Pentax Espio 738G — 35mm film compact with 38-70mm zoom lens, IQZoom series (1998)
The Pentax Espio 738G was a compact 35mm film camera in Pentax's Espio series, sold in North America under the IQZoom name and dating from the late 1990s. It sat toward the simpler end of the range, offering point-and-shoot ease rather than the longer reach of the brand's bigger-zoom Espio models.
It carries a Pentax 38-70mm zoom lens, giving a modest wide-to-short-telephoto range on standard 35mm film, with autofocus, automatic exposure and a built-in flash. Power comes from a single CR123A lithium battery, and the body was manufactured in China as part of Pentax's cost-focused compact lineup of the period.
The shorter 38-70mm zoom keeps the 738G lighter and more pocketable than longer Espio zooms, at the cost of telephoto reach for distant subjects. As with its siblings, all exposure decisions are automatic, so the camera suits casual snapshots rather than deliberate manual control.
These turn up regularly and cheaply in used-camera boxes, often untested. Worthwhile checks include loading a CR123A battery to confirm the camera powers on, listening for a smooth zoom motor, firing the flash, and inspecting the battery door and light seals for brittleness.