Shooting Film with the Konica Panorama Zoom in Kawagoe
During the pandemic, a friend gave me a camera that’s almost 30 years old—the Konica Panorama Zoom. It’s a compact point-and-shoot film camera from the 1990s, and recently, I took it out for the third time to shoot some film.
To match its nostalgic feel, I decided to visit Kawagoe, a charming historic town in Japan known for its Edo-period architecture and retro vibes. It felt like the perfect setting for a camera like this.
About the Camera
The Konica Panorama Zoom comes with a built-in 28–56mm zoom lens, which is pretty flexible for everyday shots. It has a panorama mode that crops the top and bottom of your frame, giving your photos a cinematic look. Just a heads-up though—it doesn’t actually capture a wider field of view; it just crops the image.
Some key features:
Aperture: f/3.5–f/6.5 depending on zoom
Autofocus & Auto Exposure: Fully automatic, super beginner-friendly
Built-in Flash
Uses 35mm film
What I Liked
Simple to use – Since it’s fully automatic, I didn’t need to worry about settings.
Surprisingly sharp results – The photos came out clearer than I expected from an old compact camera.
What I Didn’t Like
A bit bulky – Not the lightest or slimmest camera to carry around.
Some white balance issues – A few shots turned out warmer than I prefer.
Final Thoughts
Despite the quirks, I really enjoyed shooting with the Konica Panorama Zoom. It’s a great little camera if you love the vintage film look and want something you can just pick up and shoot.
