The compact Minolta Freedom Supreme provides a powerful 3.2x retractable zoom lens. It uses a highly sophisticated autofocus system with up to 780 focusing steps--a feature usually found only in higher-end single-lens reflex cameras. The camera body is designed to form a distinctive capsule and is covered with a high-gloss silver tone for a high-quality appearance and durability. A rubber patch is positioned on the grip for comfortable handling. The design of this camera and its multiple automatic features make it easy to use for the amateur who wants the high-quality pictures of a professional.
The 39-125mm zoom lens offers a wide angle of view and is ideal for scenic landscapes or groups of people as well as distant subjects or portraits. The four-element lens design with four aspherical surfaces minimizes optical aberrations and provides high-contrast images. The Freedom Supreme's metering system is linked optically to the viewfinder so that at any focal length the camera meters the same image that the photographer sees.
The Freedom Supreme has standard point-and-shoot capabilities but also offers close-up, portrait, and night portrait options. The lens fixes focusing for subject magnification so you have optimum sharpness for close-ups. The camera also automatically sets a soft flash for close-ups to prevent overexposed pictures. When you press the shutter-release button partway down in portrait mode, the lens automatically zooms to provide 1/40x magnification. If you are fond of sunset shots or lighted night scenes, you can set the camera flash to manual fill with optional red-eye reduction.
A 10-second self-timer allows the photographer to appear in the photos. If you want to catch the action of a sporting event or a quickly moving subject, the Freedom Supreme offers continuous film advance--one frame every two seconds--for as long as the shutter-release button is held down. Its date/time imprinting option is useful for cataloging or keeping records of special events such as weddings, birthdays, or graduations.
