Minox 35

[kandra]

Hello! Minox 35AL, 35ML or MDC?

 

[guangong]

Minox 8x11 cameras are well built and seem to last forever. I have IIIs, Cs and LXs, and I bought a Minox 35 early on, and severa various models after that. In my opinion, although design is very good, the 35s are just not very reliable cameras. However, this has been my experience and the Minox 35 cameras have many fans among APUG and I am sure you will hear from them shortly.
My own advice would be an Olympus XA (for lightn wt) or Rollei35 (for toughness and durability). I am still using the same Rollei that I bought on the first day they we’re offered for sale in NYC.

 

[ph]

In my experience the tiny minoxes were totally reliable, but the full frame ones had shutters that gave up (I had 3 of them) , while their optics were sharp with high contrast.and the concept of a "folding" automatic pocket camera was a good one . The plastic bodies endured numerous drops and scuffs. I presume that the metal casing will only serve as a more impressive container for the weak shutter mechanism.I would second the opinion on Rollei.( Both the Tessar and teh Sonnar varieties,they do not have an automatic aperture like teh Minox does, but ensure that both the shutter and the light meter are Ok and be sure to cock the shutter before collapsng the lens.

p

 

[Huss]

I researched the Minox 35 series cameras and gave up on them after reading the non stop horror stories of broken shutters. Even from new ones.
What is a superb alternative - so much so I now have three of them! - is the Ricoh FF-1/FF-1s series cameras. All three of mine - bought randomly at different times - have excellent lenses and work!

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I have an EL and never had an issue with it.

The lens on it really is great. One of the best for small cameras I've ever seen.

 

[guangong]

I have an EL and never had an issue with it.

The lens on it really is great. One of the best for small cameras I've ever seen.

Luck of the draw!

 

[benjiboy]

I have had a 35 GT for more than 25 years that I bought second hand, and I have never had any problem with it, and it still works perfectly.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where are those who never had a problem with any Minox 35, but I never seen recent pictures from their cameras.
All recent Minox 35 I have tried crapped out. It doesn't matter which model. Too tiny electronics in all of them.
If you will still believe in the miracle, do not put it on recycle once it will crap out. Those cameras are great source for 35 mm VF and lens could be re-purposed.

 

[Bill Burk]

Never heard anything good about Minox 35, but Rollei 35 are unbeatable.
When you make it your goal to find the "smallest full frame 35mm camera in the world" you'll find those two.

But a Kodak Retina isn't much bigger. And those can be pretty sharp and reliable.

 

[Huss]

Where are those who never had a problem with any Minox 35, but I never seen recent pictures from their cameras.
All recent Minox 35 I have tried crapped out. It doesn't matter which model. Too tiny electronics in all of them.
If you will still believe in the miracle, do not put it on recycle once it will crap out. Those cameras are great source for 35 mm VF and lens could be re-purposed.

In the thread on RFF one user claimed his Minox 35 was perfect, never had an issue. He then said he was going to load a roll of film in it and shoot it. Never heard back. I even asked how it went.
That was about 6 months ago..

 

[Huss]

Never heard anything good about Minox 35, but Rollei 35 are unbeatable.
When you make it your goal to find the "smallest full frame 35mm camera in the world" you'll find those two.
.

I tried to buy a Rollei 35, but every single one had a sticky shutter at low speeds. I guess it is commonplace with these kameras.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Never heard anything good about Minox 35, but Rollei 35 are unbeatable.
When you make it your goal to find the "smallest full frame 35mm camera in the world" you'll find those two.

But a Kodak Retina isn't much bigger. And those can be pretty sharp and reliable.

I tried to buy a Rollei 35, but every single one had a sticky shutter at low speeds. I guess it is commonplace with these kameras.

It is thier common feature , but cure is easy to DIY. I did. Sold it while it was still working
Those unbeatables have thin soft top plate. Bumps on it are common.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I have an 1930s vintage Balda Jubilette (scale focus folder) that's smaller than a Rollei 35, barely bigger than a Minox 35 (had one of those for a while, too, but the shutter died).

 

[4season]

My first choice of the "Minox" cameras would be one of the variants sold under the Voigtlander or Balda brands, as those have accommodations for a wrist strap whereas the Minox-branded cameras do not.

Accompanied by Thomas Tomosey's camera repair book, I was able to fix a broken Minox 35EL that I had purchased cheaply, and it served me well.

But I imagine that the Olympus XA came as a rude surprise to the German camera industry!

 

[thuggins]

Go for one of the XA's. The Minox shutters were notoriously unreliable and you have to be creative with the battery. I got one years ago just because it is a unique design. The shutter never worked right.

 

[thuggins]

But I imagine that the Olympus XA came as a rude surprise to the German camera industry!

Japanese cameras, in general, came as a rude surprise to the German camera industry.

 

[AndyH]

It is thier common feature , but cure is easy to DIY. I did. Sold it while it was still working
Those unbeatables have thin soft top plate. Bumps on it are common.

I have one with this problem. Can you briefly describe the DIY fix? It seems to be friction between the moving arm and shutter closing arm.

Andy

 

[guangong]

For 50;years I have never had a problem with shutter on either of my Rollei 35s. I have done body and fender work for dents on top plate, but these never harmed camera works. However, a complete Rollei 35 must include wrist strap when using and zippered case when not using.
Handy accessory is the Rollei 35 to e39 filter adapter, allowing use of a variety of Leica filters.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have one with this problem. Can you briefly describe the DIY fix? It seems to be friction between the moving arm and shutter closing arm.

Andy

I used his video for several DIY.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Go for one of the XA's. The Minox shutters were notoriously unreliable and you have to be creative with the battery. I got one years ago just because it is a unique design. The shutter never worked right.

XA is just as old as Minox now. Same tiny analog electronics. Same oxidation and else.
I see some still in use, but it will not lasts for long if in regular use.
First, VF meter will quit, then shutter meter will quit.
Crapped out XA is another source for good sized 35mm VF.

 

[AndyH]

I used his video for several DIY.

Thanks!

Looks like I've been cleaning and lubricating the wrong spot in the gear train. Will give this a try.

Andy

 

[AndyH]

Success! Thanks again....
Andy

 

[JPChopper]

Hello! Minox 35AL, 35ML or MDC?

I can't comment on Minox AL, but my MDC has worked flawlessly the entire time I've owned it. Of the 3 you've listed, I'd go MDC or ML>AL simply because the AL is fixed focus.
I've had 3 MLs, only one had the shutter issue, and unfortunately I believe it may have been a battery issue that I discovered too late.
It's very compact, and light, you can easily forget one in a pants pocket-and both ML and MDC take great pictures.

 

[AgX]

My first choice of the "Minox" cameras would be one of the variants sold under the Voigtlander or Balda brands, as those have accommodations for a wrist strap whereas the Minox-branded cameras do not.

Balda was a camera manufacturer. However as early on Minox had no competence nor means in plastic injection moulding, the production of the casing was outsourced to Balda for some years, who later developed their own camera model, one of the several descendants of the Minox 35 by other manufacturers.

 

[blockend]

The search for a great pocket 35 continues. Most of them are hamstrung, one way or another. Olympus were the best compromise between reliability (flaky shutter membrane notwithstanding), sharpness, size and value, but prices have got sillier with each passing year. Not as crazy as anything with a Contax badge, but too much for an ornament in waiting.