Minolta Freedom Vista

The Minolta Freedom Vista is a Minolta camera that was sold primarily to amateur photographers in the United States. It was introduced by the Japanese company in the early 1990s. The camera was also sold on the market under the name “Minolta Riva Panorama” and “Minolta P’s“. There was also a version with a data back, which allowed the time of shooting to be imprinted on the pictures.

A fixed focal length lens is provided for this 35mm photo camera. The lens has a focal length of 24mm. The maximum aperture is f/4.5. There is no need to adjust the focus of the 35mm camera as it has an autofocus system.

Taking pictures is made easier by the built-in light meter. The light meter is designed for 35mm film from ISO 100 to ISO 400. The film speed is determined by the DX code on the film cartridge. If this code is not present, a value of ISO 100 is always selected. The exposure settings are automatically controlled and adjusted by the electronics.

The camera model is also equipped with a built-in flash. At ISO 100, the range is up to 2.7 meters. The camera has a self-timer with a lead time of ten seconds. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom and an eyelet for a camera strap on the side.

According to the manual, the camera weighs 170 grams with its plastic housing. The dimensions are 11.4 x 6.1 x 3.3 cm. A CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*) is responsible for the power supply. One battery charge is enough for about 600 pictures. The QD variant still requires a CR2025 battery (eBay / Amazon*) for the built-in clock. However, the battery can also be omitted, especially since the calendar only lasts until 2019 anyway.

Films for the Minolta Freedom Vista

The Minolta Freedom Vista is designed for 35mm film. The special feature of the model is the range of negatives. These do not have an aspect ratio of 3:2, but of 3:1, so that the image occupies an area of 12.2 by 36 mm on the film. This creates the appearance of a panorama.

The film is automatically transported to the next image by a motor. The number of frames taken is displayed on the top. The film is also automatically rewound. This process can also be triggered manually if you want to remove the film first.

The 35mm format is very common, so there are still some manufacturers and many developing labs today. A 35mm film for color photography is the Kodak Portra 400*. A possible black and white film is the Ilford XP2 Super*. Test reports attest to their good performance when used in normal applications. It is important that the film is in the ISO 100 to ISO 400 range and that the DX encoding is present on the cartridge.

Color film is a color negative film and is developed using the C-41 process. This process is offered by most professional photo labs. In Germany, you can return the films at most drugstore chains, for example. The black-and-white film must be placed in a developer, e.g. Rodinal.