KonicaPOP (EFP)

The Konica POP (EFP) comes out of the early 1980s, when autofocus and programmed exposure were quietly rewriting what a compact could do. Catalogued as a fixed-focus compact, it pairs the Konica 36mm f/4 with a 35mm film path. A bit of background: came in red, blue, yellow, white, black and pink — pure 80s pop design.

Format

35mm

Year

1982

Lens

Konica 36mm f/4

Min. focus

1.5 m (fixed focus)

Flash

Built-in pop-up

Battery

2× AA

The Konica 36mm f/4 is on the slow side, so it rewards good light or a roll of ISO 400 — but the body shrinks accordingly into something you'll actually carry every day. Standard 35mm keeps it compatible with whatever Kodak, Ilford, Fuji or CineStill stock you find on the shelf today. It runs on common AA batteries — you can resurrect one on a Sunday afternoon with whatever the corner shop has in stock. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 1.5 m (fixed focus), close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. One thing worth knowing before you load a roll: designed by Hiroshi Hara — the same design language as Memphis Group furniture. Best for everyday life and half-length portraits — a 40-ish lens stays out of the way and renders people without distortion.

The Konica POP (EFP) hasn't been swept up by the algorithm yet, which is the entire window — get one before the rest of the internet catches up. Worth remembering: lo-fi, plasticky, and beloved by film newcomers for the price-to-vibe ratio.

• §1Came in red, blue, yellow, white, black and pink — pure 80s pop design.
• §2Designed by Hiroshi Hara — the same design language as Memphis Group furniture.
• §3Lo-fi, plasticky, and beloved by film newcomers for the price-to-vibe ratio.