{"product_id":"minolta-freedom-escort-35mm-camera-serial-_1324302-filmtested","title":"Minolta Freedom Escort 35mm camera (serial _1324302) | film🎞tested","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWe wrote about this camera and its film test in a blog post, read it \u003ca href=\"\/en-us\/blogs\/the-camera-roll-a-blog\/minolta-freedom-escort-film-test-notes\" title=\"Minolta Freedom Escort film test notes\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe circa-1991 Minolta Freedom Escort (also called the Riva Mini) is nice and very compact film point-and-shoot that's gained some extra notoriety because it's rumoured to be the same camera as the (premium priced) Leica Mini II. We lack incontrovertible evidence to support the claim but we very strongly believe it's true. The similarities in size, specifications and features are tough to ignore. What's more, Leica and Minolta had a history of close collaboration dating back to the early 1970s with the CL rangefinders. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe camera itself is a fine Japanese-made compact film camera with a 34mm f3.5 nice lens. It's a simple camera, basically a pure point-and-shoot experience with its only controls being: flash mode (auto, fill-in\/backlit, red-eye, and flash cancel); self-timer; and focus lock (activated by half-pressing the shutter button, this is useful for off-centre compositions). According to several sources, notably the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/filmphotography.eu\/en\/camera\/minolta-riva-mini\/\" title=\"Minolta Riva Mini on Filmphotography.eu\"\u003eFilmphotography.eu\u003c\/a\u003e database, the Freedom Escort\/Riva Mini uses a 4-element\/3-group Tessar-style lens configuration. Most of its competitors (including the Olympus Mju I\/Infinity Stylus) used a less refined 3-element triplet design.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eBattery information \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis camera requires a CR123 battery (available as an option).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstimated battery life: \"Approximately 25 rolls (based on Minolta's standard test method, using 24-exposure film with flash in 50% of exposures)\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe film-tested this camera and it performed very well delivering correctly exposed and focused negatives. We also verified its exposure accuracy on test equipment. The camera is in very good cosmetic condition (see photos).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExample photos\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBesides the attached film-test photos, here are some photos other people have taken with the Freedom Escort\/Riva Mini:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3352502-minolta-freedom-escort\/photos\" title=\"https:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3352502-minolta-freedom-escort\/photos\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3352502-minolta-freedom-escort\/photos\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3323362-minolta-riva-mini\/photos\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3323362-minolta-riva-mini\/photos\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd its alleged identical twin, the Leica Mini II:  \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3346072-leica-mini-ii\/photos\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.lomography.com\/cameras\/3346072-leica-mini-ii\/photos\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManual\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload the manual \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0265\/4401\/3398\/files\/Riva_Mini_Instruction_Manual.pdf?v=1793218531\" title=\"Minolta Freedom Escort\/Riva Mini instruction manual\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eType: Compact 35mm autofocus camera\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eLens: 34mm t\/3.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eFocusing: Infrared autofocus with cancelable focus hold; focus range: 0.60m to infinity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p2\"\u003eExposure system: Programmed autoexposure; range at ISO 100: EV 6 to EV 16\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eFlash system: Cancelable automatic flash with shutter lock during flash charge; fill flash selectable; recycling time: 3.5 sec.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p2\"\u003eFilm speed range: Automatically set for DX-coded film between ISO 50 and ISO 3200; set to ISO 100 for films without DX-coding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eViewfinder: Bright-frame type with focus frame, close-framing guides, green lamp; magnification: 0.43X; image area: 85% at 3 meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eFilm transport: Automatic threading, auto advance to first frame, auto winding, auto rewind and auto rewind stop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eSelf-timer: 10-second delay of shutter release; operation indicated by red light on front of camera; cancelable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003ePower: 3V lithium battery (CR123A or DL123A)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p2\"\u003eBattery performance: Approximately 25 rolls (based on Minolta's standard test method, using 24-exposure film with flash in 50% of exposures)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eDimensions: 118x63×36.5mm (4-5\/8x2-1\/2x1-7\/16in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eQuartz-date model: 118x63x40mm (4-5\/8x2-1\/2x1-9\/16in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eWeight (without battery): 165g (5-13\/16oz.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p2\"\u003eQuartz-date model: 185g (6-1\/2oz.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eGuarantee and returns\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis used camera has a full 30-day guarantee. Damage caused by misuse or abuse is not covered by our guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe accept returns within 30 days provided the camera and all accessories are in the same condition as when you received them. Consumables (batteries and film) cannot be returned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee our \u003ca title=\"Shipping, Pickups, Returns, and Guarantee Policies\" href=\"\/en-us\/pages\/shipping\"\u003epolicy page\u003c\/a\u003e for more details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Minolta","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51818642964768,"sku":"NWP-PNS-MINOLTAFESCORT-20261028","price":138.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0265\/4401\/3398\/files\/minolta_freedom_escort_aka_leica_mini_II_35mm_pns_filmcamera_serial_1324302_JP_20260610_7.jpg?v=1781119904","url":"https:\/\/www.newwavepool.shop\/en-us\/products\/minolta-freedom-escort-35mm-camera-serial-_1324302-filmtested","provider":"New Wave Pool","version":"1.0","type":"link"}