The Minolta Capios 125S is a 35mm camera. The model was built by Minolta in China and marketed in the early 2000s. It was sold on the domestic market in Japan. The 35mm camera was also available on the market under the name "Minolta Freedom Zoom 125" and "Minolta Riva Zoom 125".
The camera is easy to use and was therefore aimed at beginners and amateur photographers. Therefore, you rarely need the manual to take pictures. The value of a model today is not particularly high. You can find a used one or a comparable model quite easily for a reasonable amount.
The lens of the camera cannot be changed. The zoom goes from 37.5 mm to 125 mm, hence the name of the camera. The maximum aperture is f/5.4 at wide angle and f/10.3 at 125 mm. The lens is focused by autofocus. The minimum distance to the subject is 60 cm.
Taking pictures is made easier by the built-in light meter. It is designed for an ISO range of 25 to 3200. The film speed is read out via the DX code. Exposure settings are automatically determined by the camera. There is no option for setting aperture and shutter speed on this model.
There is a built-in flash for shooting in low light conditions. The flash has an automatic mode to prevent red-eye in the photos. Additionally, there is a mode for night shots and a fill-in flash, e.g. for backlit shots. The flash range is up to 4.6 meters when using ISO 100 film.
The camera has a self-timer with a lead time of ten seconds. Additionally, there is the option to shoot with a remote shutter release. The RC-3 infrared remote control, which is sold separately, has a range of five meters. The remote control requires a CR2032 battery (eBay / Amazon*).
The dimensions of the Minolta Capios 125S are 11.2 x 6 x 4.4 cm. At the same time, it weighs 190 grams. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom. A hand strap can be attached to the side of the camera body.
The camera requires a CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*). This type of battery is still easy to get and is not particularly expensive either. One battery charge is enough for about 300 pictures. The charge level is shown on the display on the top.
Films for the Minolta Capios 125S
The Minolta Capios 125S is designed for 35mm format. The camera automatically transports the film to the next frame after shooting. The current number of captured frames is shown in the display. If it shows "0", the film has not been loaded correctly. Under no circumstances should the back cover be opened when there is still film in the camera. A button can also be used to rewind the film into the cartridge if you want to remove the film prematurely.
One possibility for black and white images is Ilford Delta 100*. A possible film for color images is the Kodak Ultramax 200. According to reviews, the films provide good results in most everyday situations. Both films are good for everyday, wedding or vacation photos.
