Recently I found an interesting camera in the web and bought it for a bargain price: 20 PLN including postage. It’s analog 35mm compact camera from Konica – Konica Pop (it was made from 1982 – so it’s not so old). Originally it’s available in many bright colours for example red, blue or yellow. Mine has a really nice colour navy blue. It’s in very good condition, except small crack of plastic near the battery compartment and unfortunately the flash doesn’t work – probably because there is a sign that battery leaked before in the past, but I don’t feel like fixing it right now… maybe someday.
I won’t lie – I bought that camera because of the two main reasons. First one: it has a really nice colour, and it can be used to photograph the street, and the second: I saw the photos taken by one of my favourite photographers shooting the street. I was fascinated how it’s possible to take such interesting and great photos with a such simple camera. I just wanted to prove myself – using that camera requires a lot of skill.
I didn’t mention before that camera is VERY simple, it has fixed focus, one shutter speed, and manual film advance by lever. It has CdS-controlled auto-exposure and a built-in flash. Lens is marked as Hexanon 36mm f/4.
This camera is quite different from the modern, digital ones. Camera is aimed at the normal user not the photographer, and constructors made up an idea to make cheap camera and simplify everything they can – probably that’s why there is only one shutter speed – operator of this camera should just press the shutter button, or as an option he can “pop up” the flash… I wonder how many photos were usable eg. well exposed when taken by ordinary people.
Because of those characteristics camera requires from the operator some photography knowledge and skills. Fortunately camera gives some possibilities to control the exposure. The shutter time is fixed 1/125s, but you can control the aperture by changing the iso setting in front of the lens and by popping up the flash or pressing the flash release button. For example when you set ISO 100, and flash is inactive camera sets the aperture f/8, when you pop up the flash you have f/4, and when you press the flash release button with flash extended you again have f/8. With ISO setting to 200 the same sequence of actions gives you f/11 ; f/5,6 and f/11 and for ISO 400: f/16/; f/8; f/16.
As you can see with such knowledge you can control exposure to some extent. Without the batteries the flash is not working as well as correct exposure indicator – but for the street you don’t need it. I still help myself with lightmeter application installed on the iPhone which helps me to judge amount of light available. After the first control measure before the first photo I can guess the correct aperture for the next ones by comparing amount of light at the next scene.
That short description about aperture settings in Konica Pop I found posted on some discussion forum. Without it I wouldn’t know about that magic way of controlling aperture.
I’m copying that description also for me – in case I forgot those settings.
Some technical info:
The camera has a fixed shutter speed of 1/125 and the only varying factors for exposure are the aperture and the flash unit. The strength of the flash cannot be controlled but you can somewhat control the aperture.Aperture Control
The aperture vary with different ISO/ASA settings and within each ISO setting there are 3 different modes that affect the aperture.
For example at ISO100. If the flash is not activated (flash did not pop up from its original position), the aperture is set as f/8. If the flash is activated (popped up) its f/4. If the flash is activated and the catch used to release it remains pressed (towards the lens barrel) its f/8. This is the ‘close up distance compensation for flash’ function of the camera.The following is a list aperture setting for different ISO and the order follows the above mention sequence.
ISO100 – f/8; f/4; f/8.
ISO200 – f/11; f/5.6; f/11.
ISO400 – f/16; f/8; 1/16.Exposure Assistance
This camera offers some exposure assistance if batteries are installed. At the back of the camera, there are two light indicators. The red LED lights up only if the camera detects underexposure and prompts the use of flash. The orange light indicator lights up with the flash is fully charged and ready for use.Lens
This camera, as you know, is a fixed focus camera and camera to subject distance can range from 1.5m to infinity. Its true focus distance is 2.8m.
Some photos of my blue Konica Pop:
