Minolta Vectis 3000 APS Camera

The Vectis 3000 also features a newly developed 3x, 22-66mm zoom lens that gives you high image quality and continual focal length selection with just one button. The 22-66mm lens is versatile enough to be used for almost every kind of photography scene, from landscape to group shots to portraits, and even detailed close-ups.

With the easy-to-use APS film system, you no longer have to worry if you've loaded the film correctly. You can also change the film cartridge at any frame. This allows you the freedom to switch back and forth between color and black-and-white film, or to keep your subject matter on separate rolls. The stylish, lightweight Vectis 3000 has a sleek, slim aluminum body that protects the controls by retracting or extending as needed.

Picture quality is excellent, although I strongly recommend a 200 speed film for panoramic use. Fuji Nexis 200 performs very well in the 24mm format when in panaormic mode.

The 3000 is quite pricy for an APS -- I paid $319 at a local retailer -- but worth every penny!


short on accessories   November 29, 2001
Roy L Hardin (Louisville Ky)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

i could not wait to get this camera, and was all i hoped for, except for one thing. did not come with the battery. it only comes with the strap. so if you plan on purchasing this camera make sure you buy a battery and some film, to go along with it. other than that is is great, small enough to fit in your pocket and takes great pictures


Great little APS point and shoot   February 3, 2001
magellan (Santa Clara, CA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I looked at at least 25 different point and shoot cameras, both 35mm and in APS format, before buying, and this camera came in second place out of all of them. My first choice was the Fuji Tiara APS camera, which is slightly smaller than the 3000. Although I ultimately didn't purchase it, I was so impressed with this camera that I still wanted to write a review.

The Fuji Tiara is even smaller and had a slightly faster lens at F3.4 than the Vectis by half an F-stop. However, the Vectis has the 3X zoom lens, whereas the Fuji is fixed focal-length. The Fuji's lens takes very sharp photos. I've blown several up to 8 x 12 and have gotten several compliments on the quality of the shots, especially given the smaller negative of the APS format. I haven't seen actual photos for the Vectis, but I would expect them to be pretty good quality as well.

The Vectis' lens goes all the way down to 22mm in APS, which is equivalent to 26.4mm in 35mm format--even wider angle than the Fuji, which comes out to 29.2mm in 35mm format. Great for scenic and landscape shots.

Another nice feature is the mid-roll change option. Not all APS cameras have this. The Fuji has this as well.

I would recommend using ASA 200 film with this camera normally, and then if you need to go to faster ASA 400, you can do a mid-roll change at that point. This way you get better quality photos and you can save the roll of 400 for when the light is lower.

The camera is a little pricey compared to the other APS offerings, but a lot of that is the very small size and weight. The camera is only about 4.4 ounces and easily fits in your front shirt pocket. At that weight it is less than my Palm Pilot so you hardly know it's there.

Overall a great little camera to take with you anywhere.


Best of The Best!   March 31, 2002
Alphia D. Larkins (Acworth, Georgia United States)
I am a camera fanatic, I own cameras of all kinds, point and shoot to an old clunky Nikon SLR, which still takes great pictures, but is heavy and a lot of time to focus, choose aperture,etc., so I graduateed to simpler formats a few years back and I now own four point and shoots, two of them APS. The Vectus falls in this last category and takes the sharpest and best pictures I have ever taken. That, combined with being the smallest and lightest weight of all my cameras, makes it my favorite. I love this camera! I compared the ratings with other cameras of same capabilities before buying this one, and this was the only one that had 5 stars and all owners gave it glowing reviews, but I am judging it now on my own observations and all I can say is the pictures I have gotten from it so far are far superior to the other APS camera that I own, and rank right up there with the ones I could get from my SLR's and with a lot less effort! Right now my Vectis is missing, I fear it has been taken by a young member of my family who visited me recently, and as it looks so much like a toy because of it's size, it probably would appeal to a child. But I am in the process of ordering another Vectis 3000, as I do not think I can find any other that I would be as well pleased with.....Very satisfied ex-owner of Minolta Vectis and about to be owner again!
Alphia Larkins Later development: I found my Vectis Camera, it was not taken by the child that I thought might have taken it. Apologies to her and I am so happy to have my little camera again! It had just been misplaced.


BUYING A SECOND ONE   May 14, 2002
I bought this camera to use in situations that I did not want to carry my bulky Canon with long lens and have since never touched my "good" camera. The pictures are great, it is easy to use and can fit in your pocket. My daughter is going away to school and I must buy her her own so that she does not take mine. A great camera overall!!