Konica Z-Up 80 Super Zoom
The Konica Z-Up 80 Super Zoom definitely qualifies for the "Hidden Gem" club when it comes to 35mm compact cameras. At first glance, it looks a lot like many other zoom-lensed point-and-shoot cameras of the 1980s. Once you commit to learning this camera, you realize there is a lot more going on here than what you might expect.
You would be forgiven if you were to assume that the descriptions read on the camera body are nothing more than the usual promotional hyperbole common with these types of cameras. Some examples of this are "Hi-Power," used to describe the flash, or "Hi-Precision," in relation to the zoom auto focus, or "Super Advanced Automatic Camera" inscribed above the backdoor. In the case of this Konica, there seems to be little hyperbole - this camera really does walk the talk.
For starters, the lens is 40-80mm, composed of 8 elements in 7 groups, and it yields results that are crisp and sharp. The quality of the lens represents just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to features, Konica designed this little camera to be packed to the brim.
These other features can be accessed via the function buttons on the back door of the camera. Running from top to bottom, you have multiple flash modes that includes a +1.5EV flash off, perfect for backlit subjects. You have the usual drive modes which include single frame, continuous (which can be used in conjunction with multiple exposures to catch sequential action), self-timer, and manual rewind for mid-roll rewinding. These are all fun but not terribly ground-breaking.
Where the Konica 80 Super Zoom really stands out are in the features offered in the next menu down. Here, you will find the ability to do multiple exposures (up to 39 in one go!), time exposure mode, and an intervalometer. These are definitely some unique features not typically enjoyed on a compact camera like this!
Overall, the Konica 80 Super Zoom is a camera that makes us want to take it out and put it through its paces, and truthfully, that is not an inspiration we generally encounter from point-and-shoot cameras. While the usual attractions for this genre of camera are fast and easy use or compact and prime lens, the 80 Super Zoom appeals in a different fashion. It offers remarkable and creative versatility in a relatively compact body, and we can see how a likeminded photographer could do some really cool things with this camera.
za/sd
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