed
  • Shutter: 1/5-1/125
  • Film: DX 50-1600 ISO
  • Batteries: 2xCR123A
  • Flash: Built in,
  • EV(100) at wide: 9-16.5
  • EV(100) at tele: 11-16.5

The rest of the controls sit around the LCD on the top rear. I find them a bit too recessed but there is a cancel button. The viewfinder sits off centre to the left of these but fits fairly naturally when holding to the eye if you use your right eye. It’s a bit small but with clear bright line frame and parallax markers and has a big focus spot. The viewfinder zooms in and out as you would expect. The camera is not balanced weight wise and despite the small grip and rear ridging it is hard to hold comfortably with one hand due to the weight of the screw access battery compartment end.

Flash Shot on Pentax Zoom 90
Flash Shot on Pentax Zoom 90 with AVP 200. Shot actually well judged for inbuilt flash.

Mode wise there is an incredible range for a camera of its age. So you get via the Mode button auto flash (default), flash on, flash off,  exposure compensation (+1.5EV), bulb and bulb with flash. The drive button switches between normal, consecutive shots, various timer modes (inc adjustable interval timing) and a multiple exposure mode. You can combine most of the mode and drive options too. The camera has a slot for Pentax’s wired remote cable (cable switch F) which makes the B modes more sensible. Although an irritating proprietary cable, it is still widely available often for under a tenner as was used on the MZ and SF series cameras  and at least is battery free. A databack version was available ( a more advanced model water-resistant model was sold as Zoom 90-WR and a later Espio model with a Olympus XA sliding closure called the IQzoom 90MC was also sold).

Post Detail
Pentax Zoom 90 with Expired (2014) Kodak BW400CN, 2016. Nicely detailed but centring is off despite parallax correction

In use camera weight issues aside the 90 actually feels pretty quick. The zoom is pretty speedy compared to the likes of the Canon Sure shot megazoom 105 and sensor locking is pretty good. 2 LED’s indicate focus lock and flash ready status. You can lock focus with a half depress. Pentax recommends engaging the exposure compensation for scenery shots which makes some sense. In default the camera will focus down to 1m. Activating Macro fixes the lens at 90mm but allows shots from 0.6-1m and unlike some cameras still allows for all other program mode choices and the camera can be pretty sharp here in good light and with fast film  although centring shots was a bit iffy. With slower film and lower light the Canon megazoom wiped the floor as the zoom 90 got decidedly hit and miss (more often miss).

Pentax Zoom 90 close up test shot
Pentax Zoom 90 close up test shot with AVP 200. Best of a bad bunch at this slower film speed in poorer light. .Centring remains an issue

The lens is not bad for the era but lags behind later Espio models. The tele end (90mm) of things is the way to go for close-ups and is pretty good in short to medium distances but feels slightly soft at distances. The wide end of things handles things better at long distances centrally but suffers from softness at the edges and also vignettes slightly in bright light at fast speed. Exposure was generally good and the flash seemed to judge things well.

Clocking on II
Dumfries 2016. Pentax Zoom 90 at 90mm with Expired (2014) Kodak BW400CN. Ssiter shot of wide image earlier

There’s a lot to like here and in fact this camera offers features you don’t get on some modern digital compacts including a bulb with cable option. The top shutter speed is a minor worry but the uneven weighting is a bigger issue and if you use your left eye perhaps one to avoid.  Optically competent enough although outclassed within a few years by its own successors in the Espio series and some slower rivals of the day.

What I paid & What it sells at

  • Part of <£10 job lot
  • Few sales on eBay expect 99p-£10

Why buy

  • Bonkers features for early 90’s compact zoom
  • Cable option
  • Cheapish batteries compared to rivals

Why Not

  • Lens Okay but not great
  • Oddly weighted

Alternatives

  • Pentax Espio AF Zoom – Much better smaller pentax model
  • Canon Megazoom 105 – slower but sharper rival

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5 thoughts on “Zooming into the 90’s ?- Pentax Zoom 90 Review”

  1. Alan, I had a Zoom 90 and a number of Zoom 70s from a couple of job lots of cameras.

    I didn’t shoot with the 90, and found the 70-X to be the most appealing of the Zoom 70 variations, and shot a roll of film with that. Looks and spec wise it was very similar to your 90.

    The results were very good, but as you found, you can get just as good if not better images with the later Espios, like the little AF Zoom. If you want an AF compact zoom that starts at 35mm, the Espio AF Zoom for me is the best I’ve tried.

    If you don’t need a zoom compact (which I’ve decided is true for me) then any number of 80s 35/2.8 compacts will give superior results.

    So like you found, it’s hard to make a case for cameras like the chunky Zoom 90, however cheap they may be.

    1. The IQzoom series are a snapshot of the time and as you rightly say outclassed by the Espio. As far as I know bar the WR variants the 90 was the last one (although the IQzoom moniker was used on a Espios in the US). You can feel the linkage with its menu options which are almost the same as the Espio AF Zoom. What may be a bit more interesting is a big beast I’ve been shooting from Canon – the Megazoom 105. Bit slow to zoom and focus but it has been stunningly sharp on close up work and better centered.

      I take your note about fixed length compacts but personally I’d go for the pre AF hay days of the 1970’s or forward to the arrival of the late classic fixed focus AF numbers begining with the mju I. Not to say the 80’s didn’t produce some cracking cameras.

      1. If you look at all the compacts made in the 80s and 90s, Canon probably have a stronger case than anyone for making the most cameras of a very high standard. I’ve had half a dozen Sure Shots and they’ve not disappointed, and if you hunt around there are some very interesting models. The MC (super compact, great lens), Sure Shot Tele (Twin lens, multiple exposure, great lens(es)), Sure Shot Multi Tele (half frame and full frame in a plastic compact!), A1 (waterproof, fun and surprisingly compact) and Sure Shot Classic 120 come to mind.

        I just looked up the Megazoom 105 and it was how I pictured. Looking at the spec it goes to f/22 and 1/1000s! Very impressive for an AF compact.

        Look forward to seeing the pictures you’ve taken with yours.

        My weakness with compacts is the 80s 35/2.8s as I’m sure you know from my Flickr stream!

        1. The sure shots are not bad as a single length AF and certainly wiped the floor with the opposition until the so called elite cameras of the 90s and 00s arrived with the Mju. I’ve had a AF-7S which was not bad for a basic camera.

          As you probably know though Dan I have a weakness for 70s MF compacts and personally feel happier with an old scale/zone or compact RF at single lens length than I do with AF

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