The Minolta F 35 Big Finder came out in 1997. This $60 retail camera—made in China—is a long way down from the previous two cameras the family had. (NB: See blogs on the first camera, the Minolta Hi-Matic AF and the second camera, the RICOH FF-7).
The advantages of the F 35 are specifically the huge viewfinder, its wide-angle lens (27 mm) and perhaps its lack of any other choices. No mucking about with self-timers and various modes; you turn it on and take your shot.
The lens focus is fixed. The closest you can shoot is 150 cm (~ 5 ft).. The camera will change the shutter speed from 40 sec to 250 sec. It does have red-eye reduction (a bright red LED next to the flash), autoflash (the flash will fire when it is needed) and two Dx coding sensors in the film chamber that basically tell the camera when 400 ISO film is loaded and exposes any other film as if it was ISO 100. It has mid roll rewind and a tripod socket.The wrist strap has a small plastic bit with a short rod that helps when pressing the mid-roll rewind button. You can see what film you have loaded through the window on the back door.
When loaded with two AA batteries, and turned on for awhile, a bright green LED shines next to the viewfinder eye-point to indicate the flash is ready.
Speaking of the batteries, the battery compartment doesn’t seem to have any indication which way the batteries should face. It turns out the direction they face is cut into the metal of the end contact on the compartment’s door! Very clever.
The Minolta F 35 Big Finder came in a lovely pouch case.
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