Konica Big Mini BM-302 (1990)
The Konica Big Mini BM-302 is a compact 35mm point-and-shoot from the early 1990s, part of Konica's well-regarded Big Mini series. It's often cited as a cult classic among pocket cameras, and a period of renewed interest has made it a frequently sought-after model on the used market.
The lens is a fixed 35mm f/3.5 (4 elements in 4 groups). It has earned consistent praise for sharpness, though one source describes it as a 28mm lens. The camera has an auto close-up (macro) mode, an auto-variable flash that can adjust its output, and a 10-second self-timer. Film speed is set by DX coding from 25 - 3200 ISO, and it defaults to 25 ISO on non-DX cassettes. The shutter runs from 7.5 to 1/360 sec. One quirk: the takeup spool locks after you shoot, so you can't pull the film out mid-roll without closing the back and pressing the rewind button.
The BM-302 is a refinement of the earlier BM-201. analog.cafe noted that the successor is significantly quieter than the BM-201, whose motor whizzed "nearly as loudly as a battery-powered drill." The same review found the BM-302's shutter button more reliable than the notoriously finicky one on the BM-201. The controls are functional but stiff - the tiny rubber buttons on the back may need a pencil tip to press. The settings reset when you power the camera off, though you can set them while it's off and they'll hold when you turn it on.
Some reviewers prefer the design of the earlier BM-201, with its square lens barrel, but the BM-302 is generally regarded as the more polished, usable camera. It's small, discreet and pocketable, which suits street photography. The main caveat is the lack of lens protection. There's no cap, just a built-in skylight filter in front of the glass.
Surviving documentation on the BM-302 is thin. No original retail price or detailed production history has surfaced. The Analog Club dates it to 1990, Japan. Current asking prices on the used market hover around €260 - £280, with one Russian listing at 22,900 ₽ noting a replaced ribbon cable, a hint that the flex cable inside may be a common failure point.
Known Specs
- Lens: Konica 35mm f/3.5 (4 elements, 4 groups; one source cites 28mm)
- Film: 35mm, DX-coded 25–3200 ISO (25 ISO non-DX)
- Shutter: 7.5 to 1/360 sec
- Flash: Built-in, auto-variable output
- Weight: 174g (body only; 212g with film and CR-123 battery)
- Body: Plastic, black
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