Topic: Review: Konica Big Mini Jr.- Bye, old pal.

[Yglotte]

It's my first article/review, so be indulgent, please, on my english.


With the lens opened, and yes I pimped with gold, and D.I.Y leather hand strap

So the Konica Big Mini, is a 35mm point-and-shoot camera, released in the mid-1990's. It's all plastic, and rocks a 34mm F/?, a flash, a timer, auto film advance, a wierd macro mode and  takes a CR123 battery .



And yes, I added a "Filmwaster" tag.


Minimalistic yet boring back, that's why I added a X-Large Los Angeles sticker, and put more gold

It's actually quite uncommon, oddly enough. I found this one in a flea market, where I live in France, and bought it for *drumrolls* 2€. I bought it because I saw on this article on Bellamy Hunt's website. And for the anecdote, Mr.Hunt himself doesn't know about this camera   

They're I think only 2 colors: black and red.


Now, image quality:

I'm quite impressed by the quality of this P&S, it's great for every day snapshots, both in color and B&W
Color:


Piscine du Rhône par Yglotte, sur Flickr


017_17 par Yglotte, sur Flickr

It has occasional lightleaks, but it's fine 


003_3 par Yglotte, sur Flickr

In B&W:


Hugo. par Yglotte, sur Flickr


Le côté obscur de la France. par Yglotte, sur Flickr

The B&W shoots were a bit digitally enhanced, but not that much. 


The thing is that the Big Mini Jr. is the cheapo line of other cool cameras, the Big Mini, but I don't own, I recommand you check Japancamerahunter's site 

Well, would I recommand this camera ? Yes, but if you own a greater P&S, like a Gr1 or T3, it's a bit useless. But if by any chance you find one for cheap, just buy it !

I won't be using this camera that much anymore, because I bought a Gr1 for a really low price, so it's a tribute I'm giving him !

Hope you like this little review,
Bye !

[Yglotte]

Oh, one more thing:

The Konica Big Mini Jr in red, really cool:

Konica Big Mini Jr. BM-20 par GoneApey, sur Flickr


(Not my photo BTW)

[Francois]

Here are some technical details on the BM-20 Big Mini Junior that I got from collection-appareils.fr

Shutter: automatic 1/80 to 1/250
Lens: 34mm
Minimum aperture: f/16
Max aperture: f/4.5
Fixed focus
Electric drive and rewind.

It was produced around 1994 and is fairly rare.

[LT]

I dont know anything about the camera, but GREAT use of dymo labelling. Everything should have its own Dymo label.

[Francois]

Does that mean I'm not the only one who has deep love for Dymo tape?

[zapsnaps]

It just shows that you can get a good picture, if you have the eye, with a €2 camera. I especially like the B&W street scene. Great work.

I own a Blad and a Leica R8 - both fantastic cameras. But I'm now buying - and using - eBay cheapies for a few quid and I'm loving it. But then I also love the unpredictability of Polaroids, too. My carry camera is a (purple!) APS Fuji Nexia Q1, one of which was sold on eBay yesterday for 99p!

[LT]

Does that mean I'm not the only one who has deep love for Dymo tape?

It appears not Francois.  Back in another life, I shared an office with an occupational therapist who had a Dymo fetish.  I think she was having a minor meltdown ... one day I came in to work to find absolutely everything labeled with Dymo.  My pen had "pen" on it, my desk plant had "cactus" written on it, the light switch had  .... and so on. You get the picture.  4 years in training, and another 10 in public employment, and that is the result. Kiddies, dont work for the NHS - it makes you dymo-crazy.

[Francois]

Does having more than one Dymo machine count as a part of DOD (Dymo Obsessiveness Disorder)? 

[tkmedia]

KonicaA4 by Studioesper, on Flickr

The only experience with the line is the Konica A4 which I written a spec article about below. I cannot tell you how well it works as it buggered out a few exposure into the roll.

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Konica_A4

oh I also have dymo!
The first label thing you get says "Dymo"

[snpshts]

This Camera strongly reminds me of my old MINOX AF-mini. I bought it new for under 10€ about 10 years ago. Quite crappy piece of camera with the most unreliable AF I ever experienced - but sometimes I like it...

[johnha]

It's not mentioned in the wiki article, but the A4 was so named because it could focus close enough to fill the frame with an A4 piece of paper - intended for those who didn't have a photocopier handy perhaps.

Dymo tape is now marketed as '3D' - and is vastly superior to the modern '2D' labels IMHO.

John.

[tkmedia]

I thought it had something to do with a 4 element lens. Where did you find out about this tid bit? Have you personal experience with this feature? I'm always revising my articles, so maybe it will be useful?

[johnha]

I thought it had something to do with a 4 element lens. Where did you find out about this tid bit? Have you personal experience with this feature? I'm always revising my articles, so maybe it will be useful?

Hi tkmedia. I was around when it was launched and this was mentioned in one of the UK photo magazine reviews at the time (probably either Amateur Photographer or Practical Photography). I haven't used the camera, and don't know if it could do this (or why I remembered it).

John.