The fabled Acmel MINOX film slitter

IloveTLRs · Jul 10, 2015

I know there are a few Minox-ers here on APUG (maybe some Minox-ettes, as well?)

The Acmel film slitter in now on our favorite auction site: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MINOX-8x11-...hneidegeraet-Acmel-cassettes-15-/391195601531 -- Only (approximately) $431.48, comes with cassettes and "coffins" to put them in.

Note, I am not the seller and have nothing to do with him/her.

AgX · Jul 10, 2015

I'm just calculating how many Minox cameras I could buy for that money...

(I admit, without film they would be worth even less...)

summicron1 · Jul 10, 2015

seems a tad overpriced, you ask me.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 10, 2015

Blue Moon Camera (advertisers on this site) sells both Minox cameras and film for Minox. Check the section "Subminiature cameras" in their used inventory.

Note: I am not affiliated with Blue Moon, but I bought two Minox cameras and film there.

Trask · Jul 10, 2015

Jimmy101cactus on Flickr seems to be making and selling beautiful Minox slitters, but I've not had much luck communicating with him. If you search "minox slitter" on Flickr you'll see his devices. Here's a direct link to one photo:

www.flickr.com/photos/minox-leica/1...tmY-cePPyw-dD776D-cePQjG-cfksZ5-dMweSh-dDcuGj

ciniframe · Jul 10, 2015

Ok, lets look at this;
Six cassettes w/coffins and loaded with 36 exp of film would be $120 plus shipping from Blue Moon.
I built a 'pull through' slitter (can also be docked between two 35mm cassettes to roll slit film into an empty cassette) for a total price of less than $20
It makes two clean, 9.2mm wide strips from 35mm film without scratching the film.
It is built with hobby plywood, 3 double edged razor blades, and a couple of 8/32 bolts.
I thought this thing out and drew up measurements before I started cutting the plywood.
Granted, I do have a small hobby drill press and tiny Proxxon table saw and there was some gluing and clamping involved.
Given that, it is a lot cheaper than this thing.

DWThomas · Jul 10, 2015

Hmm - given the limited amount of Minox-ing I anticipate doing, I think I'll stick with Blue Moon. Methinks the advertized item is being priced as a "collector value." (Makes $4 apiece for 620 spools seem like a steal! )

But thanks, interesting to at least see what one looks like. The ones by Mr. cactus look pretty nice -- wonder what he asks for them?

bsdunek · Jul 10, 2015

Seems kind of high to me. I have the one from Goat Hill http://www.subclub.org/sponsors/goathil2.htm It's not real fancy, but it works well. The film width is right (about 9.2mm, not 9.5 as is commonly said), and the razor blades are replaceable and seem to last a long time. Jimmy Li's slitter uses shear rolls, which, as an engineer, I think are better, but more expensive. I did buy a pack of 50 film wallets from Jimmy and they are great.
For other information on slitting and reloading Minox cassettes, see http://www.subclub.org/darkroom/splitter.htm and http://minoxit.com/category/film-negative/jimmy-lis-slitter/

ciniframe · Jul 10, 2015

Those film wallets look nice. I had not seen them when I first obtained a IIIs a few months ago. Never really thought I'd ever be into Minox 8X11 shooting but a chance arose at a photo show to get a really clean IIIs for $40 (and thus it starts) I have shot Minolta 16 off and on for 20 years so not completely a newby to submini photography. For my negs I used the sewing machine to stitch up four 15mm wide slots in some Clear File 120 film pages. They are wider than the film but that makes inserting the strip of film easier. I don't really like the 36exp rolls so my slit film, Ilford Pan F, is cut to 15 inches for 24 exp rolls. They in turn just fit a cut down old Yankee plastic reel that I reduced the diameter and slot depth on, The film just slides right in but I only made one modified reel so I can only do one roll at a time.

IloveTLRs · Jul 10, 2015

I recently bought a Jimmy Li slitter, which has gotten me back into Minox full-time. They are close to $200 (for the 35mm models.) The build quality is quite nice, and it's easy to use.

I have been on the lookout for film slitters for over a year now, and this is the only time I've seen this Acmel model. I have read that they have blade-replacement issues, but have no first-hand experience.

Here is some reading material regarding slitters:

° JL Slitter vs Acmel
° Jimmy Li a newcomer with a serious challenge

Jeff Bradford · Jul 10, 2015

Jimmi Li also makes the brass cassettes. Very nice but very pricey. He can be reached by commenting on his Flickr site.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 10, 2015

ciniframe said:
...
Never really thought I'd ever be into Minox 8X11 shooting but a chance arose at a photo show to get a really clean IIIs for $40 (and thus it starts) ...

Yep.

ciniframe said:
...
I have shot Minolta 16 off and on for 20 years so not completely a newby to submini photography.

There's a Minolta 16 at my local shop, but no magazine for it. Do you buy empty magazines at auction and spool the 16mm film yourself? Which film do you use?

The fabled Acmel MINOX film slitter

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