Product Description

There are a number of ways to explore life. But have you ever tried exploring life with pictures? Well, Minolta has the perfect camera for exploring life. The Freedom Zoom Explorer EX.The Explorer EX's 2.7-times zoom lens lets you shoot high-quality photographs with ease. Get as close as 15.6 inches to capture a hidden world that often goes unseen. Or widen out for sweeping landscapes, beautiful night views, memorable travel photos, or full-frame portraits. The Freedom Zoom Explorer EX does it all, and it's ready when you are - in your pocket, purse, or fanny pack.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2657 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Konica-Minolta
• Model: SE2428901
• Dimensions: 2.63" h x 1.75" w x 4.75" l, 8.80 pounds

Features

• Multibeam active autofocus
• 28mm to 70mm zoom lens
• Panorama switch
• Continuous-drive option
• 3 exposure presets

Amazon.com Review
The Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer offers advanced features in a slim, compact package. Its zoom lens, multiple preset programs, easy panorama switch and continuous-drive mode make it a versatile, portable camera perfect for both beginners and those needing higher-end point-and-shoot capability.

The Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer is one of the more compact 35mm cameras we've seen; its automatic sliding lens cover and smooth form make it easy to carry in a pocket without a case. We found it easy to use, although we recommend reading the manual to learn how to use the preset exposure and continuous-drive modes.

The Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer reads DX-coded film from ISO 25 to 3,200, making it suitable for specialty slow and high-speed work. (Many point-and-shoots accept only a limited range of film speeds.) It offers both automatic and manual rewind options.

The Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer has a 28mm to 70mm zoom lens for shots ranging from wide-angle to portraits or medium close-ups. The only drawback we experienced was that the zoom lens retracts in steps rather than in one continuous motion; if you need to frame a photo exactly, we recommend zooming in instead of out. Besides auto-exposure mode, the Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer also provides macro, night-portrait, and landscape settings for optimal exposure and focus. The built-in flash can be set to auto, red-eye reduction, fill-flash, or off.

The Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer's continuous-drive mode lets you take pictures continuously by holding down the shutter release. This advanced feature is good for sporting events and other action subjects--just be prepared with extra film if you take a long series of photos. The Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer also offers panorama capability via an easy-to-use switch. You can take panoramic photos on the same roll as regular pictures, although you'll have to have them specially reprinted to get the larger-size panoramic prints.

Pros:

• Preset exposure and focus options
• Accepts a wide range of film
• Continuous-drive option
• Panorama switch
• Compact construction

Cons:

• Lens zooms out in steps

Customer Reviews

Great wide angle point & shoot camera
I have a degree in photography, worked at National Geographis for over 8 years and my camera of choice is this one. My big Nikon sits collecting dust. I just had mine stolen and after researching every P&S camera now available, I'm buying another Explorer. My camera did not have the zoom in stages problem as discribed in the above discription. It is one of the only 28mm wide p&s cameras. It's very small and powerful. Takes nice pictures too.

Best Point&Shoot Available
My 5-year inventory of camera wreckage includes a 35mm lens smashed on the temple steps of Angkor Wat; an Olympus point-and-shoot that disintegrated in Denali; a Nikon F3 viewfinder that caved on the streets of Bangkok; and another lens dropped in the Kathmandu international airport. The one camera that's actually thrived through my persistent and negligent abuse is the Freedom Zoom, which I bought in the summer of 1995 for a whopping $275. It's the only p&s available with a decent 28mm wide-angle lens. It's the only p&s I've found with a well-designed and ultra-durable housing. Regardless, today my Zoom is slightly worse for wear, with a small duct tape band-aid and a display meter that shows black goo where the frame counter used to be. It's been dropped, kicked, crushed, lost, found, and dragged all over creation. But it still does the job, racking-up tons more great travel photos than the bulky, fussy, and highly stealable F3 (try putting *that* down you pants in the midst of a third-world police shakedown). Alas, my ongoing abuse has finally taken its toll, and the little Minolta is in serious need of retirement. You make a guess about the p&s I'll be buying as a replacement.

Excellent all-around point and shoot camera
I like this camera for its all around versatility and picture quality. I've used it in work, for art and for family fun--and it's a good choice for all.

The camera is small, light and easy to use on the job. I photo houses for insurance inspections. The zoom helps getting close ups, and the 28 mm wide angle is great for shooting the entire house--I don't have to move very far away. Likewise for landscape photos, sunsets, etc.

The flash is very versatile, and can be turned off (with only a little trouble) to save batteries when not needed. The red-eye reduction helps a lot for family shots.

This new version is missing the very useful date/time stamp--present on the older model I use.

The picture quality is probably not that of a professional SLR, but pretty close for most of the things I shoot.

The camera seems quite durable. I used it for 2 years occasionally for fun and art, and recently put it into professional service. It held up for 10 months with daily use--25-40 photos and being turned on and off 10-15 times per day--before it broke down. I also dropped it several times, but it kept on ticking. It will probably last you a few more years, if you just use it for a family camera!