The Minolta Zoom 70 is a photo camera. The model was built in China and introduced in the late 90s. It belongs to the group of point-and-shoot cameras and was an entry-level model. The body of the camera is made of plastic and is not particularly high quality. An almost identical model was also available as the Minolta Riva Zoom 70.
The camera comes with a lens that cannot be changed. The manufacturer's name for the lens is "Minolta Aspherical Lens Zoom 35-70mm". The lens has a zoom range of 38mm to 70mm. The maximum aperture varies depending on the focal length and ranges from f/5.3 to f/9.8. The lens is autofocused. The closest focusing distance is specified as 130cm for this lens.
The 35mm photo camera has a built-in light meter. The light meter is designed for films with a sensitivity of ISO 100, ISO 200 and ISO 400. The film speed is read out via the DX code on the film cartridge. If there is no code on the cartridge, ISO 100 is set. The aperture and exposure time are set automatically by the Minolta Zoom 70. It is not possible to change the exposure settings.
There is a built-in flash for shooting in low light conditions. The flash range is up to 3 meters at ISO 100 in the wide-angle range. The flash can be turned off if desired.
The 35mm camera has a thread for a tripod and a self-timer. Of course, there is also an eyelet for a wrist strap. The camera weighs 235 grams. The dimensions are 12.8 x 7.3 x 5.2 cm. The camera requires one CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*). One battery lasts for about 360 photos, half of them with the use of the flash.
Films for the Minolta Zoom 70
What kind of films does the Minolta Zoom 70 need? 35mm format films are used. The film transport is automatic. A display on the top shows the number of frames taken. Spooling into the cassette is also done by the built-in motor.
35mm films are still manufactured today. They can be developed in most laboratories. Good choices for color and black and white are the Kodak Gold 200* and the Ilford HP5*. Both films produce decent images and are good for everyday use according to reviews.
