The Konica Tomato is a compact 35mm camera particularly suitable for snapshots. Its ease of use and built-in flash make it an ideal everyday companion.
The Konica Tomato was introduced in the 1980s. Its feature set is almost identical to that of the Konica Pop 10. As you might guess from the camera's name, the Tomato's body is red.
The Konica Dynamite is also a red model. This was presented to the Danish national soccer team at the 1992 European Soccer Championship in Sweden.
Lens
The camera is equipped with a fixed 35mm f/4 Konica lens. The lens allows a depth of field from 1.5 meters to infinity. It does not have autofocus; it is a fixed-focus camera. The lens does not have a filter thread.
It has a switch for close-ups from 1.5 to 3.5 meters. A sliding door protects the lens when the camera is not in use.
Exposure Settings
The Konica Tomato features automatic exposure. This model lacks the setting options found on SLR cameras. The shutter speed is fixed at 1/125 second. The aperture varies depending on film speed and lighting conditions.
Flash System of the Compact Camera
The Konica Tomato has a built-in electronic flash. The flash range is 1.5 to 3.5 meters at an ISO of 100. For close-up shots between 1.5 and 2 meters, the flash output can be adjusted using a close-up compensation knob. Flash readiness is indicated by a lamp.
Additional Features
The Konica Tomato features automatic date imprinting. The date imprint can display the year, month, and day, or hours and minutes. The camera does not have a tripod thread. There is no self-timer or cable release connection.
Batteries
The Konica Tomato obviously requires batteries to take photos; otherwise, the flash, for example, would remain dark. A simple AA battery (eBay / Amazon*) is required here. These are, of course, very easy to find.
Film Recommendations for the Konica Camera
The Konica Tomato requires 35mm film. The camera supports film speeds of ISO 100, 200, and 400.
For landscape shots in good light, an ISO 100 film is suitable. For portraits and low-light situations, an ISO 200 film is recommended. An ISO 400 film is ideal for sports shots and other situations where a short exposure time is important.
A good color film is the Kodak Ultramax 400*. For black-and-white film, there's the Ilford Delta 100*.
The number of frames per film roll depends on the roll length. A 36-frame film provides 36 exposures. The film speed must be set manually using a switch.
The Konica Tomato has a film identification window for checking the film speed. The thumbwheel for advancing the film is located on the back.
Quick Operation Guide
- Inserting the Battery: Open the battery compartment and insert an AA battery. Observe the correct polarity.
- Inserting the Film: Open the back of the camera and insert a 35mm film cartridge. Insert the film leader into the take-up spool, ensuring that the film's perforations engage with the film advance teeth. Close the back.
- Film advance: Turn the film advance lever until the counter shows 1.
- ISO setting: Set the film speed (ISO) according to the loaded film roll.
- Taking a photo: Slide the lens cover aside to expose the lens and unlock the shutter button. Point the camera at your subject and press the shutter button.
- Flash: If necessary, turn on the flash and wait until the flash-ready lamp lights up.
- Unloading the film: Once the film is full, press the film rewind button and rewind the film into the cartridge using the rewind crank. Open the back and remove the film cartridge.
