Konica Z-up 150 VP – Mini Review – by Charles Higham

By Charles Higham

Having put a film through a Konica Z-up 100W compact which I reviewed here, I was tossing up whether to do the same thing for the top-of-its-range Konica Z-up 150 VP with a 38-150mm zoom lens. I found very little information about the Z-up 100W online, and not that much more about the 150 VP. The example I have seems barely used.

Konica marketed the Z-up 150 VP as a ‘super compact zoom camera’, and while it does have a long 150mm lens I wouldn’t call the camera super compact. It’s actually quite big, in contrast to the roughly contemporary Olympus mju series which were able to offer zoom lenses in notably smaller bodies.

Konica Z-up 150 VP top view

The Konica Z-up 150 VP’s lens is f/5 to f/13.5 and has 10 elements in 8 groups. Shutter speeds are 1 second to 1/320. It takes one CR123A battery. DX coding is from ISO25-3200 but, unlike the 100W, you have the option to alter the exposure by +1.5 EV using a mode button. As well as diopter adjustment, the Z-up 150 VP has automatic variable flash, so I’m guessing the VP stands for variable power. Giving in to curiosity, I loaded it with Kodak Portra 400 and set off for the Moreton in Marsh agricultural show.

Viewing the results, while it proved sharp at 38mm delivering quite contrasty images, once the Z-up 150’s zoom was extended beyond about 100mm they are plagued by flare in the corners. I assume it’s not a light leak because it doesn’t appear on the wide shots.

Photo of cows with Konica Z-up 150 VP

Not every zoomed exposure was affected, but enough were to be a disappointment. I’ve included this shot of a bridge which shows it nicely:

Photo of landscape with bridge with the Konica Z-up 150 VP

To be fair, it’s not a problem unique to this compact zoom model, but I can’t imagine customers being pleased if this was commonly experienced when using the Konica Z-up 150 VP, as they no doubt parted with quite a lot of money in the hope of taking advantage of the long zoom. Maybe that’s why my copy has clearly spent most of its life in the box.

You can find more of the content and reviews I’ve submitted to 35mmc here

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Comments

Chris S. on Konica Z-up 150 VP – Mini Review – by Charles Higham

Comment posted: 16/12/2018

Zoom sharpness seems to be good; I found my Olympus Stylus 170 to be disappointingly soft at maximum zoom. One quibble I have with zoom P&Ss is not knowing what focal length I'm at - Canon Sure Shots have markings on the lens barrel; I wish I knew of other makes that also have those.
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Bryan Angeles on Konica Z-up 150 VP – Mini Review – by Charles Higham

Comment posted: 16/02/2020

Hey i highly doubt you’ll see this but if you do did you experience any problems with this camera? mibe wont shift its lens to shooting mode and the film counter just flashes. thanks
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Charles Higham replied:

Comment posted: 16/02/2020

Sorry to hear of the fault with your Konica. I had no problems with mine when I last used it.

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Ralf J on Konica Z-up 150 VP – Mini Review – by Charles Higham

Comment posted: 28/01/2023

Potential light leak through lens barrel. Most the infinity stylus have this issue now, due to rubberized lens barrel coating shrinking with age. You can test this by, extending lens fully, open back of camera, remove batteries and shine a flashlight through the front of camera in a dark room
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Charles Higham on Konica Z-up 150 VP – Mini Review – by Charles Higham

Comment posted: 02/02/2023

Thanks Ralf. I don't have the camera in the house at present but when I do I will have a look as you suggest.
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