The Minolta Riva Zoom 115, which appears to be very similar to the Minolta Freedom Zoom 115, is a (yes you guessed it) zoom point and shoot film camera.

It’s been hard to work out exactly when this camera model was released but, going by visual design style and specifications, it appears to be from the same period as other small and compact zoom film cameras built sometime in the 1990s.

However, the Minolta Riva Zoom 115 has a far longer zoom range than the Ricoh RZ-728 or the Ricoh RZ-735, both of which we have reviewed previously. The Minolta Riva Zoom 115 lens zooms from 37.5mm, right up to 115mm. All of which makes the camera slightly unwieldy.

Specifications

Minolta Riva Zoom 115, with lens extended.

Minolta Riva Zoom 115, with lens extended.

As well as a zoom ratio of 3.1x, the Minolta Riva Zoom 115 has an aperture range from f/5.4 to f/10.9. The autofocus system uses 3 focus points and comprises of 1,232 autofocus steps. Like many point and shoot film cameras systems, autofocus lock is available by pressing the shutter button half way down, allowing for focus and re-compose. A similar techniques allows auto-exposure lock.

Shutter speed ranges from 10 up to 1/390 seconds. The camera takes DX coded film, ranging from 25 ISO up to 3200 ISO, which is probably the widest range of any of the point and shoot film cameras reviewed on this site, so far.

The flash is built in and engages automatically, but it can be disabled. The flash also allows red-eye reduction, fill flash and various other flash modes.

All the usual other modern P&S camera features are there, such as automatic film loading and auto-rewinding of the film. There is also a 10 second delay self-timer option.

Using the Minolta Riva Zoom 115

The Minolta Riva Zoom 115 is a very light camera – about 200g.

The zoom function is easy enough to use. A small ‘lever’ style button on the back of the camera is worked with the right hand to zoom in and out. The various functions and settings are controlled by little buttons on the back, which are fairly easily accessible and easy enough to use.

The viewfinder is deceptively good – it looks as if it would be small, but I actually found that it gave quite a clear view. Something which I have not always found with point and shoot zoom cameras. Especially very compact ones.

The zoom lens itself does look rather odd. It projects quite a way out of the camera, but I suppose that is the only way to achieve such a wide zoom range.

All in all, this appears to be quite a feature packed camera.


Posted by P&SFC