MinoltaRiva Zoom 150

Released into the late 1990s — panorama switches, dated LCDs, and a few genuinely brilliant lenses hiding inside plastic shells, the Minolta Riva Zoom 150 is a zoom compact built around a Minolta Aspherical 37.5–150mm f/4.8–11.5. For context, sold as the Freedom Zoom 150 in North America.

Format

35mm

Year

1997

Lens

Minolta Aspherical 37.5–150mm f/4.8–11.5

Min. focus

0.9 m

Flash

Built-in multi-mode

Battery

1× CR123A

The Minolta Aspherical 37.5–150mm f/4.8–11.5 is the convenience play: a single optical formula that handles groups, snapshots and tighter portraits without ever leaving your hand. Standard 35mm keeps it compatible with whatever Kodak, Ilford, Fuji or CineStill stock you find on the shelf today. A single CR123A lithium cell powers everything including the motor; still cheap and stocked at most camera shops. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.9 m, close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. A quirk worth flagging up front: one of Minolta's longer zooms in the late-'90s Riva lineup, in a sleek silver shell. The zoom range covers the obvious bases: groups at the wide end, half-length portraits at the long end, no lens changes ever.

The Minolta Riva Zoom 150 won't impress at the pub, but it'll cover a holiday end-to-end without ever asking you to think about glass.

• §1Sold as the Freedom Zoom 150 in North America.
• §2One of Minolta's longer zooms in the late-'90s Riva lineup, in a sleek silver shell.