Konica zUp 140 Tremendous Overview – Free of charge Gratification

The Konica zUp 140 Tremendous is an all-plastic analog digital camera, circa 1996. I discovered this digital camera without cost right here in Calgary on Kijiji, Canada’s Craiglist. Researching the digital camera, I discovered little or no data, however what critiques I did discover spoke extremely of the lens. Fortunately, mine got here with the “Consumer Guide”, which wasn’t very useful. I did discover a related Konica that Joe Greer previewed on his YouTube channel some time again. This gave me appreciable, albeit naive hope my “zUp” could be simply pretty much as good. The hyperlink to Greer’s expertise is on the finish of this overview. There may be additionally a superb overview of a zUp 100 right here on 35mmc, linked proper beneath Greer’s expertise.  My expertise was punctuated by a wonky zoom that labored “typically”, while different instances refused to even enable me to take an image. These points made getting by way of a job of 35mm “36” a considerably drawn out purgatory.  However one actually well worth the perdition.

First, a bit about this digital camera I discovered on-line, free of charge.  These are the “options” beneath:

• Computerized Movie Advance Motor Winder
• Computerized Flash with varied settings and guide override
• Computerized Focusing/ExposingSelf Timer
• Pink eye discount
• Infinity Focus

My settings dial by no means actually wished to work, which was irritating. I by no means keep in mind utilizing it, and it put me in conditions the place I didn’t need “flash”, however obtained it. Including this to the more-than-finicky zoom points, and this digital camera could possibly be a right-royal ache within the ass to make use of. However Joe Greer’s outcomes saved me calm, affected person, and hopeful – whatever the mechanical irritations.

Now my son introduced the digital camera with him to Vancouver for a Dayglow live performance, previous to my intervention.  He obtained some actually respectable photographs, too.  Whether or not daytime or evening, indoors or out – even “stay” on the present, most of the snaps have been surprisingly good for a free of charge point-and-shoot within the hand of an inexperienced analog plebe.  However my son virtually cursed the zoom’s annoying hit and miss.  His melancholic facet concluded I do away with the digital camera. “We now have too many cameras anyway,” he stated.  “It’s not well worth the bother – however it did take good footage, when it labored.” Being each dangerously sanguine, and by no means one to cave so simply, I ignored him and determined to search out out for myself if we must always maintain, or pitch the “free of charge” Konica. I used to be fortunate sufficient to get three roles of Fuji Superia 400 on-line for CDN$18.00.  My time had come. So had the digital camera’s.  I loaded a job, and took my flip on the Konica zUp 140 Tremendous (by the best way, does anybody have any thought the place the entire “zUp idea got here from?)

All instructed, I obtained 38 photographs out of a job of 36. I’ll take that as my first “win”. Of the 38 photographs I took, 23 have been “keepers”. Some have been crap as a result of zoom points. Some have been crap as a result of photographer. This digital camera is each humbling, and humiliating. It appears, feels, and acts like an inexpensive artifact from the previous. And so it’s. However the 23 images I felt have been “keepers”, have been fairly respectable. This Konica didn’t disappoint Dad, prefer it did his son.

I used to be stunned by each the color, and the readability of this Konica zUp 140 Tremendous. A couple of of my photographs appeared clearer than Greer’s. In all probability much less to do with the photographer, and extra with the lens.

It’s by no means simple to give attention to a topic, or compose {a photograph}, when your zoom lens received’t transfer. So I attempted my finest to easily get photographs – to see what this digital camera might do if it weren’t gibbled. Once more, as aforementioned, the outdated Konica zUp 140 Tremendous did nicely – when it labored as supposed. It’s a fairly respectable outdated 35mm point-and-shoot.  And the viewfinder is spot-on, each single time.  I can’t wait to run some black and white movie by way of this typically temperamental pal.

The Konica zUp 140 Tremendous takes excellent images – more often than not. It’s as gentle as a sandwich. It suits into your coat or jacket pocket like a bag of peanuts, or a chilly beer. If there have been no mechanical points, this digital camera would get 5-stars. With the mechanical points, it nonetheless will get 4. However it’s indubitably a 5-star analog point-and-shoot, in optimum working order. And I imply that sincerely (my son would now concur, even with the wonky zoom lens). Evidently, it’s discovered a everlasting place in my swelling secure of cameras. In the event you bump into considered one of these at a church rummage sale, thrift retailer or flea market – and if it’s lower than $50.00, with a correctly functioning zoom, a case, and house owners guide – purchase it.  You can be each pleasantly stunned, and infrequently disenchanted.  If it breaks, so be it. But when it doesn’t, your return on funding might be well worth the worth you pay – so long as that worth is on the frugal facet, for plastic point-and-shoot movie cameras from the Nineteen Nineties.

Joe Greer’s Konica

Overview of Zup 100
https://www.35mmc.com/09/10/2018/konica-z-up-100w-review/