Yashica Microtec Zoom 70

The Yashica Microtechnology

First shown in 1994 at the PMA (Photo Marketing Association) Show in Atlanta, the Microtec Zoom 70 was released alongside the slightly larger Microtec Zoom 90. Other notable cameras first shown here were the Porsche designed Samsung ECX1 and Contax RX. The first hands on review of the two cameras would be a year later by Dan Richards in the May 1995 issue of Popular Photography. This was a very in depth look at both Mictrotec cameras, with a multitude of tests spanning two pages. The Microtec Zoom 70 seemed to have a slightly better showing, performing optically better over the Zoom 90 in testing. Both were applauded for their overall consistent optical performance and above average marks on all the tests conducted. An interesting thing to note was considerable praise for the inclusion of a neck lanyard versus a wrist strap. Dan Richards states that he dislikes wrist straps and the inclusion of the lanyard proves that the camera was “designed by people that actually take pictures”.

Within this and other contemporary mid 90s articles, it seems that a lot of comparisons were made between the Yashica T4 and the Microtec Zoom 70. Not necessarily optical quality, but more in terms of styling. The shape and size is incredibly similar, but the Zoom 70 is slightly larger. There are a few different colors and models of the Zoom 70, but not much differs between them. It’s the same camera inside, but with a few added features. The camera featured here is the ‘deluxe’ version, although it’s not really differentiated in name from the basic model. The color is the common for the era ‘champaign’ gold, with a similar finish for the controls. Clear plastic with a black coating inside surrounds the viewfinder, sensors, and flash, along with the LCD. The rest of the camera is very uniform, except for the hand grip area on the front. The grip has a slightly different texture and feel to the plastic, and the paint tends to wear faster here. The Zoom 70 is of a somewhat different design for the time, but not very attention grabbing. Along with its jacket pocket size, this makes the camera an excellent all around zoom point and shoot.

The Yashica Microtech Zoom 70 is an auto everything point and shoot camera that runs on one CR123A battery. Looking through the viewfinder, you will find that it’s somewhat small, with standard frame lines and an auto focus circle mark in the center. There are also parallax correction marks not only for the fame lines, but for the autofocus mark as well. Two LED lights are to the right of the viewfinder, and you can easily see them within your peripheral vision. The top light is a red LED, that blinks to signify a charging flash and is solidly lit when the flash is ready. Below that is a green LED that will stay off while the flash is charging or stay lit when the flash is charged. When the flash is deactivated, the green LED acts a bit differently. It will blink when it cannot achieve focus and solid when it is locked on. To the left of the viewfinder is the first of the optional features, the panorama switch. To activate it, you must turn the switch to the right with a bit of force until it clicks into place. A panorama mask will be put on the film, with the addition of a mask on the viewfinder.

Looking at the top of the camera, you can see every control available. When the bright blue On/Off button to the right of the LCD is pressed, it will immediately extend the lens around half an inch and start charging the flash. The camera defaults to an automatic flash function, shown with an AUTO graphic. The Zoom 70 will also display the frame number on the left side of the LCD, and this number will always be shown even when the camera is turned off. The top button next to the LCD has an image of a stopwatch and has only one function, the self timer. It’s a basic ten second self timer, with a corresponding red light on the front of the camera. This function can be canceled by pressing the button once again.

Underneath is another button with a flash symbol, and this one has quite a few functions. As I mentioned before, the camera defaults to the auto flash function, and this will occur every time the camera is turned off and back on again. One press will keep the flash in auto but add a red eye reduction, shown by an eye symbol next to the flash icon. Another press will keep the flash on, but it will favor longer shutter speeds. However, this function changes in real time depending on the available light. If the camera can still maintain its lowest shutter speed while still properly exposing a scene, a star and moon symbol will appear next to the flash icon. If the available light is less than the lowest shutter speed, the camera will instead move into a bulb setting shown by a B. One more press has the same function as before, but with added red eye reduction. The next press turns off the flash completely, once again actively measuring the available light, showing a star and moon when it can use a regular shutter speed or a B when the camera defaults to bulb. The last press is the same function as before but locks the focus to infinity. This infinity lock function will only last for one shot and resets to the auto flash mode afterward. While still in infinity focus mode, one more press will return the camera to the beginning auto flash function.

To the right of the LCD is the zoom toggle switch. The camera zooms from 35mm to 70mm, and you are able to continuously zoom until you reach one of the numbers or move in six available steps. Only three lengths are marked on the lens at 35, 50, and 70. Above that is the shutter button, which can be half pressed to check the focus and flash charge, shown by the previously mentioned LED lights next to the viewfinder. On the back of the camera is the door release on the right side and another one of the optional features, a data back. This is a basic and very standard data back, with day/month/year and time settings. On the right hand side is a strap loop and on the bottom is the sliding battery door, mid roll rewind, and tripod socket all positioned very far to the left.

As I hinted at before, there are a few different versions of the Microtec Zoom 70. The original seems to be a grey and navy/dark blue color, also known as the Kyocera Lynx 70 in other markets, and could be had with or without a data back. Later in life, it seems that the Microtec was renamed to the Yashica Micro Elite Zoom 70, appearing in an all black design, always with a data back. Somewhere in between, there is the not well documented champaign color variation with a slightly more advanced data back and a ‘panorama’ switch. To add even more confusion, there is a Yashica Micro Elite 70. However that is not the same camera, it’s a renamed Zoomate 70/EZS Zoom 70. The Microtec 70 had two other models in the original Microtec line, each with longer zooms. The Zoom 90, that I mentioned briefly before, was released in 1995 and the Zoom 120 in late 1995.

THE SPECS AND FEATURES

Shutter Speeds - 2 seconds to 1/300th, bulb

Aperture - f/4.5 to f/8.3

Meter Type - cds type

Focus - infrared autofocus

• central spot AF

• 34 steps

• minimal focus distance 2 feet

Shutter - metal leaf shutter, automatic

ISO - 50 to 3200 DX code

• ISO 100 default

Lens - 35mm to 70mm zoom

• 6 zoom steps or continuous zooming

• 35/50/70mm marked on lens barrel

Flash Option - built in, red eye reduction

• 13 1/2 foot max at 35mm

• 8 1/2 foot max at 70mm

Batteries - single CR123A

Film Type - 35mm

Other Features - infinity focus lock, self timer

The Experience

This camera was a thrift store find from many years ago. I remember really liking the feel and the small form factor of this point and shoot zoom camera, and remembered it being considerably quiet in a brief test. This camera would not see use for quite a few years after that, being forgotten in the back of a cabinet drawer. I’m not sure what prompted me to actively look for this camera again, but it was top of the list when I was thinking of a grab and go zoom camera for upcoming events. Before I took it out for anything important, I wanted to take a few test shots to make sure it was working well.

The first test of the Zoom 70 was on an overcast day with 400 speed Arista black and white film. Immediately I was floored at how quick the camera would wind and how it was probably the quietest point and shoot I have ever used. It was a short roll of around 12 exposures, and I developed the film once home. I was very surprised by the results, this camera handles black and white film really well. In bright light, partial shade, or even in a close up shot the Zoom 70 excelled.

I was excited to see what this camera could do and wanted to try out some color film. The next weekend on a sunny day I grabbed the camera and loaded it with some slower color film. While loading there was a hiccup, rewinding the film completely once it was loaded. That was a few seconds of panic, but it seems the mid roll rewind button was stuck. This would unfortunately be a precursor of what was to come. About half way through my photo walk, the camera stopped responding. The picture of the bird on a branch turned out to be the last hurrah for my original Zoom 70, not wanting to take a picture after. I removed the battery and put it back in, the camera briefly worked, but the shutter button was not cooperating. The power would not turn the camera off sometimes and instead would zoom, very odd. Rounding a corner on the dirt trail, I took out the battery again hoping this would fix the problem. As it turned on, the camera immediately fully extended the lens with no intention of stopping, grinding gears with a horrible crunching and cracking noise, completely wrecking the zooming mechanism. I’ve never had a failure like this happen before, it was shocking but humorous in a sense; all I could do was laugh.

Once home I salvaged the film and tried my best to see what the problem was. I checked every component I was able, but there is a fair bit of ribbon cables and flex circuits that weave around inside the camera. The problem had to be somewhere in there with a short, burnt out component or the like. After a few hours with no results, I set the internals aside… point and shoot cameras are a whole different story when it comes to reliability. This camera was not meant to last forever, especially when looking closely at the ribbon cable placement within the zoom mechanism. It may a been a fluke as well, so in this case, I decided to not hold it against the Zoom 70.

I decided to actively look for another example, this time in a different variation. I would never find it for a thrift store price online, but an untested price was relatively close. Waiting for around a month, the more feature laden champaign version caught my eye. This one was a bit rough and untested, but the right price. I jumped at the deal and the camera arrived around a week later. With a new battery installed, this new Microtec Zoom 70 worked without any problems. The camera was slightly different, featuring a faux panorama mode and date back, but the rest was familiar.

I decided to take this new camera with me to an air show, thinking the 70mm lens would be perfect for closer shots. I was very wrong in this case, and could barely get close enough to capture anything worthwhile. It was not all bad because I was able to run the camera through a pretty good test of the lens in extremely bright conditions and at full zoom. The pictures were not very interesting, but the Zoom 70 handled them well enough. I also tested out the ‘panorama’ mode, and actually kinda liked the result. Not satisfied with the pictures on the show, I ended up going back again the next day with a 500mm lens, and got much better pictures… and a sunburn.

I wanted another black and white test of the camera and decided to take a few shots on a new trail I found. Later in the week, I brought the camera when I was visiting my parents, and I showed my father how it was close to the T4 my parents had back in the 2000s. While he was looking through the viewfinder, I told him how to zoom, and a very familiar gear grinding sound emitted from the camera. Once again, I had a lens issue with the new Zoom 70. I had fully taken apart the previous model, so I felt I knew what the issue was. The lens would extend, but just fall short of the 70mm mark and would grind away. There must have been some dried grease or gunk jamming the helicoid. I took out my half shot roll and decided to lightly grease the part of the helicoid I could see. A few tries zooming in and out later and the camera was thankfully not grinding anymore. I put the roll back into the camera, covered the lens, and shot until I was at the previous frame number. The rest of the roll went smoothly and I have yet to have any more problems with my new Zoom 70. The camera performed just as great as my original Microtec 70, quiet as ever and producing some impressive images for a compact zoom lens.

Once again, the black and white pictures were wonderfully exposed, and it really cemented the Microtec Zoom 70 firmly into being one of my favorite cameras. I saw no discernable difference between the two different models I used either. Even with my original camera destroying itself, I really ended up liking everything about this camera. Do not feel discouraged that one of mine failed, it’s inevitable with all point and shoot cameras but there is some maintenance you are able to do to keep them in working order. The only thing that I did not enjoy was the viewfinder. It’s a bit hard to see the whole frame with glasses, but that’s something I can happily live with.

I’m a fan of a pocketable and practical design and I’m inching ever closer to finding my perfect zoom point and shoot. This will most definitely be in the running. Would I recommend the Yashica Microtec Zoom 70, without a doubt. A good looking camera and very small for a zoom point and shoot. The pictures exceeded all of my expectations and it was a joy to use. The 70mm model is an overall fantastic camera, I will have to give the Zoom 90 and 120 a try.