Manual scanned and put online free of charge by Mike Butkus, whose library runs on donations. The link opens his model page, where you can download the PDF.
Getting started
Batteries Open the battery cover by sliding its latch in the direction shown. Fit two 3 V CR123A lithium batteries as shown in the diagram inside the cover, then click it shut.
Loading Switch the camera on: the counter should show “0”. Slide the back latch down, insert the cartridge from below, in the shade, and lay the film leader flat between the rails up to the FILM TIP mark. Close: the film advances by itself and “1” appears. If “0” blinks, open and reload.
Sensitivity Use only DX-coded 35 mm film, ISO 25 to 3200. Minolta recommends ISO 400 or faster for telephoto and low light. Polaroid 35 mm instant films aren’t suitable.
Your first photo Press the On/Off button: it starts in full auto and the flash fires when needed. Zoom with the control (left towards 38 mm, right towards 140 mm), centre the focus frame on the subject and press halfway until the green lamp is steady. Then press all the way, smoothly: the film advances by itself.
Rewinding After the last frame, it rewinds by itself and the counter counts down to “0”. When “0” appears and the cartridge mark blinks, open the back and take out the film. To rewind mid-roll, press the rewind button with the tip of a pen.
What it can do
A 38-140 mm power zoom, f/3.5-9.4. In Macro mode, the lens sets itself to 105 mm and focuses from 50 cm, for a ratio of about 1:4.
The program selector offers Macro, Portrait (the lens zooms by itself to frame), Night portrait (flash and slow exposure down to 1 s), Thank you/Take me (38 mm and limited focusing, for handing the camera to someone else) and spot metering. After the shot, it returns to full auto.
The drive button gives the 10 s self-timer, continuous shooting for as long as you keep your finger down, double exposure and the RC-3 infrared remote control, an optional accessory.
A fixed +1.5 EV exposure compensation, on the flash button, for snow, the beach, backlighting or a big sky.
Focus lock: centre the subject, hold the shutter button halfway, reframe without letting go, then press all the way.
The flash
The flash button cycles through auto flash, fill flash (to lighten the shadows on a face), flash off and the +1.5 compensation. The chosen mode stays set after the shot.
Red-eye reduction has its own button: the front lamp and the flash lamp blink three times before the flash fires. It stays on until you cancel it.
Range at ISO 100: 0.8 to 5.5 m at 38 mm, 0.65 to 3.1 m at 140 mm. At ISO 400: 0.8 to 11 m and 0.65 to 6.2 m.
It recharges in about 4 s: the orange lamp blinks fast, wait until it is steady.
Good to know
The battery symbol blinks along with the other indicators: replace the batteries soon. If it blinks on its own, the camera won’t work until they are replaced. With no action for three minutes, it switches itself off.
Green lamp blinking fast: you’re too close and the shutter button locks. Stay at least 0.8 m away at 38 mm, 0.65 m at 140 mm. Orange lamp blinking slowly: risk of camera shake, use the flash or a tripod.
Don’t hold the lens barrel while taking the photo, as the focus would be wrong, and never push or pull it.
If all the indicators blink, take the batteries out and put them back in. It’s designed to work between -10 and 40 °C.
On the DATE version, the back prints the date (three orders to choose from) or the time on the photo. A 3 V CR1220 lithium battery keeps the time while the batteries are changed.
Riva Zoom 140EX specifications
Format
DX-coded 35 mm film
Lens
38-140 mm power zoom, f/3.5-9.4, 8 elements in 7 groups including 2 double-sided aspherics
Focusing
autofocus, from 0.8 m at 38 mm and 0.65 m at 140 mm to infinity, 0.5 m in Macro
Exposure
automatic: from 2.4 s at f/3.5 to 1/500 s at f/16 at 38 mm, from 4 s at f/9.4 to 1/315 s at f/20 at 140 mm
Metering
EV 2.4 to 17 at 38 mm, EV 4.5 to 17 at 140 mm (ISO 100), spot mode
Sensitivity
ISO 25 to 3200, DX-coded film
Flash
built-in, 0.8 to 5.5 m at 38 mm, 0.65 to 3.1 m at 140 mm, 0.5 to 3.8 m in Macro (ISO 100), recharges in about 4 s
Viewfinder
0.40× magnification at 38 mm and 1.32× at 140 mm, 85% coverage
Power
2 CR123A 3 V lithium batteries, about 23 rolls of 24 exposures with flash on every other shot
Dimensions and weight
132.5 × 70.5 × 59 mm and 315 g without batteries, DATE version: 132.5 × 70.5 × 63 mm and 320 g
€125.00Original price was: €125.00.€110.00Current price is: €110.00.
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