Konica Minolta Freedom Zoom 150EX (Early 2000s)
The Konica Minolta Freedom Zoom 150EX - sold in some markets as the Riva Zoom 150 - is a 35mm point-and-shoot from the early 2000s, made in China. Its big feature was a full 4X zoom range in a compact body, 37.5-150mm at f/5.4-11.9. Period promotional copy leaned hard on that, boasting that "never before has a full 4X zoom been able to fit in such a compact body."
The body is compact, roughly 4.4 × 2.36 × 1.7 inches and about 6.7 ounces (190g without battery). That made it pocketable in a way few long-zoom compacts of its era managed. The camera is fully automated: autofocus, built-in flash, auto film transport, and a panorama mode. One retailer describes it as "an ideal option for making creative portraits with a blurred background," which tracks with the long end of that zoom range. It runs on a single CR123A battery.
Owner reports are enthusiastic. One reviewer on photographyreview.com called it "the best p&s camera I have used," and said it "produced excellent photos" on a trip to America. A London shop currently lists one at £1,480 (condition A+), which says more about that shop's pricing than the camera's typical market value. A Danish seller's unit went for far less, with an honest condition note about a cracked battery door and slight haze on the lens.
The record is thin for a camera this well-regarded. No exact production years, original retail price, shutter speed range, or ISO range have surfaced. The "EX" in the name and the "Panoramic" hint in the photographyreview.com URL suggest variants existed, but specifics are undocumented. If you have the manual or a spec sticker from the baseplate, the Archive would welcome the record.
Known specifications:
- Type: 35mm fully automatic point-and-shoot
- Lens: Minolta 37.5–150mm f/5.4–11.9 zoom (4X)
- Dimensions: 4.4 × 2.36 × 1.7 inches
- Weight: 6.7 oz (190g without battery)
- Battery: CR123A
- Features: Autofocus, built-in flash, panorama mode, auto wind
- Made in China, early 2000s
- Also sold as: Minolta Riva Zoom 150
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