Minolta's P's — fixed wide-lens 35mm panoramic-format compact, 1991.
The Minolta P's is a fixed-lens 35mm panoramic-format compact from 1991, sold under other names such as the Freedom Vista and Riva Panorama in different markets. It was a novelty panorama-only point-and-shoot from the early 1990s, built around a wide lens and a masked, letterbox-shaped frame for panoramic pictures.
The P's has a fixed, non-interchangeable wide lens and produces a panoramic-format image on standard 35mm film through internal masking. It focuses automatically, uses program automatic exposure with a coupled meter, and has a built-in flash; the leaf shutter is in the lens and the camera runs on battery power. Confirm the lens focal length and the exact frame dimensions from the body before quoting them.
It suits travel and landscape shooters who want a simple camera dedicated to wide panoramic snapshots. The fixed wide view and automatic operation make it easy to use, and the panoramic frame gives a distinctive look for scenery and group shots. It is a single-purpose camera rather than a general-use compact.
On the used market, check the film-door light seals, inspect the wide lens for haze and dust, and confirm the autofocus locks correctly. Verify the LCD shows all segments without bleed, test the flash and the film advance and rewind motor, and confirm the panoramic masking is intact. Look for battery-compartment corrosion from old cells.