Don't waste your money
Written: May 27 '00 (Updated Nov 22 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Relatively inexpensive with lots of features
Cons: Distorted pictures, testy lens cover
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| maceyr's Full Review: Riva Zoom 70 with date back |
I originally decided on this camera because my Pentax broke down after many years. I thought that the Minolta name was a good assurance of the quality of the camera but was I wrong. Because I have a baby, I wanted to buy a point and shoot camera with the date back option, so that limits the selection of cameras to choose from. I also made the mistake of buying from a local camera shop, thinking that I should support local businesses rather than going to a bigger chain store. So, we settled on a Minolta Riva Zoom 70 because the choice was limited and we didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on a Nikon or something much better. For more info on its features, please check the manufacturer's page.
We found that the camera was quite testy. The built in lens cover was basically slides open or shut using a button located on the front. But, the lens must be fully retracted back before the cover will slide shut. Even though it may look like it's fully retracted, you'll need to make sure or it won't shut. That is quite an annoyance as I've found out, having to protract and retract the lens in order to be able to shut the lens cover.
As for the quality of the pictures, they turned out badly. Objects not located in the center of focus tend to be distorted like as in a wide angle lens view. The pictures were also quite dark, even outdoor pictures were not very bright. That could be due to the photofinishing but when the picture gets distorted, it's the lens. The camera is assembled in cheap plastic. It seems lto me, that Minolta wanted to make a relatively inexpensive camera with the features of a pricier version but cut a lot of corners to do so.
To make matters worse, our camera broke down after a month of use and we had a lot of problems with our local camera shop to get a refund. So, our lesson turns out to be that we shouldn't deal with smaller shops for buying anything expensive for the selection and the service. The lesson also was not to buy another Minolta. We ended up paying a bit more for a Canon Sure Shot 85 Zoom with date back and we loved it. I have owned a few Canons before and I guess I will stick with Canon from now on. As I have not tried any other Minolta cameras, I can not comment on them, but as for the Riva Zoom 70, it is a piece of junk. Don't waste your money on this. Use the money towards a better brand camera.
Thanks for taking the time to read and rate my review.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
maceyr
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Location: Canada
Reviews written: 127
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About Me:
I hardly have time for Epinions anymore but do try to read and rate.
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