Minolta Riva Zoom 125EX

The Minolta Riva Zoom 125EX is a 35mm camera. It belongs to the group of snapshot cameras. The model was produced in Malaysia in the late 90s. The 35mm camera was also available on the market under the brand “Minolta Supreme Freedom Zoom EX” and “Minolta Capios 125“.

The photo camera comes with a fixed zoom lens. The zoom range is from 39 mm to 125 mm. The largest aperture is f/3.6 at 39 mm and f/10.9 at 125 mm. There is no need to focus manually with the 35 mm camera. The model has an autofocus system. The minimum distance to the subject is 60 cm.

The 35 mm camera has a built-in light meter. The light meter is built for films with a sensitivity of ISO 25 to ISO 3200. The film speed is read out via the DX code. The aperture and exposure time are set automatically by the camera technology and cannot be changed.

The camera is equipped with different exposure modes. Thus, there is an automatic mode, where everything is set automatically. There is also a portrait mode, portrait mode at night and a macro mode. In macro mode, photos are possible at a distance of only 45 cm. In spot metering mode, the exposure is only measured on a small part of the image.

Sufficient light is provided by the built-in flash. The flash range is up to 7 meters with a normal ISO 100 film. The camera comes with different modes for the flash. There is an automatic flash, automatic flash with red-eye prevention, a fill-in flash and the option to turn the flash off completely. Readiness is indicated via lights on the viewfinder.

The 35mm photo camera has a self-timer with a lead time of ten seconds. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom. A camera strap can be attached to the side.

The camera weighs 275 grams. The dimensions are 12.9 x 6.9 x 5 cm. The camera requires one CR2 battery (eBay / Amazon*). One battery lasts for about 300 pictures. The charge level is shown on the display on the top.

In addition to the normal model, there was also a Quartz Date model. This model can be recognized by the imprint “Date”. It can imprint the shooting time and date in one corner of the image. This makes it easy to see when a picture was taken. The calendar goes up to the year 2029.

Films for the Minolta Riva Zoom 125EX

According to the instruction manual, the Minolta Riva Zoom 125EX is designed for 35mm film. The film is automatically transported to the next free area after each photo. The motor also transports at the end of the film roll. Through a window on the back you can see the currently loaded film. The number of photos taken is presented on the display. In continuous shooting mode, the camera motor manages up to one image every 2 seconds.

35mm film is still easy to get today and is still being developed. A nice film for color pictures is the Kodak Ultramax 400* and for black and white pictures the Ilford Delta 400*. Smaller manufacturers, such as Rollei, Adox or Foma, also offer films for this format.