Those 35mm Minox cameras are tack sharp. The company bought Leica glass and did their own lens making. They knew how to grind a lens. Before knowing it was Lieca glass, I used to remark how close my Leica and Minox looked in results when shooting comparitives. It was especially noticable with transparencies. In competition, those who could tell a Leica made slide kept mistaking the Minox for a Leica. Yes, old timers could tell the difference and wereright as to being Leica (or Minox) about85+% of the time.
I'm still trying to get it to work as they don't make the PX27 battery any more. It came with four LR44 batteries installed but I have not been able to get it to work consistently. I made a cardboard tube to hold the batteries together but it still isn't working and yes they are showing consistent voltage when I test them. I am going to buy some fresh ones today to see if that will help as I am wanting to try this camera out.
bought an Olympus XA at a yard sale for US$2.50.... didnt work. risked $2 on 2 a76 batts, still no work... then I slackened all the visible screws without taking the case off.... and click!, wind, Click!..... rangefinder and exposure meter dead on!!!!!
I really appreciate the mechanical craftsmanship of the cameras from 1929 to 1984. When the polycarbonate bodies came in, I lost interest (mostly... the XA is fine).
Minox made an adaptor for the non-ML models to hold the LR44 batteries. It may still be available from Minox part deptartment as I assume it was eventually included in all models produced until a few years ago when they dropped the models. The non-ML series did not have the shutter problems of the ML series and reported to be quite reliable. I had an ML including all the accessories but finally gave up on it after the replacement shutter went south and I was not about to bite the bullet for a second repair that sost almost as much as the camera cost new. It is the one camera I do miss as I could have easily have lived with it as a main camera and sold off everything as I got older.m
Latest non-SLR 35mm purchase was earlier this year. A thrift store Canon AF35M. Have just finished the first roll through it so do not know how well it is working but, to date as a camera, it is noisier than my Bronica with the auto wind and rewind/ Hopefully the lens is as good as they say so I feel justified in using it. I do not like the lack of a meter lock, same issue as the non-ML series Minox cameras and the pre-focus system is not just unusual but, as weird as it gets.
I have been looking at the adapter for the Minox but as of right now it seems to be working. I have a roll of Tmax 400 in it now and I hope to finish the roll this week and develop it to see. The red light doesn't come on as it is supposed to but the meter is working, at least I think it is as long as it is moving, hmmmm.
A Zorki 6 with the Jupiter 8 lens. Very nice camera, works well. BTW, I got mine from fedka.com. This isn't a commercial plug but it is an endorsement. I've gotten 5 FSU cameras from Yuri, and each one has worked right out of the box. Much better than the stories that I hear about buying on ebay.
A Yashica P&S Zoom (can't remember the model) which switches to 'Panoramic' format. $4 at Goodwill.
Before that, I think it was a nice, crispy Argus C3 'Matchmatic', complete with the matched lightmeter. I can't remember exactly, but I think I paid about $15 for it. Haven't used this, yet.
Leica Mini Zoom Elmar 35-70 for 120 dollars from bhphoto. 60 for camera , 60 for UPS to Istanbul , I still cant believe how I gave that much of money but I will not cry anymore for not having a Leica.
I just developed a test roll of TMax 400 in a FED-50 pocket camera I bought here on APUG recently. Such a cute camera, with a selenium meter, and no batteries needed!
I shot the roll at box speed and it came out a stop or two consistently overexposed, but still usable. I'm thinking it should be just fine with color C-41 film, and I'll deliberately over-rate B&W in the future with it.
A Kodak Retina 1a. Beautifully built and as it doesn't have a rangefinder, inexpensive for a Schneider lensed camera. Not the fastest camera to operate but pretty compact folded even by modern standards.
Werra MAT at a car boot sale. Very quirky cameras - for those who don't know, the film advance and shutter cocking are achieved by rotating a ring around the lens where you'd expect to find the focussing ring.
Steve
Olympus Stylus 100 Wide! Yay! This is the one with the 28-100mm lens, one of the last Stylus models made. After several years of searching, I got one off the big auction site for $15 total. Loaded it with FP4, it's now my carry-anywhere camera.
Rollei 35 with 40mm f/3.5 Tessar made in Germany....
Wonderful piece of craftsmanship: like a watch. (But heavy) will probably trade to feed my Contax IIa cravings
Received my Stylus Epic today and it's nearly perfect! Appears to have barely been used before its previous owner hid it away on a shelf or in a drawer.
Also got a Canon Super Sure Shot AF35ML. An earlier p&s with a 40mm/1.9 lens. It came with its original box and even the styrofoam for $1.04 ! (+ $10 shipping... )
Now it's time for a shoot off between the 'almighty' MJU-II and the 'unknown' Canon.