The Minolta Riva Zoom 115 is a compact camera from the Japanese manufacturer. It belongs to the group of snapshot cameras and is easy to use. The target group was beginners and amateur photographers who used the camera on vacation or at family celebrations. It was built in a factory in China. Under the name "Minolta Freedom Zoom 115" and "Minolta Capios 115S" the 35mm photo camera was also sold.
The 35mm camera comes with a fixed lens. The zoom range goes from 37.5 mm to 115 mm. The largest available aperture is f/5.4 (37.5 mm) and f/10.9 (115 mm). The lens is made up of six different elements. There is no need to focus manually with the 35 mm camera, as it is equipped with an autofocus system. The closest focusing distance is specified at 60 cm for this lens.
The 35mm photo camera has a built-in light meter. It is designed for an ISO range of 25 to 3200. The film speed is determined via the DX code. The aperture and shutter speed cannot be set. The exposure settings are selected automatically. For this, there are modes for portraits and landscapes that you can select. Additionally, there is the Auto Depth mode to have the subject in the foreground sharp and the background blurred.
The built-in flash provides sufficient light. With ISO 100 filming, it reaches up to 5.1 meters. The flash comes with a red-eye prevention mode, a fill-flash for backlit shots, and a mode for portrait photos with flash at night. However, the flash can also be turned off.
The 35mm camera has a self-timer. This has a lead time of ten seconds. For a group picture, the camera can be mounted on a tripod. The thread for this is on the bottom of the housing. A camera strap can be attached to an eyelet on the side.
The camera is made of plastic. With a size of 11.2 x 6 x 3.9 cm, the Minolta Riva Zoom 115 weighs 205 grams. The camera requires a CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*). This type of battery is easy to get and quite inexpensive. One battery usually lasts for up to 300 photos.
Films for the Minolta Riva Zoom 115
The Minolta Riva Zoom 115 was built for the 35mm format. The 35mm format is very common, so there are still some manufacturers and many developing labs today. A color film for the 35mm camera would be the Fujifilm Superia 400*. A possible film for black and white images is the Kodak T-Max 400*. You can take about 36 pictures with one roll. Both films are well suited for everyday use and do well according to test reports. Of course, films from other producers can also be used with the camera.
The exposure area of the photo camera is 24 mm x 36 mm. The film is automatically transported by a motor after each photo. The number of photos taken is shown on the display on the top.
