Decent Minolta APS camera for about 80 bucks shipped

[ktg]

Looks like Minolta is closing out their Vectis 25 APS camera. 2.5x zoom, and the usual "benefits" of typical APS format cameras (mid-roll reloading, selectable frame format, etc). Not as versatile (obviously) as higher-end models with 3x+ zoom, but I don't think you can find anything in this class for this cheap right now.

A couple of places are selling it for $99.00, but Photoalley .com has it for $84.99 during their "15% off all point-and-shoot cameras" promo. FREE SHIPPING, plus, knock an extra 5% off with ebates for a final cost of around 81.00 or so.

Addendum: the 15% off shows up automatically in your shopping cart (not good on digital cameras, sorry) and expires January 22nd.

Vectis 25 at Photoalley.com

 

[jester64]

This is a decent camera for that price, paid like 155 dollars when I first bought it when it first came out. I have had no problems, pretty good point and shoot for the wife/girlfriend, small enough to carry around and stands up pretty well too.
May have to get my relatives a couple of gifts for thier birthday.

 

[yodayoda]

a good price but stay away from APS. developing is very expensive and so is the film. no better, if not worse than most 35mm cameras. expect this whole technology to die and go the way of betamax and divx.

 

[Triumph]

is APS backwards compatible with 35mm film?

 

[yodayoda]

nope, you have to buy special film and get special developing.

 

[IITravel]

Not backwards compatable with 35mm!

Nice find. They have OK prices but with the free shipping and 15% off point and shoot unit Jan 22 makes them a good find except for those like me in one of these states, tax makes the deal less warm. California, New Jersey, and Utah.
Oh well, didn't have the money anyway...

 

[Mysterie]

Hey I actually think APS is a good format. Now for expensive film developing, go to CostCo they're pretty inexpensive and for one hour photo developing it's only $1 more (sorry can't remember the price). Anyhow this is a great deal for this camera, I just wish I can get my hands on the Vectis 2000, *sigh*.

 

[ingenue007]

i would not buy APS cameras. APS film is only 24 mm as opposed to 35 mm or medium or large formats.

 

[TomGuy]

At Andy's Garage they have the Minolta Vectis 2000 for 129.99 or the Vectis 300 for 59.99.

They are refurbished though, but seems to be a good price for a pretty small APS camera.

 

[colossus]

It may be 24mm but it's encoded at a higher pixelation the film is of higher quality chromagrade. The pictures I take for my University's yearbook on my Cheap Vectis 20 surpass those of my roomate's $500 Canon 35mm as far as clarity and color richness (he also shoots for yearbook). Plus mid-roll film change is great for switching lighting environments, speeds, or color to B&W.

I'm pretty sure APS will stay. As more people use it the price of developing will drop. The film doesn't cost too much more nowadays for the quality Kodak/Fuji Max ones, but it does take longer to process. Definitely worth it when you compare the APS 4x7 vs the puny 3x5 of most 35mm developing.

Just my $0.02

 

[SST]

I'm thinking about this Minolta Vectis 3000. I hope the price would come down. The cheapest one I've seen is $249 at amazon.

 

[IITravel]

Check the site this thread is about, they have that camera kit for for less without shipping and the 15% discount, I've also seen it for around $230 on the internet. (that's the one I'm looking at too.)

 

[TOOCOOL]

no doubt in my mind APS is here to stay! i have a minolta and its great! well it was $550.00 so should be

 

[ingenue007]

<< It may be 24mm but it's encoded at a higher pixelation the film is of higher quality chromagrade. The pictures I take for my University's yearbook on my Cheap Vectis 20 surpass those of my roomate's $500 Canon 35mm as far as clarity and color richness (he also shoots for yearbook). Plus mid-roll film change is great for switching lighting environments, speeds, or color to B&amp;W. >>



APS cameras are good those who just snap pictures and do not care much about photography. see many APS SLR cameras? not too many.

from photo.net's review of APS. some qoutes:

An APS negative is 56% the area of a 35mm negative. That's all that a serious photographer really needs to know about the format. Everything else is gadgetry.

If you are reasonably serious about photography and are willing to be reasonably careful about choosing a lab and storing your negatives, 35mm is a better format. At least your images will have the potential to be great.

If you want to fill up photo books and send 4&quot;x or 5&quot;x prints to relatives, APS is for you. If you tend to be caught without a camera, APS is for you.

If you want enormous enlargements to hang on your wall, APS is not for you.

 

[Mysterie]

IITravel, Yeah I saw the 3000 kit on photo alley too. Oh *sigh* The kit at $229 seems like a great deal. Oh well, need to save my money for the Visor Prism I just got.