Minolta Freedom 50N

The Minolta Freedom 50N is a simple 35mm camera. It was made available in the early 1990s by Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. of Japan. It was sold mainly in the U.S. and is the successor to the Minolta Freedom 50. The model is limited to basic functions and was aimed primarily at hobby users. Under the name “Minolta Riva 35“, the 35mm photo camera was marketed in other markets worldwide.

The novelty at that time was optical, the technical specifications remained the same compared to the 50 without the “N”. Later, there was the Freedom GT, which also differs only optically.

The 35mm photo camera is equipped with a fixed lens. 35mm is the focal length of the lens. The widest aperture of the camera is f/4.5, and there is no autofocus. The focus is fixed and cannot be changed. The closest focusing distance for this lens is 150 cm.

The 35mm camera has a built-in light meter. It is designed for films from ISO 100 to ISO 400. The film speed is read via the DX code; if this code is not present on the cartridge, the camera selects ISO 100. The shutter speed is always fixed at 1/125 second. The aperture is f/8.

When shooting with the built-in flash, the camera selects the maximum aperture of f/4.5. The output of the flash depends on the film speed. The range with ISO 100 film is specified as up to 4 meters. The flash does not have different flash modes. However, the flash can be deactivated in return.

According to the manual, the camera weighs 190 grams with its plastic housing. The dimensions are 12.9 x 6.8 x 4.9 cm. The camera requires two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*). Here, of course, you can resort to rechargeable batteries. They usually last for over 1300 pictures.

A thread for a tripod is missing. The camera also does not have a self-timer.

In addition, there were still model with a data back. This feature allows the date of recording to be imprinted in a corner of the images. However, this requires an additional CR2025 battery for the movement. The variant is recognizable by the imprint “QD” and the display on the back of the case.

Films for the Minolta Freedom 50N

According to the instruction manual, the Minolta Freedom 50N is compatible with 35mm films. The camera automatically transports the film to the next frame after each photo. Also at the end, the film is automatically rewound into the cartridge. The number of pictures taken is displayed on the top of the camera.

A recommendation this camera are the Fujifilm Superia 400* and for B&W shooting the Kodak T-Max 400*. Of course, you can also use films from other manufacturers. The only important thing is that the films are in a range from ISO 100 to ISO 400.

The color film is developed using the C-41 process. This process is offered by almost every photo lab. You can hand in your films for development in many drugstores in Germany, for example. The black and white film must go into a real black and white developer.