Your worst Minox picture?

Bad day,scanner hiccup,expired developer,dusty film chamber,meter

off-line...that is pretty much the story with this frame (and a half).What was

your worst Minox picture?Do you still have it?Willing to share?

 

Regards,

 

JT<div></div>

Sure I can find a worst so far, (having only one roll developed and another waiting).

I'll have a flick through and see what I can contribute.

Not bad, considering. I have so many that "worst" becomes a meaningless term.

I'm with you Jeff,I really understand your meaning:-))

 

regards

Julian, how are you scanning your negatives?

Bill,I have a Plustek 7200 FilmScan machine,it has a scanning max resolution of 7200 dpi.This scanner came with 2 negative holders,one for 35mm(a negative length of 6 frames),and a slide holder.The slide holder has been modified by me to accept strips of 9.2mm negatives.Actually what I did was building a mask for 8x11 from black cardboard,which has been glued to the holder(I had to cut the slide dividers on that particular holder)Works fine,as you can see foryourself(excepting the hiccup above:))

 

I usually scan each Minox frame by frame,and not the whole strip at once,at a resolution of 4000 or 5000 dpi.The software is SilverFast last edition,and the resulted frame scan is handled sometimes with NeatImage or Helicon,rarely in PS 7 or Adobe.

 

Let me know if I can help wiht anything else here

 

Regards,<div></div>

Thanks, Julian. Developing Minox film is a piece of cake, but proofing it has always been a PITA. I don't understand why Minox has never made/sold a negative carrier to fit into dedicated film scanners, as you have done. It just seems so short-sighted of them. After carrying one Minox or another for 40 years, I have been virtually "forced" into going digital instead.

I have no idea why they didn't do it,Bill...probably because is indeed very easy to make such a holder or they didn't got along with the various scanner manufacturers.Who knows?I would've thought that Nikon,Kodak,Canon and other serious scanner manufacturers could think about this issue but probably because there is no serious market for Minox film negative holders,they didn't took the idea seriously.However,having said that,I do not see why you personally do not build such a holder for your scanner(if any).It is a pity that you should retire your Minox camera...indeed it is!If I can help you any further,please do not hesitate to let me know!

 

With kind regards,

 

JT

Julian, could you send me some pictures of your setup? Thanks. bmitch at comcast dot net

Julian, are you happy with the Plustek 7200 for scanning your Minox film?

My worst Minox picture is anything processed and printed by Minox Labs in New York. They seem pretty intent on killing the format. I still love the camera, though.

Bill,I will shoot some digipics and send them to you,let me know if they help.

 

Mike,I have seen better scanners of course.However,I am very satisfied with the Plustek.Lots of features come preinstalled,and the soft is a pretty good one.Obviously,I would prefer a Nikon or Minolta,at >4000 dpi,but for now I am good.

 

Jon,I am really sorry to hear this.I always thought very highly of Minox Lab in the US,never had any pics done there though.Why don't you bring up this unsatisfactory activity with their management?Probably they can do something about it.Good luck!

 

regards,

 

JT

Julian, My last dealing with MPL was a truly horrible experience. I had sent them a roll of Black nand White for processing...a sevice that usually took 4-6 weeks...way too long considering what they charge. To make a long story short it was 6 months until I received the order, which was ruined. People I showed it to suspected it was developed as C-41...there was not one salvageable image. No apologies or explainations. The camera worked flawlessly before and since. I wrote and called several times while the order was outstanding and was met with a "if you don't like the service why not go elsewhere" attitude. Now I send my film to Blue Moon Camera in Portland, OR and get great service. My local Pro lab (Nardulli in Los Angeles) makes beautiful enlargements from my negatives. I know that many Minox users develop their own film, but it is something that I have never learned to do at would still rather leave it to pros. I fear that the do-it-yourselfers will someday not be enough to keep the format alive. Whenever I use my camera people say "I want one!" but when I explain the film and processing issues they quickly lose interest. I will continue to use (with great joy) my Minox B until I can't anymore, just as I continue to shoot 126, 127 and Polaroid. I finally retired my Minolta 16 when my remaining cartridges wore out.

I am not, by any means, giving up on the Minox, though.

Minox Lab in New York = high prices, slow service, and (quite often) bad quality. You're right, sometimes it does seem like they're trying to kill their own little camera. Their attitude seems unexplainable!

MPL comment. Yes I too have had bad luck with MPL in recent years. And I sought alternatives. Minox in Germany uses LAB811 and these are turning out well plus with great turn around times. Blue Moon Camera also does a good job. But to MPL defense, I used them for 20 years. And even though they took some time to get my film done, they would track me down no matter what part of the world I was in. Monika, pictured here with Don, would call me, even on a weekend one time, while I was in Romania. You cant beat that. However, like all companies, they need to follow the business of making money. Their equipment, in use for more than 40 years, broke. Forced to do it manually. This takes direct labor hours. The best way to get your film back from MPL is have them develope it and then scan it. If you need it printed, then you will just have to wait. It takes time. Or use Minox in Germany. Send it to Frank Hausman. He can take care you straight away. Via LAB811 that is.<div></div>