Minox Thread

Ektagraphic · May 3, 2012

I figured that I would start a new Minox thread for those of us that are APUGers and Minox users. I just purchased my first Minox, and it's a Minox B. I'm very excited to start shooting with it. In addition to Blue Moon processing Minox, I learned that Dwayne's Photo will also process Minox. Minox also just put up a statement on their website saying that they are still committed to offering film, which is a plus.

Patrick

summicron1 · May 4, 2012

nice to see you, patrick, and have fun with that B. Don't depend too much on the meter, check it first. If you decide to shoot with it a lot you may want to learn to cut your own film, but beyond that Blue Moon does a lovely job.

darkosaric · May 4, 2012

I had minox - I was astonish by lens quality. It was my favorite camera to carry all the time. And then one day in Istanbul shutter just died , in the middle of the action. If this camera has a reliable shutter - it would be a dream camera.

bsdunek · May 4, 2012

To me, anyway, it's not worth slitting and loading film for the Minox. I find good prices on the real stuff at Optics Planet http://www.opticsplanet.net/minox-35filcam.html The Frugal Photographer http://www.frugalphotographer.com/catMinoxFilm.htm
If you use color, Minox will process it. I use B&W and process it myself. I use a stainless reel made for 9.5mm film and use Ilford Microphen (now that I'm out of Microdol-X. I'm going to try some Legecy Pro Mik-X which is supposed to be the same as Microdol-X from Freestyle http://www.freestylephoto.biz/749710-LegacyPro-Mic-X-Film-Developer-to-Make-1-Gallon?cat_id=301

Remember the film is small so dirt and other defects really show up. Everything has to be CLEAN! I do have a Minox enlarger from my Dad, but before that I just used my Durst 606 and it was fine.

By the way, the shutters are very durable. My Dad used his B for about 50 years and i'm using it now and it works fine - shutter, meter, everything. You never know how a used one was treated.

Have fun!

BrianL · May 4, 2012

I've had a Riga, B, C, LX, and EC. Great cameras but film and processing became too expensive even from Minox so sold all bt my C years ago. I still have the C with its tripod adaptor and the Minox tripod, well actually 2 of the tripods. The tripods are the best mini-pods out there. They do great with my Leica.

vpwphoto · May 4, 2012

I have been messing with a Yashica Atoron and Minolta 16.
I have an EBLA unit for my Bessler.

PS... I still have quite a few of these to offer.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Mike Wilde · May 4, 2012

Not quite Minox. I have a Minolta 16-II bought at an auction this past winter for $20. I saw this little mechanical marvel, and could not resist.

Finding cassettes is another thing though. I bought one from a guy, Goat Hill I think was his moniker, down in Texas.

I have a 16mm stainelss reel for processing. I have slit down bulk 70mm for other purposes in the past, so that part of film creation doesn't scare me off.

I have yet to print the negatives, but have a D5xl, so getting a reasonable sized enlargement is just going to invlove a high head height.
I plan to use my 50mm enlarger lens lens with the negatve masked off, until a shorter enlarging lens is found at the right price.

Ektagraphic · May 4, 2012

It's exciting to see Minox interest! I'm probably just going to have even my black and white films processed by Blue Moon or Dwayne's until I can find a reel and I too will just mask off a negative carrier and use the 50mm lens. We'll see how it goes.

DWThomas · May 4, 2012

Dang! You guys are trouble!

This thread sent me to the dark remote corner of the darkroom. And son-of-a-gun, I didn't scrap it, there it is . . .

Plumbing fittings, scrap widgets ... The mount was a 1 1/2 inch pipe T with a thumbscrew to slide it over a vertical 1 1/4 inch pipe column (part of my 1960s vintage multi-format enlarger "system.") An automotive lamp driven by a filament transformer supplied the illumination.

I've no idea if there's any samples left buried here, but I know I once made some prints with it.

A home made focusing lens mount (which shows several revisions!) carried a Kodak Anastigmat 35 mm f/3.5 lens, likely a military gunsight camera relic via Edmund Scientific (I lived close enough to visit there at the time). The lens has an adjustable aperture, but some sort of dedicated non-standard markings. Now you guys have the wheels spinning -- since my Omega B-8 uses a flat plate to mount a 50 mm lens, it should be possible to make a 15 mm recessed lens cone ....

[Oh no I'm already under fire for constant diversions from the honey-do list! ]

I think my Minox B still has a film in it from circa 1975-ish. I used to dabble in slides and have a cute little Minolta projector (speaking of Minolta 16 up-thread) I used with those.

I feel an attack of Aging Adult ADD coming on . . . . .

darkosaric · May 4, 2012

BTW - I was speaking about minox 35 camera when saying that shutter has died.

pentaxpete · May 4, 2012

I have recently been GIVEN a MINOX 35GT 35mm film camera -- it had two PX27 5.6 volt batteries with it, both of whuch were DEAD due to long storage -- they are the 'illegal' MERCURY type -- I found a battery company in England called 'Brewsters' and they did a PX27 6 volt Alkaline battery replacement so I orderd one and teh camera WORKS and i have got some good results on outdated C41 film !

vpwphoto · May 4, 2012

Aaackkk.. and I suppose I highjacked this thread with Minolta 16 stuff. They really are not the same animal. Minolta 16 is almost 4x the size of a Minox frame.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · May 4, 2012

Few years ago , I had been sent a e mail to Kiev Ukraine Arsenal factory and above Minox Copies price was 16 dollars at the factory. Kiev 88 Kit with 80 mm lens , two backs , prism finder , leather bag and color filters was 170 dollars. How I am silly , I thought they will produce for decades but they have been closed instantly.

bsdunek · May 4, 2012

darkosaric said:
BTW - I was speaking about minox 35 camera when saying that shutter has died.

That makes a difference. Totally different type of shutter. Here in the USA I would just send it to Essex Repair and have it fixed. Don't know what the repair facilities are over there.

My late Wife had a Minox GT35 - took great photos.

mgb74 · May 4, 2012

darkosaric said:
BTW - I was speaking about minox 35 camera when saying that shutter has died.

If the shutter "clicks" but doesn't open, there is an adjustment to remedy that. Google around and you should find it.

mgb74 · May 4, 2012

Film for reloading Minox and Minolta cassettes available from Goathill Photo.

darkosaric · May 5, 2012

mgb74 said:
If the shutter "clicks" but doesn't open, there is an adjustment to remedy that. Google around and you should find it.

I think it was that problem as you described. But I sold it as broken for parts after incident. I am tempted to buy another one - often even leica M is too big to carry everyday .

ic-racer · May 5, 2012

vpwphoto said:
Aaackkk.. and I suppose I highjacked this thread with Minolta 16 stuff. They really are not the same animal. Minolta 16 is almost 4x the size of a Minox frame.

The Quarter Frame Minoltas that use Super 16 film have that huge image area, however, the older Minoltas that open and close like a big Minox, have an image area very similar to Minox.

EASmithV · May 5, 2012

I have a Minolta 16mm I've been wanting to use for a while, but with no source of battery / reliable film source, I have yet to use them.

ic-racer · May 6, 2012

EASmithV said:
I have a Minolta 16mm I've been wanting to use for a while, but with no source of battery / reliable film source, I have yet to use them.

You can get film from the Kodak on-line store. $20 for 100 feet of negative film. Dead Link Removed

What kind of battery are you looking for? The Minolta QT can be powered by a coin-shaped 3V lithium cell.

Ektagraphic · May 6, 2012

Mustafa Umut Sarac said:
Few years ago , I had been sent a e mail to Kiev Ukraine Arsenal factory and above Minox Copies price was 16 dollars at the factory. Kiev 88 Kit with 80 mm lens , two backs , prism finder , leather bag and color filters was 170 dollars. How I am silly , I thought they will produce for decades but they have been closed instantly.

I so wish that they still made cameras too!

Ektagraphic · Jul 17, 2012

I was browsing ebay and it seems most if not nearly all Minox cameras have bids placed upon them....Are they all being bought to sit on a shelf or will they get used? Who is buying them up?

SkipA · Jul 17, 2012

So I'm confused, is this thread about the 8x11mm Walter Zapp Minox cameras, or the Minox 35 cameras?

I have 3 or 4 Minox III and IIIs cameras, 3 or 4 Minox B, a broken Minox C. I have 4 Minox film developing tanks, two Jobo 35mm reels modified (cut down) for Minox 8x11 film, a Minox enlarger, and a couple of different film slitters. Using the Minox is fun.

My favorite is the Minox III (or IIIs) because it is so small. I am not that good at estimating exposure, so I do carry a light meter with me when I use it, usually.

I just broke my best and most-used Minox B camera. I was advancing the film and the end with the selenium cell just came off in my hand, and little bits and pieces of the meter went flying. I went ahead and finished that roll of Minopan 25 anyway. I need to send that B off for repair now.

I just loaded some Adox KB14 in one of my Minox III and some T-Max 400 in another. Working through them slowly.

Ektagraphic · Jul 18, 2012

I had started this threat with the 8x11mm cameras in mind...but either way.....Sounds cool SkipA

M. Lointain · Jul 18, 2012

I have had a Minox B for many years but I never develop the film! I think I have a bag somewhere with a bunch of exposed rolls in it. I know I have a stainless reel somewhere too and if I find it I plan on using the camera more. They are fun cameras. You really can't do anything serious with them but sometimes enjoying photography is more important. I have an Atoron too.

I recently purchased a Minox 35 EL and after sorting the battery issue (I just used 4 544 cells with a paper insulator) I can't believe how good the lens is. I am a Leica and Contax user too just so you know I am not overrating it. I am not a big fan of the guess focusing but for most things it is accurate enough and on the upside, you get an image when you press the shutter which can't be said for most point and shoots. I made one of those arm-length-two-eye-distance-scale things I saw here a while back in case I need it. It is a great pocket camera. I have a bunch of point and shoots and I think the quality of it is about as good as can be had. The only lenses I have seen that are marginally better are in the super premium compacts like the Minilux or the T3. I read that Minox used Leica glass to make the lenses and I would believe it. It does have a bit of the Leica tonality and character to it.

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