Survivor! This camera actually survived the transition from Lover to Mrs. Flak-attak.

Our triumph was complete!

From the icy roads of Alaska
To the shores of Mexico

From the smoke-filled log cabins
To the Smokey Disneyland

From the small town wonder of Copper Center
To the megalopolis of Downtown Atlanta

From our very own toboggan ride together
To our very own stateroom on a Carnival cruise ship

From the cold Alaskan moonlite
To sunny Cancun
From St. Pete for a week
To "Relative Rendevous" in the Southeast
From Atlanta to our Grand Finale Cruise
To New Orleans, Cozumel, and the British Cayman Islands.
Then Back to Alaska Oh No!
Our wonderful honeymoon almost one year ago

We survived completely intact
And so did "Herr Little Pentax."

Folks, I must say I'm sorry; but I feel about 361 (and
counting) times more head-over-heels in love with Mrs.
Flak-attak than I did 361 days ago when we were married on
February 26, 2000. We are approaching our first
anniversary, and I'm about as prepared for confronting the
thought that the last week or so has actually been a year
as....well....I guess I'm as prepared as the poor lady who I
read about in the paper last week. Her snowmachine got
caught in the railroad tracks, and at the last moment seeing
the train approaching she gallantly rushed to the aid of her
ailing machine – only to find that the train engineer was not
up for a game of chicken. Fortunately, her last-ditch efforts
weren't her last; and I certainly don't think my humble
anniversary preparations will be the last either.

They always tell husbands-to-be to pay attention to the little
things for her. Well, today I'm shedding light on a little thing
that my wife loves very much and takes nearly everywhere
she goes. It's her Pentax IQZoomEZY, a gift from her friend
and lover when she hinted one day that she wished she had
a camera.

From the moment I first saw this camera I was impressed by
the many features it has that makes taking pictures so
absolutely easy. The camera cost me $99, and for anyone
needing a quality point and shoot camera, this one is
definitely for you.

Now for all you camera buffs (or those that aren't buffed but
like minutiae), here are some of the more outstanding
features a.k.a. gory details of this handy camera along with
comments about why I like ‘em:


-The 38mm to 70mm zoom lens is easy to operate and
provides flexibility in framing your scene.

-The IQZoom EZY-R adjusts focus and exposure
automatically for clear results every time.

-Distant scenery, even through car windows, is clearly
captured in the Infinity Landscape mode.

-A single glance at the convenient, easy-to-read LCD
reveals all the information you need when you need it.

-A red-eye reduction lamp helps to reduce the effect of red
eyes in your subjects which allows their true colors to shine
through. "And I see you're true colors, shinin' through, and I
see you're true colors, that's why I love you...."

-Backlight compensation makes good use of natural lighting
(without a flash) to improve the balance of light between the
subject and the rest of the picture.

-This camera has advanced flash functions. Use the
flash-on mode to eliminate shadows when sunlight is behind
your subject. Use flash-off where flash is restricted (in
museums, for example). Get really advanced with a
night-time flash/camera function which allows for extended
shutter time for those gorgeous Aurora Borealis displays.

-Auto Power Off turns the camera off after 3 minutes of
inactivity to save power and to help protect the lens. It also
annoys the special guests at the table: exactly 180 seconds
after you've rudely caught them with their mouths agape,
trying to surround their massive Moose Burger.

-Get into the picture with the 10-second delay shutter
release self-timer – or at least try. You probably won't make
it in time.

-With the IQZoom EZY-R Date model, you can superimpose
the "date" or "day and time" on your photos so you'll never
have to guess when the pictures were taken. My wife hates
this function so the button still looks really new.


OTHER FEATURES that might interest you but ones I'd
definitely scan over if this were your review: (Taken from
camera specifications provided by Pentax.)

TYPE: 35mm fully automatic lens-shutter camera with built-in
zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure control and auto flash.
FILM: 35mm DX-coded film with 24mm x 36mm format.
LENS: Pentax power zoom 38mm-70mm f/4.8 - f/8.5 lens
FOCUSING SYSTEM: Pentax infrared active autofocus system.
AUTOFOCUSING RANGE: 1.8 ft. (0.55m) to infinity.
EXPOSURE CONTROL: Programmed auto exposure control.
METERING RANGE:
1) Shooting in auto mode: EV10-17 (38mm
at ISO 400), EV12-18.5 (70mm at ISO 400)
2) Slow shutter speed and backlight compensation EV8-17
(38mm at ISO 400), EV8-18.5 (70mm at ISO 400).
SHUTTER: Programmed AE electronic lens shutter.
SHUTTER SPEEDS: approx. 1/320 sec. to 1/3 sec.; ½ sec. To 5
min. in bulb mode.
VIEWFINDERr: Albada zoom viewfinder.
VIEWFINDER AREA: 83% (at 3m). Indication: Focus and flash
status, close distance compensation frame and AF frame.
EXTERNAL LCD: Exposure counter, battery exhaustion warning
mark, "red-eye" reduction, flash-on, flash-off, slow shutter,
bulb, backlight compensation, infinity-landscape and
self-timer.
FILM LOADING: Automatic film loading with first-frame
positioning.
FILM WINDING: Automatic film winding.
FILM REWINDING: Automatic film rewinding at end of roll.
Automatic stop upon rewind completion. (Mid-roll rewinding
possible.)
FILM-SPEED SETTING: Auto film-speed setting with DX-coded
film from ISO 25-1600.
SELF-TIMER: 10-second delay electronic self-timer.
FLASH: Built-in flash. Automatic discharge under low lighting
conditions in auto mode.
FLASH MODES: Daylight-sync, slow shutter-sync and
bulb-sync available. Recycling time: approx. 5 sec. with fresh
lithium battery.
Effective range:

1) 1.8 - 23 ft. (0.55m - 7.0m) (38mm at ISO 400)
2) 1.8 - 13 ft. (0.55m - 4.0m) (70mm at ISO 400). Red-eye
reduction lamp in "red-eye" reduction mode.
Power Source: One 3V lithium battery (CR123A type).
Dimensions: 4.7" (W) x 2.7" (H) x 2.1" (D); 7.9 oz. without
battery.


Tired of specs? Here's what the pro's say about the Pentax
IQZoomEZY-R:

"Well-suited for the aspiring young photographer - but Mom
and Dad may be tempted to borrow it."

--Travel & Leisure Family- Spring/Summer1999

I certainly can agree that this camera is the perfect choice
for any young or old photographer. Whether you are
aspiring, perspiring, or expiring, it makes no difference. If
you even think you want a new little auto camera, then you
need this Pentax. The 99 bucks I spent on this camera has
been paid back several times in my wife's happiness,
well-being, and satisfaction.