The Konica Big Mini BM-201 is a compact 35mm viewfinder camera known for its user-friendliness and sleek design. It was distributed by the Japanese company in the 1990s.
Lens
The Konica Big Mini BM-201 features a fixed Konica 35mm F/3.5 lens with 4 elements in 4 groups. It has an integrated skylight filter.
The camera uses an infrared-based, non-scanning, active autofocus system with an effective range of 0.35m to infinity. Focus lock is possible by lightly tapping the shutter button.
The camera's close-up range is from 0.35m to 0.6m when the close-up indicator is activated.
Exposure Settings
Exposure is controlled by a programmed AE (auto exposure) system using a CdS photodiode. The metering is center-weighted. The exposure range is EV2 (F3.5, 3.6 seconds) to EV17 (F16, 1/500 second) at ISO 100.
The camera offers various exposure modes that can be set via the Mode Switch. These include the Standard mode (Auto), Fill-in Flash mode, Flash Off mode, and Flash Off mode with exposure compensation (+1.5 EV or -1.5 EV). Exposure compensation can be used to make images brighter or darker than the standard exposure.
Shutter speeds range from 3.6 seconds to 1/500 second. The camera uses an electronically controlled, stepless shutter.
Flash System
The Konica Big Mini BM-201 has a built-in flash system that activates automatically when lighting conditions are insufficient. The flash range at ISO 100 is 0.35m to 3.8m.
The flash recycle time is approximately 3 seconds. The camera offers various flash modes, including Auto Flash, Flash On (Fill-in Flash), and Flash Off. A flash charging indicator is displayed on the LCD panel while the flash is charging.
When taking flash photos of people, it is recommended to turn on room lighting or move closer to the person to reduce the red-eye effect.
Additional Features
The Konica Big Mini BM-201 has a self-timer with a delay of approximately 10 seconds. The red LED on the front of the camera illuminates for the first 7 seconds and then blinks for the last 3 seconds before firing. A tripod socket is also provided.
An optional Date Imprint (Auto Date) is available on one model variant, which can imprint the date or time onto the film. This function is programmed until December 31, 2019.
Dimensions and Weight
The dimensions of the Konica Big Mini BM-201 are 115 x 63 x 34 mm. The weight is 188 grams without a battery and 190 grams with the optional date imprint.
Film Recommendations
The Konica Big Mini BM-201 uses standard 35mm DX-coded films. The camera automatically sets the film speed to ISO 25 to ISO 3200. For films without DX coding, the film speed is automatically set to ISO 25.
A good color film is the Kodak Ultramax 400*. For beautiful monochrome images, you can use the Ilford Delta 100*. Both films are easily available online and development is still possible.
The camera automatically advances the film to the first shot and rewinds it automatically at the end of the roll. The film can also be manually rewound prematurely.
Quick Guide to Operation
- Power On: Press the power button to extend the lens.
- Subject Selection: Look through the viewfinder and select your subject.
- Focusing: Press the shutter button halfway down until the green indicator in the viewfinder lights up. This signals that the camera has focused.
- Shutter Release: Press the shutter button all the way down to take the picture.
- Power Off: Press the power button again to turn off the camera and retract the lens.
- Mode Selection: Use the mode switch to select between different flash modes and exposure compensation settings.
