Konica Minolta Freedom (RIVA) Zoom Supreme EX Reviews

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
4 votes

Price Paid:  $225.00 from Kits Cameras

Summary:Great camera when it works. Ater about 1.5 years of light use the camera's electronics went out. After the camera did not function, brought it in to a certified repair shop in Seattle. Was told that it would be a minimum of $175 to fix and more if new electronics had to be installed. Well time to bag it and forget Minolta products.

Strengths:good overall photographs and very easy to use.

Weaknesses:Poor quality of craftmanship

Customer Service:Poor, Minolta puts out a flawed product and fails to back it up. Now when I hear "From the Mind of Minolta" is equivalent to "from the minds of thives".

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
3 votes

Price Paid:  $180.00 from Cameraworld.com

Summary:Within three months of purchase, the camera started to rewind the film in the middle of the roll. Dropped it off at Minolta-authorized repair shop. They supposedly repaired the frame counter. The next roll got messed up again. Hoping to get Minolta to replace the camera.

Strengths:Ergonomic design

Weaknesses:Poor product quality, slow shutter speed

Similar Products Used:None

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $265.00 from ritz camera

Summary:I have had experience with two same minolta 115 zoom supreme EX cameras, and both broke within 1 year of use. My first camera stopped working when at a party water got splashed over it, I do not blame minolta for poor quality because of this, but this exposed me to their extremely poor and rude customer service department.
The second same camera I bought was the one which showed me the poor quality of minolta cameras. After 11 months of use its shutter click button stopped functioning, I could do everything else in the camera, but it just won't click. Minolta offered to repair this seemingly minor defect for $140, at which point I split and bought a new camera(NOT MINOLTA).

Strengths:Nice compact body, good pictures. Easy to use, decent controls.

Weaknesses:Extremely poor customer service, poor warranty.Delicate camera.

Similar Products Used:Canon 105 zoom, samsung 140 zoom

Customer Service:Extremely poor.

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $250.00

Summary:I like the camera for the strength mentioned, however, all of that went out the window with Minolta's service and warranty. I bought the camera for my trip to SE Asia, a very humid place. After taking about 3 rolls of films, the camera would not advance the films or allow loading of a new roll. I had to go and buy a disposable camera for the remainder of my vacation. Upon returning to the US, I called Minolta and they sent me to an authorized repair dealer (Int'l Camera in Pasadena) to repair my camera. Two and a half months later, I finally get a call back from Int'l Camera that they had to send the camera to Minolta, and Minolta told them that the repair would cost $150 (almost what I paid for) and it will not be covered under warranty, because of water damage. I can't believe it!! Albeit that SE Asia is near the equator, and it rains alot and very humid, how can the camera break down in such a short time. I've always had it in a carrying case and I never used the camera in direct rain. I've used lesser quality (perhaps not) and way cheaper cameras without ever having this problem before. I will never buy another Minolta product. Good luck for those who do.

Strengths:picture quality, zoom lens, cool looking

Weaknesses:lousy warranty and service

Similar Products Used:None

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $170.00 from cameraworld.com

Summary:Great camera for a great price! I got the whole thing, shipping included, for $170 from cameraworld.com via a price comparison on pricescan.com. Great P&S camera for beginners with lots of features to grow into with experience. Experienced photographers looking for a feature-rich P&S will love it as well.

Strengths:Great features for the price on this camera! Much more than the other one's I looked at in the competing price range.

Crystal clear shots that accurately capture the lighting the camera is used in. It's very true to life in that respect, and I like that. The colors are very vivid and clear, and the detail I got using 800 speed Kodak & Fuji film was amazing! Even on high speed shots.

This camera takes great shots when being hand held. Doesn't blur or streak them at all.

Has a nice remote function, though it'd be nice if the remote was detachable directly from the camera body like some of the Pentax models have.

Zoom is pretty good for a P&S camera. Doesn't distort on zoomed shots. If you're looking for something that will give you amazing zoom capability, you ought to be looking into SLR's in the first place. For a usable and practical, everyday use zoom lens, this one is quite sufficient.

Continuous mode is great for capturing action sequences!

Weaknesses:Wish the remote was detachable from the camera body, but this is a minor quibble.

Wish there was a way to set the default mode on the camera. The default is automatic focus/flash w/redeye reduction and I don't typically use that mode that much. It takes too long to get the shot due to an initial first-burst from the flash and then a second one followed by the shutter clicking. I prefer to get shots off faster than that.

Similar Products Used:Pentax, Olympus

Customer Service:Haven't had to call them yet. To me, part of good customer service is not having to call them in the first place! Good workmanship and quality should be given up front to begin with. If I do have to call in and get shoddy service, I'll post something here for all of you.