Konica Kanpai (1989)
The Konica Kanpai is a fixed-focus 35mm point-and-shoot introduced in 1989, and it is a genuinely odd little party camera. It has one gimmick: a built-in microphone that fires the shutter when you shout “Kanpai!” (Japanese for “cheers”). Kamerastore describes it as a party camera in the truest sense, and the name is the whole pitch. It was listed at ¥30,000 (roughly $215 USD) at launch in what sources describe as a “stone” finish. At least one eBay listing for a near-mint unit calls it “Marble Pattern,” so the exact finish name is unresolved.
Beyond the voice-activated shutter, documentation is thin. It takes 35mm film and runs on a 2CR5 battery (not included, as Analogue Shop is careful to note). No lens specs, shutter range or dimensions appear in any source we've found. The original tripod and little shoe accessories are apparently hard to come by. One collector page notes, “We’re still on the lookout for the original tripod and shoes!” That suggests they were part of the intended package but are scarce on the secondhand market today.
Known specs, such as they are:
- Fixed-focus 35mm compact point-and-shoot
- Built-in microphone triggers shutter on loud noise (the “Kanpai!” gimmick)
- 2CR5 battery
- 1989 release; ¥30,000 list price (about $215 USD)
eBay is the main marketplace, and units do turn up in good condition. Don't expect to find the original tripod and shoes with one.
eBay Listings
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