Minolta Freedom Zoom Supreme Elite

The Minolta Freedom Zoom Supreme Elite is a camera from Minolta. It is a model for beginners and casual users from the 90s. The camera is easy to use and you rarely need a manual because of the automatic functions. The Capios was sold mainly in North America. This model was built in a factory in Malaysia. Very similar models were also marketed under the names “Minolta Riva Zoom 115EX“, “Minolta Capios 115” and “Minolta Freedom Zoom Supreme“.

The camera is equipped with a fixed zoom lens. The zoom range of the lens is from 38 mm to 115 mm. The maximum aperture is f/3.5 to f/9.9 and the lens is autofocused. The closest focusing distance is specified at 60 cm for this lens. There is also a special macro mode for shooting at a distance of 45 cm from the subject.

The 35 mm photo camera has a light meter. It is designed for an ISO range of 25 to 3200. The film speed is determined by the DX code. If this code is not available, ISO 25 is set by default. You cannot make your own setting. In general, you can only influence the exposure a little. The aperture and exposure time are set automatically by the camera technology. Depending on the zoom level, the maximum exposure time varies somewhat. At 38 mm it is about 2.3 seconds, at 115 mm the shutter can remain open for up to 8 seconds.

When taking pictures, the user has several modes to choose from. Thus, there is a portrait mode, full auto and spot metering. There is a built-in flash for shooting in low-light conditions. It reaches up to 7 meters when filming with ISO 100. An automatic mode prevents red-eye. There is also a mode for night shots and a fill-in flash mode, which is useful for backlit shots, for example. The flash can also be turned off completely.

The 35 mm camera has a self-timer. The self-timer has a lead time of ten seconds. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom. This feature is useful for long exposures or even group shots.

According to the manual, the camera weighs 285 grams and measures 12.9 x 6.9 x 4.9 cm. A CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*) is responsible for the power supply. This type of battery is still easy to find and also quite inexpensive. One battery charge is enough for about 300 pictures. The current charge status is indicated via the display on the top.

If the model carries the imprint “Date”, it has another function. There is a data back on the back. A clock is used to determine the current time and date. This can then be imprinted directly onto the images if desired. This makes it easy to determine when each picture was taken. Of course, you then have to make sacrifices in terms of aesthetics, since the date is difficult to remove again. The calendar lasts until 2029, and additional batteries are not needed.

Films for the Minolta Freedom Zoom Supreme Elite

The Minolta Freedom Zoom Supreme Elite works with 35mm film. The camera uses a motor that advances the film each time the shutter button is pressed. In doing so, the motor manages to capture an image every two seconds in continuous shooting mode. A value that, of course, is not comparable to today’s cameras.

35mm films are still easy to get today and are still being developed. Possible films for the compact camera are the Kodak Ultramax 400* for color photos and the Ilford Delta 100* for black and white photos. According to test reports, both films deliver solid results and are suitable for a wide range of applications. There are other manufacturers of film material specifically for the 35mm format.

Pictures are taken in an aspect ratio of 3:2 or 2:3. An additional feature of the Elite is the panorama mode. When this mode is turned on, the camera adds two bars, top and bottom, to the image to create a panoramic look. However, it makes more sense to do this in post-processing and preserve the additional image area.