Minox anyone???

ic-racer · Mar 7, 2008

Judging by some of the posts I have seen on APUG it seem that there are a number of sub-mini, 110, 16mm and Minox users here. Too bad we don't have a Submini forum. Maybe they could just tack "Submini"on to the name for this forum? I was thinking of starting one of those "Lets see your Submini Photographs" threads to drum up some interest. Looks like the Minox and most subminis have glass lenses are are precision cameras (thus not Toy cameras for the Toy print exchanges etc.)

Anyway, I use my subminis kind of like one would use the Diana or Holga, in that I am interested in the cool effects from the lens and grain. It seemed like this would be the forum to share some recent images.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 7, 2008

I like the third shot of the man's hands through the window. It feels voyeuristic, which is appropriate to the spy-camera format.

Actually, a mini and submini forum would be a good idea, rather than putting it into Toy Cameras, since, as you say, many of these aren't really toys.

Where does half-frame go--mini or 35mm? I tend to think of it as 35mm, since it uses 35mm film, but as a format, it's smaller. APS might be another ambiguous category, since there are APS cameras that feel more 35mm-ish, though the format itself is quite small.

crispinuk · Mar 7, 2008

I'd never call an 8x11 minox a toy, (maybe the plastic 'ECs', but they're not real Minoxes are they ). The metal ones are true icons of classic design and precision engineering.
I've also wondered why there's no sub-miniature forum and would welcome one as it might encourage me to use mine more. I wouldn't get too hung up on definitive definitions, just call it Sub-mini and let people decide where to put APS / half frame posts, it will sort itself out in the wash.
I would however have to think about where my Minhole camera belongs, being a pinhole camera made from a Minox film box.
Here's the result of my first attempt with it http://www.pinholeday.org/gallery/2006/index.php?id=1161
And here's some hasty scans of some I took with Minox B:

Oh yes, I vote for the man in the window too, reminds of Nosferatu.

phaedrus · Mar 7, 2008

Here are some photos I made with my Minox LX 4 years ago on a "brevet randonneur". That's a bicycle race at a more leisurely pace but over a long distance, in this case 400 km. Dead Link RemovedDead Link RemovedDead Link Removed

Robbedoes · Mar 7, 2008

ic-racer said:
Judging by some of the posts I have seen on APUG it seem that there are a number of sub-mini, 110, 16mm and Minox users here. Too bad we don't have a Submini forum.

Hey!,

I've been asking (there was a url link here which no longer exists) on the Dutch forum here at APUG without an overwhelming response. But when I look at recent posts on various other Minox fora, German and American mainly, I really think there is some kind of revival.

A Minox 8x11 camera isn't a toy and neither is it a spy camera. It is very small but impressive machine you can take wherever you go. Because almost nobody will notice the camera or take it seriously you can take pictures whenever you like without disturbing the scene. It certainly has limitations you have to live with.

I like my Minox B very much. He is at DAG at this moment and I miss him.

My major concerns about 8x11 are the costs and the availability of material: I have to buy my film abroad. Also for a beginner it is hard to find information about DIY developing.

My Minox results are on Flickr.

Robbedoes · Mar 7, 2008

PS

I've had contact with Larry Feldman of The Minox Historical Society about the annual Minox Historical Society Contest. I'm afraid there will be no contest this year. Larry is also searching for subscribers and he is scratching his head about site maintenance. I suggested him to contact Sean Ross to see if MHS could get a place on APUG.

ic-racer · Mar 8, 2008

Here are a few more I recently processed:

mabman · Mar 9, 2008

Robbedoes said:
...
My major concerns about 8x11 are the costs and the availability of material: I have to buy my film abroad. Also for a beginner it is hard to find information about DIY developing.

My Minox results are on Flickr.

Out of curiousity where do you get your film? Are you loading cassettes yourself or do you get them pre-loaded somewhere?

Recently another member of my local camera club who is a Ukrainian immigrant suggested a Kiev-30 might be an interesting addition to my collection after I mentioned I had an interest in FSU rangefinders - but as it takes unperforated 16mm film in custom cassettes, finding film for it might be a challenge...

I might be interested in sub-minis myself, but film availability and ease-of-loading is definitely an issue. In that general arena I might be more interested in half-frame cameras (not technically "sub-mini", but getting closer while still being able to use regular 35mm film).

crispinuk · Mar 9, 2008

Hello Mabman,
I have been getting mine from Dead Link Removed. They're UK based so I don't know if they will ship to Canada, couldn't see any shipping info on the website without actually creating an order. No harm in dropping them an email.
The bloke behind http://www.submin.com/8x11/index.htm used to sell on ebay, can't remember his name but one could identify it was him by the patterned backgrounds he used for is product photos. I bought my developing reel from him.
Sorry they're UK-centric but it might help.
Cheers
Crispin
P.S. I keep all the used cassettes so I'm ready to slit and load should the availability suddenly dry up.

Robbedoes · Mar 9, 2008

mabman said:
Out of curiousity where do you get your film? Are you loading cassettes yourself or do you get them pre-loaded somewhere?

First of all I use factory loaded film an I develop it using a Minox daylight development tank [1].

Canada eh? Try Frugal Photographer

Ilford Delta 100 I get from Marcus-Michael Dunkmann [2] in Solingen. Marcus is also selling Minopan 25, 100 and AGFA Copex. Officially he isn't shipping outside Europe but I think you can give it a try.

Another source can be Fotoimpex in Berlin [3]. They sell Ilford Delta 100 Minopan and Copex. In the German catalogue they listed an Adox KB14, which is in fact an Adox CHS 25 ART. A customer bought all the remaining stock and they where considering discontinuing the product. I asked them several times and now they have new stock for Euro 4,75 per film!!! Fotoimpex is shipping worldwide. There is a downloadable German 2008 and English 2007 catalog on their site.

Slitted film and loading service is offered by Goathill [4].

Minox in Wetslar [5] is as far as I know only selling colorfilm.

[1] http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/ (left menu > Accessories > Development tanks)
[2] http://www.8x11film.com
[3] Dead Link Removed e-mail: info@fotoimpex.de ask for Benjamin Greiner
[4] http://www.subclub.org/sponsors/goathil2.htm
[5] Dead Link Removed

removed account4 · Mar 9, 2008

submini forum would be great
i've a pentax auto110, and for a brief moment in time
a mamiya16 ... i switch off between
the pentax and my penft as my walk around / drive around these days

mabman · Mar 9, 2008

So, what I'm hearing is that you can still get (factory?) pre-loaded Minox cassettes reasonably commonly (although not cheap, at least in Canada), but would I be correct in assuming the same isn't true for 16mm or other sub-mini formats (other than custom preloads by the "Goathill" guy)?

As a potentially new sub-mini user, would I then be better off picking up a Minox? If so, which model? What about a Minox clone such as the Yashica Atoron Electro? Is a 16mm camera such as the Kiev 30 or Minolta 16 worth considering?

So many questions...

Robbedoes · Mar 9, 2008

Yes the cassettes are factory loaded, even the ADOX and Ilford. By my knowledge the ADOX (fotoimpex) is the cheapest at this moment: 4,75 euro or aprox. $7,32. I've used Ilford Delta 100 and I like it. Just have to give Minopan 25/100 a try. I'm also thinking about testing Copex in the near future when my Minox is back from DAG for a CLA.

There is a lot to read about 16mm and 8x11mm at submin.com. I can't speak about 16mm because I never used it. Minox is something else. I own a Minox "IIIs" a "B" and a "C". The first is the smallest, the "B" has a lightmeter and this camera I use the most, and the "C" can be used in an automatic mode. A bought all these camera's on eBay from Belgium "B", Germany "IIIs" and Canada "C" and they all where in good shape. Because most Minoxes haves spend years in a drawer the usually have to be cleaned by a specialist like Don Goldberg (DAG) I've been told Don can fix almost everything from shutter till meter. He's educated In Westlar at the Minox and Leica factory.

More about taking pictures.
Some more info.
A Dead Link Removed at photo.net (I wish to come to apug soon)

And to get some impressions about 8x11 results:

http://www.minox.org/Contest2006/winners.html
Dead Link Removed
http://www.minoxgallery.org/Portfolios/Ottino/index.html
Or my site at flickr

I hope you find your way!

DELTA1DSV · Dec 21, 2010

Hi, you can get a film spilter to cut down 35mm film stock to 8x 11 I made one 20 years ago, theonly problem is you need a dust free room yo do it in. you can get a Minox dev tank for processing B&w film , its an easy process , pick one on USA Ebay for $50/$60 THE Minox b/w Enlarger are rare to find and a good one holds it price of around $200/$500 hope this helps,

DELTA1DSV · Dec 21, 2010

Hi I would reccomend the Minox c or LX the lx has an electronic shutter which is excellent and the 15mm Complan f3.5 lens is very very sharp , you will not be disapointed with the results. and you can now scan your images to a reasonable size too. I have Minox C for sale on rbay UK if your interested.

ic-racer · Dec 21, 2010

Minox update. I just replaced the battery in my LX with one from zBattery (http://www.zbattery.com/V27PX-6V-Silver-Oxide-Battery-EPX527-PX27).
I stockpiled some Agfa film in cartridges a few years back but I'm on the last roll. I may look into a splitter.

BrianL · Dec 22, 2010

Had a LX some time ago as well as an EC. Both were sold but have retained a user C complete with tripod mount. I made some wonderful images with both the LX and C and I absolutely concur these are not toys being much closer to the finest Swiss watch movement. I retired my use of these when I got the Minox ML and am happy I kept at least the C as the ML sadly had the infamous shutter 2x and when it went out the 2nd time, I gave it as a parts unit to a friend who had an MDC along with all the filters, cases, etc.

Marvin · Feb 6, 2011

I have two Minolta 16 cameras that I haven't used in many years but from time to time have checked on film. I think there is film and a splitter available for those. I think its a 16PS and 16QT and the 16PS is full manual no batteries required. I think a submini forum would be a good idea.

Sirius Glass · Feb 6, 2011

I would like to see a Miniature Camera forum. My gifted Tessina Auto 35 L is a half frame [aka single frame] 35mm camera that would be indignant if I posted about it on the Toy camera forum [and I fear that I will pay dearly for this post, even though it is for a good cause.]. I bought a pentaprism, Tessina cassettes with film cans and a 35mm roll film bulk loader from KEH. I just got the camera back from a complete reconditioning and I am almost through the first roll.

Steve

DWThomas · Feb 6, 2011

I own a Minox B that I bought during a period of gross excess in the 1960s (IIRC). I even have a daylight tank and some other accessories. I tend to remember the results as a "cell phone camera before there were cell phones," but I suppose I ought to try a roll of "modern" film through it one of these days. I actually have a roll pf Plus-X with an expiration date of 1970-something! The commercially available loads do seem a bit pricey for my cheapo self.

(On Plus-X in the 1960s)

bsdunek · Feb 6, 2011

Interesting this is brought up. I used to carry my Minox B everywhere. Got some great photos. They really are a precision camera. Walter Zapp had to be one of the really great camera designers of all time. My Dad used to use an Adox asa 10 film, and could make creditable 8 X 10 prints. Too bad that film isn't available any more (at least I don't think it is). This gets me thinking I should use my B again.

Bill Burk · Oct 3, 2011

Thought I'd resurrect this thread instead of starting a new one...

Anyone with a later model Minox C notice that the CdS cell is engaged at 15? I was checking the camera before putting it away for the season and noticed 15 was too fast. Then I took it into the dark and it seemed like 15 again.

Unless this is a defect, I think 15 might be actually A with a low "limit" of 15.

The A setting will go to many seconds as it should.

Ektagraphic · May 2, 2012

Is there anyone around here that is still shooting Minox? I just picked up a Minox B. It's my first.

ic-racer · May 2, 2012

I have been looking for a film splitter.

Ektagraphic · May 2, 2012

I've just been looking to buy the film. Blue Moon and Frugal Photographer are mostly out of stock right now.

Minox anyone???

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