Name: Pentax Espio 160 35mm Film Camera
Brand: Pentax
Price: 94.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Question 1

Why Choose the Pentax Espio 160?

Accepted Answer

Choose the Pentax Espio 160 if you want a 35mm compact camera with a much greater zoom range than a typical fixed-lens point-and-shoot.

The 38–160mm lens is its biggest advantage. At 38mm, it works well for travel, groups and everyday scenes. At the longer end, 160mm provides substantial telephoto reach for portraits, details and subjects that are difficult to approach.

Its five-point autofocus system can evaluate subjects across several areas of the frame, helping make spontaneous photography easier. Spot AF is also available when you want more precise control over the focusing point.

Automatic exposure, DX film-speed recognition and motorised film transport mean that relatively little technical setup is required, making the Espio 160 particularly approachable for beginners.

At the same time, features such as multiple exposure, slow shutter modes and panorama framing provide additional options for more creative film photography.

Question 2

Which Film Does the Pentax Espio 160 Take?

Accepted Answer

The Pentax Espio 160 takes standard 35mm / 135 film.

It automatically reads DX-coded film from ISO 25 to ISO 3200, providing compatibility with a very wide range of colour and black & white films.

For general everyday photography, ISO 400 film is an excellent all-round choice. It provides useful flexibility in sunshine, cloudy weather and shade and is particularly helpful when using the longer end of the zoom.

For bright outdoor photography, ISO 100 or ISO 200 film can provide finer grain.

For lower-light conditions, ISO 800 film can offer additional flexibility.

Suitable colour films include Kodak Gold 200, Kodak UltraMax 400, Kodak Portra 400 and Fujifilm 400.

For black & white photography, Ilford HP5 Plus 400, Kentmere Pan 400 and Kodak TRI-X 400 are practical choices.

Question 3

Performance

Accepted Answer

The 38–160mm f/4.5–12 zoom lens gives the Pentax Espio 160 excellent versatility for a compact 35mm camera.

At 38mm, the field of view works well for general travel photography, groups, architecture and wider street scenes.

At 160mm, the camera provides significantly more reach, making it useful for tighter portraits, details and distant subjects.

The five-point passive autofocus system operates from approximately 0.8 metres at the wide end and 1.2 metres at full telephoto. Focus lock, Spot AF and Infinity Landscape mode give additional control when normal autofocus is not ideal.

Six-segment metering and programmed automatic exposure handle changing lighting conditions automatically. The shutter reaches approximately 1/400 second, while slower exposures and Bulb mode provide options for night-time and creative photography.

Question 4

Shooting Tips

Accepted Answer

For everyday photography, DX-coded ISO 400 film is a very practical starting point, particularly when using the longer focal lengths.

Use 38mm when photographing groups, travel scenes and landscapes, and zoom towards 160mm for portraits or distant details.

Hold the camera particularly steadily at 160mm, as telephoto magnification makes camera movement more noticeable.

Keep subjects at least approximately 0.8m away at 38mm and 1.2m away at 160mm.

Use Spot AF when your subject is small or positioned among distracting foreground or background details.

Try Infinity Landscape mode when photographing distant scenery or shooting through glass.

Use the built-in flash for nearby subjects indoors, and allow it to recharge fully before taking another flash photograph.

For the most reliable automatic exposure, use DX-coded film, as non-DX film is automatically rated at ISO 25.

Carry a spare CR123A battery when travelling, as the zoom, autofocus, flash and film transport all depend on battery power.

Pentax Espio 160 35mm Film Camera