Konica Q-Mini
The Konica Q-Mini is a confusing little camera, and the record on it is thin. Sources disagree on what it even is. One dictionary-style page describes it as a fully automatic 35mm film camera with a sleek, lightweight design. Every other source that mentions it describes a digital camera - and the most detailed of those, the Digitalkameramuseum, says the Q-Mini was never actually made by Konica at all.
According to that source, the Q-Mini is an OEM rebadge of a Panasonic design, identical to the Canon PowerShot 350 and the Panasonic NV-DCF1. It was shown at Comdex Fall 1996 as the Panasonic VZ-XP1. The camera has a built-in flash with red-eye reduction, automatic white balance, a macro mode, programmable automatic exposure, and a CompactFlash slot. It runs on three standard AA batteries. One surviving OfferUp listing, described as a "Konica Q mini 3501 Vintage Digital Camera - Tested Works," was asking $80 plus $9.99 shipping.
Beyond that, almost nothing is documented. No production years, no original price, no sensor resolution or lens specs, no dimensions. The film-camera claim comes from that single dictionary page, is uncorroborated anywhere else and conflicts with the digital descriptions, so treat it with skepticism. The Q-Mini appears to be a mid-1990s OEM digital compact wearing Konica branding, but the details of its release and its full specification sheet have not survived in the accessible record.
Known facts:
- Digital camera (per most sources); one uncorroborated source calls it a 35mm film camera
- OEM model — made by Panasonic, identical to Canon PowerShot 350 and Panasonic NV-DCF1
- Shown at Comdex Fall 1996 as Panasonic VZ-XP1
- Built-in flash with red-eye reduction, auto white balance, macro mode, programmable auto exposure
- CompactFlash slot; runs on 3 AA batteries
- One tested-working example listed at $80 on OfferUp
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