The Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 is a compact camera for the American market. The 35mm camera was built by Minolta in China and sold in the early 2000s. The 35mm photo camera was also sold on the market under the name “Minolta Riva Zoom 160” and “Minolta Capios 160A“.
The body of the camera is made of plastic. There is an eyelet on the side for attaching a wrist strap.
The lens of the 35mm camera is fixed. It has a zoom function and the zoom range is from 37.5 mm to 160 mm. The widest aperture is f/5.4 at 37.5 mm and f/12.4 at 160 mm. The closest focusing distance of this lens is 60 cm.
With the 35 mm camera, you don’t have to focus manually as there is an autofocus system. Here you have several modes to choose from. In Spot AF mode, the system focuses on a specific point. In Area AF, the focus range is much larger. In Target AF mode, the subject is tracked by the sensors and the lens focuses accordingly.
Taking pictures is made easier by the built-in light meter. This is designed for an ISO range of 25 to 3200. The film speed is read out via the DX code. If this code is missing on the cartridge, ISO 100 is set. The exposure settings are automatically controlled and adjusted by the electronics. There is only an exposure compensation of +1.5 stops.
A flash is built in for low-light shots. Up to 4.6 meters is the specified range at a sensitivity of ISO 100 in the wide-angle range. The flash can also be turned off if desired. There is also a fill-in flash that fires with every picture, and a mode for portraits at night. The flash’s auto mode is supposed to automatically prevent red-eye in photos.
There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom of the camera. A self-timer is also built in. This has a ten second lead time to get into position after the shutter button is pressed.
The dimensions of the Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 are 11 x 6 x 4.5 cm. It weighs 195 grams. Power is supplied by a CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*). According to the manual, this lasts for up to 240 pictures if you use the flash for half of the photos.
The Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 Date comes with a quartz date function. The recording time can be exposed in one of the corners of the images. This makes it easy to determine the exact time the picture was taken. The integrated calendar extends to the year 2099.
Another special feature of the Date model is the ability to use a wireless shutter release. This requires the RC-3 infrared trigger. This has a range of up to 5 meters and requires a CR2032 battery (eBay / Amazon*).
Films for the Minolta Freedom Zoom 160
The Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 is designed to take 35mm films. These are still readily available today and are still being developed.
Film transport is automatic through the camera. The motor manages one frame about every 2.2 seconds. A display on the top shows the current number of pictures taken. If there is a “0” there, the film has not been loaded properly. If the film is full, it is also automatically rewound and the cartridge can be removed.
Possible films for the Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 are the Kodak Gold 200* for color photos and the Ilford Delta 400* for black and white photos. Both films deliver decent shots and are good for everyday use according to reviews. Films from other manufacturers can of course also be used with the camera.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Snapshot camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Automatic |
| Film transport mechanism | Motor |
| Pictures per second | 0,45 |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 36 mm |
| Focal length | 37.5 mm - 160 mm |
| Widest aperture | f/5.4 |
| Minimum focus distance | 60 cm / 1.968 ft |
| Zoom function | Yes |
| Focus | Autofocus |
| Lens design | 6 elements in 6 groups |
| Exposure times | 1/500 second to 10 seconds |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Supported film speeds | ISO 25 to 3200 |
| Auto DX (Film sensitivity) | Yes |
| Exposure modes | Program automatic |
| Exposure compensation | + 1.5EV |
| Manual exposure settings | No |
| Date imprinting | Yes |
| Flash | Integrated flash |
| Flash range | 0,6 to 4,6 Meter / 1.97 to 15.09 Feet |
| Flash modes | Fill-in flash, Red-eye reduction |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | No |
| Self-timer | Yes, Self-timer function with 10 seconds lead time |
| Power supply | 1x CR123A battery |
| Size | 11 x 6 x 4,5 cm |
| Dimensions in inches | 4.33 x 2.36 x 1.77 inches |
| Weight | 195 Grams |
| Country of production | China |
FAQ about the Minolta Freedom Zoom 160
I'm new to film cameras. Is this Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 hard to use?
No, the camera is quite beginner-friendly. It has autofocus, so you don't have to manually adjust the focus. Also, the camera automatically sets the exposure, which means it decides how bright or dark the picture will be. Just point, and shoot!
Can I take pictures indoors with this camera?
Yes, the Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 has a built-in flash that helps in low-light situations. It can reach up to 4.6 meters when the ISO is at 100 and the lens is at its widest setting. You can also turn the flash off if you prefer.
What kind of film does this little camera use, and where can I get it?
It uses standard 35mm film, which is still widely available today. You can find it at most camera stores, online retailers like Amazon, and even some drugstores. Good choices are Kodak Gold 200 for color, or Ilford Delta 400 for black and white.
How much does it weigh? I don’t want a heavy camera.
That’s a good question, it is a light weight camera. The body is made of plastic and weighs only 195 grams, so it's easy to carry around. Its compact dimensions (11 x 6 x 4.5 cm) also make it a convenient choice for travel.
Does the Minolta Freedom Zoom 160 show the date on the photos?
Yes, if you have the 'Date' model of the camera. It has a feature that imprints the date and time in the corner of your photographs. The camera's calender is integrated until the year 2099.
Is it possible to use a remote with this camera?
Yes, with the Date model you can use a remote. You need the Minolta IR-Auslöser RC-3. With it you can make photos within a range of 5 meters.