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Minolta AF Big Finder: manual and user guide

The Minolta autofocus compact with a 34 mm lens and flash. Its official PDF manual, then the essentials for using it.

Minolta’s official PDF, which it no longer publishes: the link opens the copy kept by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.

Getting started

Batteries It runs on two AA alkaline batteries, never nickel-cadmium or lithium. Open the door under the camera, put the batteries in following the marks inside the cover, then close it by pushing it back into place. Without batteries, nothing works.
Loading It takes DX-coded 35 mm negative film. The back opens with the release on its side. The archived manual stops before the loading details.
Sensitivity Nothing to set: it reads the DX code of ISO 100, 200 or 400 films. A film without a DX code is treated as ISO 100.
Your first photo Open the lens cover: it’s also the main switch. Place the subject within the focus area, with the mark in the centre of the viewfinder, then press the shutter button all the way. In low light, wait for the flash lamp to light up.
Rewinding After the last shot, it rewinds by itself and the counter counts down. When “S” appears, open the back and take out the cartridge, never before. To rewind before the end, press the manual rewind button with the pin on the hand strap.

Focusing is automatic, by active infrared autofocus, from 1.3 m to infinity. The shutter speed sets itself between 1/50 and 1/500 s according to the light.
A subject outside the focus area may come out blurred. Aim at it, press halfway and hold, reframe, then press all the way. Lifting your finger cancels the lock.
A self-timer of about 12 s: centre the subject and press the self-timer button. The lamp on the front lights up, then blinks just before the picture is taken. Pressing again, or closing the cover, cancels it.

It fires by itself when there isn’t enough light, indoors or around sunset. When its lamp, next to the viewfinder, is on, press all the way.
Range: 1.3 to 2.4 m with ISO 100 film, 1.3 to 4.8 m with ISO 400. Keep your subject within this range.
It recharges in about 6 s.
To reduce red-eye: press halfway, the lamp on the front lights up, then press all the way.

Battery indicator on the back: if it blinks, change the batteries soon. If it stays lit and the shutter won’t fire, change them straight away. Always replace both at the same time, with batteries of the same type and brand.
If the electronics cut out while the batteries are good, take them out and put them back in.
If rewinding doesn’t start after the number of exposures shown on the cartridge, start it by hand: the extra frames may overlap.
The Quartz Date version prints the date or time on the image. MODE chooses the display (five options, including “no imprint”), SELECT makes the data blink, ADJUST changes it. Press these buttons with the pin on the strap, between 0 and 40 °C.
Its date unit has its own battery, a 3 V CR2025 lithium, under a screw-on cover inside the back: change it when the display fades, then set the date and time again.

Lens: a blower brush, then if needed a lens tissue with a lens cleaning fluid. Never touch the glass with your fingers.
Body: a soft, dry, clean cloth, never alcohol or solvent. Keep it away from knocks, heat, damp, water, sand and salt.
It works between -5 and +40 °C. To go from cold to warm, slip it into an airtight plastic bag and wait until it reaches room temperature before taking it out.
For long-term storage: a cool, dry place, away from dust, in an airtight box with silica gel.

Format: DX-coded 35 mm negative film
Lens: 34 mm f/4.5, 3 elements in 3 groups, all glass
Focusing: active infrared autofocus, from 1.3 m to infinity, half-press lock
Shutter: 1/50 to 1/500 s, according to the light
Sensitivity: ISO 100, 200 or 400, read from the DX code, ISO 100 for uncoded film
Flash: built-in, automatic in low light, red-eye reduction, range 1.3 to 2.4 m at ISO 100, 1.3 to 4.8 m at ISO 400, recycles in about 6 s
Self-timer: about 12 s
Rewinding: automatic at the end of the roll, manual possible before the end
Power: two AA alkaline batteries, about 20 rolls of 24 exposures (flash on every other shot)
Dimensions and weight: 122 × 73.5 × 47.5 mm, 190 g without batteries, date version 122 × 73.5 × 51 mm, 215 g