MiNT is Developing a Brand-New Premium Compact 35mm Film Camera

JParker · Jan 21, 2023

FYI:

MiNT is Developing a Brand-New Premium Compact 35mm Film Camera

Initial prototyping has begun.

petapixel.com

As they have experience with designing instant film cameras from scratch, and producing them successfully, this project could be successful as well.

gone · Jan 21, 2023

Well, petapixel. Not the best of references. Sorta like John Deere saying they are developing a new film camera since they have experience designing tractors.

Mackinaw · Jan 21, 2023

momus said:
Well, petapixel. Not the best of references. Sorta like John Deere saying they are developing a new film camera since they have experience designing tractors.

Go to the Mint website and sign up for updates. They just sent me the latest on this proposed 35mm camera. Things are proceeding nicely, but no guarantees at this point.

Vintage Polaroid Cameras + New Instant Cameras | MiNT Official Site

Beginning with the Polaroid SX-70 Camera, MiNT took what we learnt from vintage Polaroid cameras and old Polaroid Land cameras, and designed new instant cameras with a classic and timeless touch.

mint-camera.com

Jim B.

koraks · Jan 22, 2023

momus said:
Well, petapixel. Not the best of references.

Uhm, alright, but this isn't exactly original research they've done and reporting on - they're just echoing what they get from MiNT.
A critical attitude is generally useful, but it can be taken to extremes

mtnbkr · Jan 22, 2023

Wasn't this announced a few months ago?

Chris

Alan9940 · Jan 22, 2023

Given what they charge for their SX-70 and RF70 cameras, I can't even begin to imagine what a "premium" camera from them will cost. Love to see a few new film cameras come to market and I wish them all the best.

madsox · Feb 4, 2023

Well, I don't like that Mint wants me to register an email addy just to see their website, but poking around a little. That parts photo looks like they're using a leaf shutter? Interesting choice for a 35mm if true.

Agulliver · Feb 5, 2023

Alan9940 said:
Given what they charge for their SX-70 and RF70 cameras, I can't even begin to imagine what a "premium" camera from them will cost. Love to see a few new film cameras come to market and I wish them all the best.

I had a poke around their website, without registering any email address, and their 'refurbed" guaranteed Polaroid cameras seem about the same price as other businesses selling similar. DIdn't see much about their proposed new camera though. Good luck to them, I think they're serious about trying at least.

Mackinaw · Feb 5, 2023

Hope this link opens. It shows where Mint is now in developing this camera.

MiNT

mint-camera.com

Bill Burk · Feb 5, 2023

Looks very much like a Rollei 35. Consider how well-regarded that camera is when you think about this camera’s potential success.

cmacd123 · Feb 5, 2023

Mackinaw said:
Hope this link opens. It shows where Mint is now in developing this camera.

MiNT

mint-camera.com

wanted my e-mail to enter, and would not take my normal answer in those circumstances as <foo@bar.com>

Moose22 · Feb 6, 2023

cmacd123 said:
wanted my e-mail to enter, and would not take my normal answer in those circumstances as <foo@bar.com>

yeah, that's sketchy as crap. If you want PII for me to see your advertisement.... I just moved on.

Mackinaw · Feb 6, 2023

Two screen captures from the Mint website.

cramej · Feb 6, 2023

Looks like the beginnings of a Rollei 35 clone.

cmacd123 · Feb 6, 2023

cramej said:
Looks like the beginnings of a Rollei 35 clone.

although the shutter looks like it is electronically controlled.

Agulliver · Feb 7, 2023

I have an email address specifically for registering on sites like this. Looks like they at least have a functional prototype.

BHuij · Feb 7, 2023

If they managed to come up with a robust, compact 35mm camera with a decent lens, and for the love of God let me control the shutter speed, aperture, and focus manually and with some level of precision... I'd be interested. Sounds like they're targeting a ~$500 price point which is a pretty hard sell for me. But I wish them the best of luck.

Agulliver · Feb 8, 2023

BHuij said:
If they managed to come up with a robust, compact 35mm camera with a decent lens, and for the love of God let me control the shutter speed, aperture, and focus manually and with some level of precision... I'd be interested. Sounds like they're targeting a ~$500 price point which is a pretty hard sell for me. But I wish them the best of luck.

Much like the proposed Pentax camera.....this is not aimed at us. It's aimed at the folk who are paying top dollarpound for Olympys Mju type cameras.

brbo · Feb 8, 2023

How much cheaper (in today's money) was Mju when it was in production than today?

Helge · Feb 8, 2023

BHuij said:
If they managed to come up with a robust, compact 35mm camera with a decent lens, and for the love of God let me control the shutter speed, aperture, and focus manually and with some level of precision... I'd be interested. Sounds like they're targeting a ~$500 price point which is a pretty hard sell for me. But I wish them the best of luck.

How much cheaper would you expect it to be?

Helge · Feb 8, 2023

brbo said:
How much cheaper (in today's money) was Mju when it was in production than today?

Agulliver · Feb 9, 2023

Back then the Mju/stylus range were in mass production and supported by a huge market, and years of R&D. The Mju sold five million examples, with even a "limited edition" selling 50,000. I don't think Pentax or Mint are expecting to sell even 50,000 cameras, though I would love to be proved wrong.

Today production will be on a much smaller scale with R&D pretty much starting up again from almost zero.

What is important is what those cameras are fetching today. And a good condition Mju or Mju II/80 does go for over 300 dollarpounds quite often.

Whether you or I think that is worth it is not the point. It's not aimed at us. It's aimed at the folk paying hundreds for a used P&S 35mm camera.

brbo · Feb 9, 2023

All good points.

And I didn't know Mjus were fetching such high prices now.

redbandit · Feb 9, 2023

most of what mint has done has been converting old stock cameras to modern technology.. or to the new instant film packs...

In some ways the only way people have been ABLE to afford to purchase the new instant film paks is to have gotten an overpriced Mint instant film camera and used the free film option.

Mackinaw · Feb 9, 2023

If you get their emails, Mint did say this is a "bet the company" project. If they go ahead with this 35mm camera, and it flops, Mint is out of business.

Jim B.

MiNT is Developing a Brand-New Premium Compact 35mm Film Camera

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