Minolta Vectis S-100 (c. 1996)

The Minolta Vectis S-100 is an APS (IX240) system SLR introduced around 1996. It belongs to Minolta's Vectis line for the Advanced Photo System format, and it is the more affordable sibling to the flagship Vectis S-1. It was the lightest and smallest APS interchangeable-lens autofocus SLR Minolta made for its V-mount lenses. The body is splashproof, and the compact size comes from using mirrors instead of prisms in the viewfinder. The camera offered variable print-aspect-ratio and magnetic storage of date and exposure information on the film cartridge.

The S-100 was sold with a range of V-mount zoom lenses. Listings show it paired with a 22-80mm, a 28-56mm, and a Minolta V Lens 56-170mm f/4.5-5.6 (roughly equivalent to 70-210mm on 35mm format). The body was plastic, available in champagne. The shutter ran from 30 seconds to 1/1000s, with ISO sensitivity from 25 to 6400. It measures 125 × 79 × 56 mm and weighs 318g.

Beyond that, the documented record is thin. No original price, production run, or detailed technical specifications (metering, autofocus, flash) have surfaced in the available sources. One French blog called the S-100 a strange camera from the nineties that introduced genuinely new comfort concepts, even if diluted compared to its big brother the S-1. The user manual is available online. Used examples surface occasionally. One sold with a lens for €5, while other listings have asked around €25 or 1,360 rubles, often with honest notes about scratches or untested condition. APS had a short life, so the S-100 is now an affordable curiosity rather than a sought-after collectible.

Type: APS (IX240) system SLR, Minolta V-mount
Introduced: ca. 1996
Shutter: 30s – 1/1000s
ISO: 25 – 6400
Size: 125 × 79 × 56 mm
Weight: 318g
Body: plastic, champagne finish, splashproof