mikiehorn's Full Review: Konica Minolta Vectis S-1 Film Camera
This was an impulse buy which turned out surprisingly acceptable. Picked up a Vectis S-100 as a price point item ($199.99) the day before an Alaska cruise to backup my trusty and heavier 35mm SLR.
I've tried point and shoot cameras of every type and found them unacceptable. Other APS pocket cameras were a disaster, especially using the fixed focus (zoom) telephoto features, and any hint of back lighting left me dark holes where a picture was supposed to be.
Developed the first roll of Vectis film aboard the ship (Holland America does APS shipboard!) which convinced me to leave the old 35mm in the cabin. Colors were rich (Fuji 200 really agrees with this auto exposure system) and the 56-170 zoom telephoto brought me into new territory with APS cameras. The "splashproof" feature gave me confidence to take it river rafting and hiking across glaciers.
Auto focus in dim light was slow, even slower with flash, but the results were better than any APS pocket camera I've owned. The biggest surprise was the latitude the auto exposure system gave me in variable and mixed light situations. Standing side by side with my wife (who used an older APS P & S pocket camera) we compared prints of subjects lit by glacial glare; partially back lit. Her's were either over or under exposed (or both in the same print!)while the Vectis S-100 cranked out outrageously good detail in the shadow areas.
On a later trip to the Fiji Islands, the "splashproof" feature allowed me to carry the camera through mountain streams and near waterfalls I would never carry a conventional camera anywhere near. Again, one particular event stands out with this exposure system. Shooting INTO a sunset at dusk, I framed torch dancers against the red clouded sky; the pool lights and torches gave some light fill and the pop-up flash provided the rest of the necessary light. The red clouds and dim blue sky were magnificent, the back lit dancers were fully rendered, and the torch color highlights were beautifully colored in picture after picture. All this from a $200 camera on auto exposure!
Carrying a "Lowepro Sideline" hip bag with the camera, 2 lens and 8 rolls of film was never a problem. Changing lenses was easy!
The downside is trying to enlarge these prints beyond 5x7. They start to grain and 'break down'. Anything over 8x10 is risky and should be done in 35mm. Please - somebody fix this APS film system - those tiny negatives are the only limitation this system has for the average user!
Melting adhesive in the tropic sun of an after market lens cap retainer cost me a lost lens cap. Minolta wanted $16.00 for a new one. Finding a 46mm cap on the rack of a local camera store was not difficult at $3.75!
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