Tony Warren
Well-Known Member
Came across this little known camera recently which intrigued me once I started researching it. There were so many conflicting aspects to it I thought I wouldsee if anyone here knew anything about it.
I have found that:-
It may be the same as the Leica Zoom Mini with restyling in places.
The lens may be a Leitz design but made by Minolta.
The basic chassis could be shared with a Nikon.
It might have been manufactured in Indonesia.
Made in 1992 or ’93 but the dates start at 1987 whilst the Leica’s start at 1984, when the Zoom Mini was introduced.
So, was it originally a Panasonic/Nikon collaboration later picked up by Leica with a lens originally made by Panasonic or Nikon and later replaced by one from Minolta? There is a history of Leitz/Minolta and Leitz/Panasomic collaborations so anything could have taken place.
It is a solid, well made little camera with some quirks and I have a film in there now to try it out. The only problem is the finder which doesn’t zoom with the 35-70 lens as it should. It is fairly easy to estimate the 70mm coverage though so it is just an inconvenience. Otherwise it all seems to work. The zoom rocker doubles as the LCD glass rather uniquely.
I have found that:-
It may be the same as the Leica Zoom Mini with restyling in places.
The lens may be a Leitz design but made by Minolta.
The basic chassis could be shared with a Nikon.
It might have been manufactured in Indonesia.
Made in 1992 or ’93 but the dates start at 1987 whilst the Leica’s start at 1984, when the Zoom Mini was introduced.
So, was it originally a Panasonic/Nikon collaboration later picked up by Leica with a lens originally made by Panasonic or Nikon and later replaced by one from Minolta? There is a history of Leitz/Minolta and Leitz/Panasomic collaborations so anything could have taken place.
It is a solid, well made little camera with some quirks and I have a film in there now to try it out. The only problem is the finder which doesn’t zoom with the 35-70 lens as it should. It is fairly easy to estimate the 70mm coverage though so it is just an inconvenience. Otherwise it all seems to work. The zoom rocker doubles as the LCD glass rather uniquely.
