The Minolta Freedom Family Zoom is a 35mm camera for the American market. It belongs to the group of point-and-shoot cameras and relies on an automatic system that makes taking pictures so easy that you don't need a manual. It was built in a factory in Malaysia. The 35mm camera was also available on the market under the name "Minolta Riva Zoom AF5". However, the Freedom Action Zoom 60 is a different model.
The lens of the 35 mm photo camera cannot be exchanged. The focal length of the zoom range is from 35mm to 60mm. The zoom level is adjusted with a slider. With the 35mm camera, there is no need to focus manually because the camera is equipped with an autofocus system.
The 35mm camera comes with a light meter. This can read the sensitivity of the film from the coding on the cartridge. The settings are made automatically. You cannot set the shutter speed and aperture yourself. Instead, the built-in flash can be turned off if desired. The flash is equipped with automatic red-eye reduction.
Two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*) are responsible for the power supply. There is no thread for a tripod. A self-timer is also not present on this model. However, a camera strap can be attached to the side of the camera. The film transport is done automatically by a motor. This also rewinds the film back into the cartridge at the end of the roll. You can force this step with a slider on the bottom of the camera.
Films for the Minolta Freedom Family Zoom
According to the manual, the Minolta Freedom Family Zoom exposes 35mm film. Films of this format are still readily available today and are still being developed. Possible films for the Minolta Freedom Family Zoom are the Kodak Gold 200* for color photos and the Kodak T-Max 100* for B&W photos. Both can convince in test reports and are well suited for everyday use. Of course, there is a wide range of other 35mm films for this camera.
The color film is processed in the C-41 development process. The C-41 process is standardized and is offered by most developing labs. The black and white film must be developed in a black and white developer. This development process is also offered by many professional laboratories.
