The Minolta Pocket Autopak 430Ex was first released in 1980, a very simple camera for Kodak 110 pocket film*(see below), but an electronic flash built-in.
The company made quite a range of pocket cameras, including SLR models.
*
110 film was introduced by Kodak in 1972. The film sits in a cartridge,
like Kodak's earlier 126 film, but is much smaller. A frame is 13mm ×
17mm, has one perforation per image to control film advance and 24
frames per cartridge (12 were also available). The film is protected by
a backing paper like 120 film. The frame number is visible through a
window at the back of the cartridge. The basic film is ordinary 16mm
film which was already on the market, so it could be processed in
existing machines. The small picture size made very small, pocketable
cameras possible.
Kodak introduced with its 110 film a line of
Kodak Pocket Instamatic cameras which were followed by
cameras from other manufacturers. Most cameras were cheap
point-and-shoot, but very sophisticated models were also made. Small
digital cameras made 110 film obsolete. Bit by bit manufacturers stopped making 110 format film (Fujifilm in 2009), but in 2012 (and 2019) Lomography made a large batch of 110 film, followed by other firms.
The
Minolta Pocket Autopak 430Ex has a 3-zone focussig. The
only difference to the 430E model, released in 1977 is the beep warning
of the Ex in low light. The model presented is an early one, it has the
old logo. Its main features are:
26mm F5.6 glass lens, 3 elements, F5.6, min. focus 1.5m, 3 zones Shutter fixed speed, 1/200s Size 150x57x28, Weight 210 gr. 100
and 400 ISO automatic setting, parallax indication marks, LED and beep for insufficient light, electronic flash
Camera open. Big and bright viewfinder with bright framelines, only parallax indication. If the camera is closed, the lens is well protected and shutter release blocked. Seen from above. Cable release socket. Distance setting slider and scale. Flash slider. Back view. The
window will show the film type and the frame number, when a cartrigde
is inserted. Flash ready lamp. Seen
from below. No tripod socket as there are no slow speeds. Film advance
slider. Distance indications in meters and feet for the symbols and the
flash.
Flash set via the second slider. It extends a bit to prevent red eyes. Camera
film and battery compartment open. This model needs one simple AA battery.
A whole lot of different Minolta 110 cameras, all with electronic shutter except the 430Ex.
This
camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready.
It has no
manual settings, it has a fixed speed and aperture. You only have
to
focus and frame, which is easy via the bright finder and an easy 3-zone
focussing scale in the upper part of it. If by half pressing the
shutter no
light appears and no beep is audible, exposure is fine, if there
is a light and a beep, the
camera needs the flash. After taking
a picture, you have to advance film and cock shutter via the slider
under the camera. Putting
a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment, advance to the first frame and
that's it.
It's
a simple point and shoot camera
with the advantage of an electronic flash, but the disadvantage of a fixed speed and aperture.
