Another Thrift Store Konica Mini Find

wjlapier · Dec 7, 2020

Second Konica Mini found yesterday at our local Goodwill. I check these places for cameras, older calculators like HP and Texas Instruments, and vinyl.

The first Big Mini was found same store back in March of this year. In the second photo I found the Olympus Stylus at another thrift store for 50 cents.

My wife thinks I should sell them--haha...

Nitroplait · Dec 7, 2020

That's about what they are worth - nice lenses but painful in every other way. Shutter delay is unbearable.
I agree with your wife - just cash in and buy a real camera (or three).

BAC1967 · Dec 7, 2020

wjlapier said:
I check these places for cameras, older calculators like HP and Texas Instruments, and vinyl.

Whats the attraction of older calculators? I ask because I have some old HP and Texas Instruments calculators, only because I don't throw anything away. I used the HP all through college and for several years at work after that. I also have a LED calculator from the 1970's that I got when I was in school. I remember we were pretty excited about the this new technology, my father got me and both of my brothers the same calculator. I think it's a TI-30.

Huss · Dec 7, 2020

I agree with your wife. I had that same Stylus and it has the most miserable shutter lag in existence. I was very happy to sell it!

wjlapier · Dec 7, 2020

Huss said:
I agree with your wife. I had that same Stylus and it has the most miserable shutter lag in existence. I was very happy to sell it!

Really? I found the Stylus and the first Big Mini to work fine and shoot fast enough. Nice and sharp images. The only thing I didn't like was constantly turning off the flash.

My R-E finally arrived back from DAG and might help with the decision to sell them--have to remove the stickers though

ic-racer · Dec 7, 2020

Look like nice cameras. I suspect they take nice photographs also. The last decade of film camera production produced some of the best cameras in all styles, from point-and-shoot to pro medium format.

dynachrome · Dec 7, 2020

Years ago I got one of the Big Mini models for my brother-in-law. The results were very sharp but almost all of thr flash photos of people showed red-eye.

Helios 1984 · Dec 7, 2020

Nitroplait said:
That's about what they are worth - nice lenses but painful in every other way. Shutter delay is unbearable.
I agree with your wife - just cash in and buy a real camera (or three).

That Olympus is worth at least a dollar fifty! As for these two Big Mini, they'll fetch enough money to buy a nice kit.

craigclu · Dec 7, 2020

I had an A4, which was a predecessor to the Big Mini. I was always surprised at the solid negatives it gave me. They had wonky electronics that led to failures but I think those gremlins were taken care of in the generation that you have. I also don't recall shutter release timing issues but I may not have been using for decisive moment sort of duties and didn't think about it. Attached is a shot on FP4+, likely in FG7 in those days on Ilford MG RC paper..... Capable little pocket rig!
Sorry for the linty scan. It was for a quick post in the Konica group awhile back.

ProgramPlus · Dec 10, 2020

I think you got a great deal. Those are good looking cameras. I know nothing about them, but they have the simple elegance of a Contax T2 or other such camera that costs way more than you'd think. Ebay asking prices are pretty hefty. I never find anything but 3 mp digital cameras with scratched up screens and no battery when I go to thrift shops.

ProgramPlus · Dec 19, 2020

Saw one of these come up for auction on shopgoodwill. Went for $135.

Another Thrift Store Konica Mini Find

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency