Minolta Pico

The Minolta Pico is a compact camera from Minolta. It was introduced by Minolta in the early 1990s. The compact camera was manufactured in a factory in Japan and sold to consumers in the domestic Japanese market. It relies heavily on automatic operation, making it very easy to use without a manual. The 35mm camera was also sold under the names “Minolta Riva Mini” and “Minolta Freedom Escort“. The model should not be confused with the Zoom Pico.

Unlike many models in the compact camera line by Minolta, this model has a fixed focal length. 34 mm is the focal length of the lens. The camera’s widest aperture is f/3.5, and the 35mm camera has autofocus. The closest focusing distance is specified at 60 cm for this lens.

The Minolta Pico is equipped with a built-in light meter. It can be used with films from ISO 50 to ISO 3200. The photo camera determines the correct film speed based on the DX code. If the code on the cartridge is not present, a value of ISO 100 is set. Exposure settings are automatically set by the 35 mm camera. It is not possible to influence aperture and shutter speed.

A flash is built in for taking pictures in insufficient light. At ISO 100, the range is up to 3.6 meters. Logically, the higher the sensitivity of the film, the greater the range. The flash recharging time is about 3.5 seconds. If desired, the flash can also be switched off. Additionally, there is a fill-in flash and an auto mode to reduce red-eye in photos.

The Minolta Pico has a thread for a tripod on the bottom. Of course, a self-timer should not be missing. The self-timer has a lead time of ten seconds.

The camera with its plastic housing weighs 165 grams. The dimensions are 11.8 x 6.3 x 3.6 cm. The power source of the 35mm camera is a CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*). This type of battery is still readily available today. One charge is enough for about 600 pictures. The display on the top shows the charge level.

The camera offers an additional feature, it can imprint the shooting time in one corner of the photos. This way, the time of shooting can be determined exactly with date and time, and you don’t have to make notes. However, the calendar only lasts until the year 2019.

The function requires an additional CR2025 battery (eBay / Amazon*). You can also disable the function or not insert a battery, the camera can still be used normally.

Films for the Minolta Pico

What is needed for the Minolta Pico is 35mm film. The camera has a built-in motor for transporting the film. After each press of the shutter button, the camera moves to the next free frame. The return transport to the cartridge is also automatic, but can be forced with a button. The number of photos taken is also shown in the display. If you see a blinking “0” there, the film was not loaded correctly into the camera.

A good choice for the Minolta Pico is Kodak Gold 200* (color film) and Ilford Delta 400* (black and white film). Both are solid films that also score well in test reports. Of course, there are many other alternatives. The most important thing is that they are in the ISO 50 to ISO 3200 range and have DX encoding on the cartridge.

Color films are developed using the C-41 process. The C-41 process is done by almost all photo labs. Most drugstore chains in Germany offer the development of color films. For this type of film, the black and white film must be developed in a developer. Many laboratories also offer this type of development or you develop the film yourself with the appropriate chemistry.