Pentax Espio 738 Review: A Good Budget Camera?

Ugly, basic and mediocre, no I’m not talking about myself, it’s the humble Pentax Espio 738!

Throughout that time I’ve discovered that there’s a lot to love and a lot to look out for with this old point-and-shoot.

With a zoom lens, and moderate shutter speeds, the Espio is basically nothing special, but it can produce good film photos for such a budget price.

There’s a lot to say about this budget bad boy, so first off, I’m gonna tell you what I think about it before I hit you up with the boring facts.

My 2 Cents

I first came across the Pentax Espio 738 in early 2020 when I was in the midst of discovering a whole bunch of point-and-shoot cameras. Don’t get me wrong, the Espio is nothing to write home about but it’s good enough for what it does.

I genuinely kinda think that if it was an Olympus it’d be in the £80 ballpark but as it goes it’s around £25-30 which is good news for anyone that’s looking for a cheap point-and-shoot.

But, as I said, there’s nothing particularly special about this camera. It’ll do it’s job as a cheap 35mm point-and-shoot camera.

I’ve taken this camera on a few nights out and I’ve found that the autofocus has been pretty fast and consistent. Also, the flash reloads at a good rate, which is a real big plus for me because often when you’re shooting with a really old film camera the flash can take like 5-7 seconds to reload.

I’ve really found the Espio to be the best when it comes to shooting day-to-day with friends. It’s definitely not going to give you Bresson-level shots, it’s gonna give you better-than-disposable level shots.

Generally, I’d shoot this in the day because any low-light photography would need flash or a tripod (I don’t really know why anyone would ever use a tripod for the Espio but it’s definitely possible).

I kinda love that this was designed in a way that was probably really ergonomic at the time and actually has similarities to the Olympus MJU I, but for some reason, it just looks chubby and clunky.

The selling point of the little film camera is probably mainly that it’s really easy to use. There are just a few small things to change, flash or no flash and zoom. I’d probably say it’s worth not using the zoom and just sticking to the 38mm standard focal length because the zoom sucks pretty bad.

Anyway, basically, this camera isn’t bad for the price. It’ll give you some OK film shots and it’s cheap as chips.

I’m going to attach some more facts and a bunch of sample photos down below incase you need them!

Pentax Espio 738 Specs

• Lens: 38-70mm f/4.8-8.5 zoom lens
• Focusing Distance: 0.75m minimum
• Shutter Speeds: 1/360s – 2s
• Film Format: 35mm
• Battery: 1x CR123A lithium battery
• Autofocus: Active autofocus system
• ISO Range: DX-coded, 25-1600
• Weight: 320g

A Brief History of the Pentax Espio 738

Launched in the mid-90s, the Pentax Espio 738 is part of the Espio series, which was popular for its compact size and affordability. Pentax aimed the camera at amateur photographers looking for a versatile zoom lens in a small, easy-to-use package. The Espio series continued to evolve with various models offering different zoom ranges and slight feature variations.

What About the Build?

The Pentax Espio 738 has a sturdy, compact plastic body with a silver or black finish. Its design includes a protruding lens which is extended by pressing the on switch located on the top of the camera. Although not as sleek as some later models, the camera is durable and fairly lightweight, making it a convenient carry-around option.

I’d rate this as fairly reliable and less likely to break than a lot of other point-and-shoots of its time.

How Much Should I Pay for the Pentax Espio 738?

On the used market, the Pentax Espio 738 typically costs between £20-50 ($25-60), depending on the condition and any included accessories like the original case or manual. The Espio 738S might fetch a slightly higher price due to its sleeker appearance.

What Kind of Photography Is the Pentax Espio 738 Best For?

The Espio 738 is perfect for general-purpose photography, from casual snapshots to street photography. The zoom range makes it versatile for different shooting scenarios, though the limited f/4.8 aperture and lack of manual controls make it less suited for low-light or professional work.

I would call this a great day-to-day camera, one that you’d suggest to a friend who wanted to shoot very casually!

What Kind of Film Should I Use with It?

Given the camera’s DX-coded ISO range (25-1600), you can use both low and medium-speed films like Kodak Gold 200 or Fujifilm Superia 400. Those are probably the two film stocks that best suit this camera.

It’s not really worth spending much on a professional film stock because this camera is so limited.

How to Use the Pentax Espio 738

Luckily, using the Espio 738 is super easy.

Turn the camera on by pressing the red button on the top.

Open the back of the camera by pulling down the latch located on the back of the camera. There you can load your film and close the camera again.

Once you’ve loaded your film then you can choose your settings. On the top there’s a flash button, so you can use normal flash, no flash or fill. There’s also a red eye reduction button and a self timer!

Otherwise, there’s a zoom toggle, so you can have no zoom or zoom all the way to 70mm. And of course, the big grey button is the shutter button!

This camera rewinds automatically but you can use the small button above the self-timer to rewind manually.

How to Take Good Pictures with the Espio 738

1. Use the Zoom Sparingly: Keep your subjects in the mid-zoom range for sharper images, as the lens is not as sharp at full zoom.
2. Hold Steady: With slower shutter speeds, particularly in lower light, steady your camera to avoid blur.
3. Be Mindful of the Flash: The built-in flash can be overpowering in close-up shots, so either switch it off or step back when shooting indoors.

Sample Shots