Which repair topics on a Minox A, B, BL, EC interest you most?

[tjwspm]

Since I am still preparing some descriptions on repairing Minox 8x11 cameras, I would like to prioritize this a bit.
So I'm asking you which topics would interest you.

If a topic is missing, please let me know!

 

[tjwspm]

For more information see

Inside Minox - Repair your Minox

If you own a 8x11 Minox, maybe you're lucky and everything works. But what if there problems? Learn how to fix these problems yourself!

moments-of-now.com

 

[AZSkip]

I would find it interesting to read an explanation of what is involved in a CLA of, say, a IIIs or B (I have both). For example, exactly what is cleaned, lubricated and adjusted? This is more starting at the beginning but nearly all of the other topics are of interest.

 

[tjwspm]

I would find it interesting to read an explanation of what is involved in a CLA of, say, a IIIs or B (I have both). For example, exactly what is cleaned, lubricated and adjusted? This is more starting at the beginning but nearly all of the other topics are of interest.

That is a very interesting suggestion. And at the same time a challenging question, because it goes far beyond purely technical questions. You could think about how difficult the individual maintenance tasks are, how high the risks are and what criteria you should use to decide what to do on your own individual camera as a CLA.

I will think about it in the next few days and when I have written something about it, I will inform you here.

 

[tjwspm]

I would find it interesting to read an explanation of what is involved in a CLA of, say, a IIIs or B (I have both). For example, exactly what is cleaned, lubricated and adjusted? This is more starting at the beginning but nearly all of the other topics are of interest.

A lot of thought is needed to tackle the maintenance of a Minox. I have now written down my thoughts on this and some tips on how to do it:

What you can do for your Minox

Sometimes we ask ourselves what we can do to get our Minox back into the best possible condition. The answer to this depends on many factors.

moments-of-now.com

I plan to create a new thread for this so that the whole thing has a meaningful title.

 

[tjwspm]

Thank you to everyone who voted!

It's interesting that most people are interested in adjusting the shutter speed. That's the most exciting topic for me at the moment.

The problem is that I haven't found a method of how to do it yet. I've tried everything possible, but it only brought little success. My approach was to first understand exactly how exposure works on the (mechanical) Minox. That's now complete and has led to the following articles:

How the Minox shutter works

Get to know all the details about how the mechanical Minox 8x11 shutter works. A comprehensive presentation with many photos.

moments-of-now.com

How the Minox escapement works

Find here a comprehensive article on the 8x11 Minox escapement mechanism with unique videos and photos.

moments-of-now.com

The next step was to measure the times in the first place. This was done and documented here:

Checking shutter speeds of Minox 8x11 cameras

So let’s measure the shutter speeds of our Minox. But how? Read my simple method to accurately measure Minox shutter speeds here.

moments-of-now.com

This then created further pressure, because it became clear that supposedly plausible exposure times can be very off. However, the measurement at least leads to a possible workaround. If you know the actual exposure time for each setting, you can correct it when taking the photo.

If you have any suggestions or even your own experiences in adjusting the exposure times, please let us know!
In any case, I will stay on the topic and continue to look for solutions.

 

[Minox]

A very interesting topic, thank you for taking all this effort to put this together. Really appreciated !

 

[Andreas Thaler]

As an absolute beginner:

What is the best way to get started with Minox, which model would you recommend?

And how can I develop my films resp. which films are available on the market? Are there scanners for this film format?

 

[tjwspm]

As an absolute beginner:

What is the best way to get started with Minox, which model would you recommend?

And how can I develop my films resp. which films are available on the market? Are there scanners for this film format?

Here is a very brief description, a detailed description on my website is planned, but I'm not there yet:

Which camera?

I would buy a Minox B. They are the cheapest because they were produced in the largest quantities and are the most widely available. Important: Don't mind if the exposure meter is defective. You don't necessarily need it with modern films. Costs $40 - $80

Which film?
For the first time, I would buy a ready-made Minox film. Spy Film from Blue Moon. Cost (in Germany): $26

Development?
For the first time, I would use the development service offered by the film dealer. You have to send the film in. Cost (in Germany): $6 + shipping Duration: 10 days.

Digitization?
You don't even need to try scanning, it doesn't work satisfactorily. I photograph the negatives illuminated from below through a magnifying glass. My simple digital travel camera is sufficient. The quality is so good that you can see the film grain. A digital system camera with a macro lens will certainly also do the job, but it's not necessary.

What could you do next?

Film: I cut my films myself from any 35mm film. From one film, 4 Minox films with 36 images each. Then you have the full choice at low costs. I use the Camerhack daylight slitter as a slitter. Cost: $35. You can reuse the Spy film cartridge you bought.

Development:
I found a photo lab nearby that develops the Minox films for me using the C41 process (but not black and white). Cost: $3 per film, 1 hour wait
It's worth doing some research in the area and speaking to the few labs that still make C41 themselves. I take the exposed film out of the cartridge myself and give it to my lab in a tin can. They then somehow thread it into their standard machine. That's definitely possible if they want. So speak to people in person.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

@tjwspm Thank you for this compact and informative introduction!

I am seriously considering getting into the topic, primarily motivated by your excellent reports.

 

[tjwspm]

@tjwspm Thank you for this compact and informative introduction!

I am seriously considering getting into the topic, primarily motivated by your excellent reports.

I would be very happy. To increase the motivation, here my favorite Minox photos that I took in the way described above (point to a photo to see camera and film data):

Gallery

Behind the images shown here is the concept of the present. They reflect the brevity, the fleetingness but also the decisiveness of the moment. They don't want to show the beauty of the world, nor the ugliness.

moments-of-now.com

 

[Minox]

Those are the optimum setup, indeed. I would just add two pointers here: make sure you understand the camera, familiarizing with it, and also check the light meter, sooner rather than later. Minox may be a rather peculiar camera to shoot with, but at the end of the day is a film camera . Wish you good luck and by all means, fun in your new endeavour !

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Those are the optimum setup, indeed. I would just add two pointers here: make sure you understand the camera, familiarizing with it, and also check the light meter, sooner rather than later. Minox may be a rather peculiar camera to shoot with, but at the end of the day is a film camera . Wish you good luck and by all means, fun in your new endeavour !

Thank you very much!

I even have room in my closet for a Minox

 

[tjwspm]

Thank you very much!

I even have room in my closet for a Minox

Modern color negative films have a huge exposure latitude compared to the color films of the 1950s. Nevertheless, it is not wrong to try to expose correctly in order to use the film's latitude for the shadows and highlights of the image.

In this case, my advice: before you check the light meter, you should first measure the individual exposure times of your camera. After all, what good is it if you determine the optimum exposure time and set it on the camera if the camera then exposes at a completely different time?

If I know, for example, that my camera exposes for 1/50 s when I set 1/100 s, then I can take this into account when shooting.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Vienna today

 

[tjwspm]

I love stores like this.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Vienna, European center of film photography.

Fotolabor und Scanservice

Fotolabor und Sanservice. Wir digitalisieren (scannen) Dias, Negative, Fotos, Videokassetten, Tonbänder und Schmalfilme "Super 8".

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[Andreas Thaler]

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United Camera

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[tjwspm]

We can only dream of that in Aachen...

 

[Andreas Thaler]

We can only dream of that in Aachen...

It is difficult for retailers with their own premises to compete online, but they hold on.

And there you will also find service and expertise.

 

[tjwspm]

We have only this one in Aachen (strange name, I know):

HOME

www.audiophil-foto.de

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Once I went to my hairdresser, who had her shop around the corner from Camera31.

I came home with shorter hair and a new Nikkor 400/3.5 Ai-S in its original packaging and case

 

[tjwspm]

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Ask my long-suffering wife …