Minolta Riva Zoom 125

The Minolta Riva Zoom 125 is a 35mm camera. It belongs to the group of snapshot cameras and is easy to use. The model was built by Minolta in China and marketed in the early 2000s. The 35mm camera was also available on the market under the name “Minolta Freedom Zoom 125” and “Minolta Capios 125S“.

The lens of the camera cannot be changed. The zoom goes from 37.5 mm to 125 mm, hence the name of the camera. The maximum aperture is f/5.4 at wide angle and f/10.3 at 125 mm. The lens is focused by autofocus. The minimum distance to the subject is 60 cm.

Taking pictures is made easier by the built-in light meter. It is designed for an ISO range of 25 to 3200. The film speed is read out via the DX code. The exposure settings are determined automatically by the camera. There is no possibility to set aperture and shutter speed on this model.

There is a built-in flash for taking pictures in low light conditions. The flash comes with an automatic mode for avoiding red-eye in the photos. Additionally, there is a mode for taking pictures at night and a fill-in flash, for example for backlit shots. The flash can also be turned off completely.The range of the flash is up to 4.6 meters when using ISO 100 film.

The camera comes with a self-timer with a lead time of ten seconds. Additionally, there is an option to take photos with a remote shutter release. The RC-3 infrared remote control, sold separately, has a range of five meters. A CR2032 battery (eBay / Amazon*) is needed for the remote control.

The dimensions of the Minolta Riva Zoom 125 are 11.2 x 6 x 4.4 cm. At the same time, it weighs 190 grams. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom. A wrist strap can be attached to the side of the camera body.

The camera requires a CR123A battery (eBay / Amazon*). This type of battery is still easy to get and is not particularly expensive either. One battery charge is enough for about 300 pictures. The charge level is shown on the display on the top.

Films for the Minolta Riva Zoom 125

The Minolta Riva Zoom 125 is built for 35mm format. The camera automatically transports the film to the next frame after shooting. The current number of captured frames is shown on the display. If it shows “0”, the film has not been loaded correctly. Under no circumstances should the back cover be opened when there is still film in the camera. A button can also be used to rewind the film into the cartridge early if you want to remove the film before the end of the film.

35mm film is still readily available today and is developed by most photo labs. One possibility for B&W images is Ilford Delta 400*. A possible film for color images is the Kodak ColorPlus 200*. According to reviews, the films provide good results in most everyday situations. Both films are good for everyday, wedding or vacation shots.