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The current status of Minox photography


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<p>Can anyone bring me up to date on the status of Minox photography?<br>

Is film avilable anywhere? (Luckily my fridge is full of old Agfa 25.)<br>

Although I once developed and enlarged my own negatives, I don't do any darkroom work anymore. Is there any place that develops and enlarges Minox film? (Even in the best days, this was a sore point with the system -- it was slow, unreliable, and damned expensive.)<br>

I DO miss using the little devils.<br>

thanks</p>

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<p>I think around 1999/2000 I had the feeling that scanners may turn the tide of Minox photography. I dreamed of many new internet savy ebay buyers shooting some analogue film and scanning it in, reviving the whole Minox community. Sadly only a dream! Cheap film scanners stopped to increase in resolution before reaching a Minox quality. Minox'ing is as easy or as difficult as using any other exiting film camera format. Very very niche, very time consuming. Therefore worldwide I would not be surprised that only a handful (5 fingers yes) of people shoot & develop today in 2012. I personally dont count myself in, as I have shot only 4 films in 2011, all on one single weekend.</p>
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<p>Count me in as one of the handful (no pun intended).</p>

<p>My ha'penny worth:I am a member of various other "submini","miniature","small format" photography gatherings on the web.True indeed that last two years were marred by some kind of slow activity, here and there,or even stopped altogether (see Minox Yahoo Groups,dead as a dodo now,when it used to bustle with activity).</p>

<p>However,last few months I have seen a resurrection of interest in Minox.Many queries regarding film slitters,enough to show the interest in home spooled cassettes.Also,a number of people joining the web clubs and posting results.</p>

<p>While true the scanners are still on the dear side (and I mean those good ones),their prices nonetheless went down on the last couple of years.Obviously not many will purchase a Nikon scanner valued at 900 USD when one is using it for Minox negs scanning only.But good scanners are pretty much affordable today than they were say,in 2009 or 2010 and usually the Minox users are shooting other formats as well,so a good investment in a scanner surely is worth one's while.</p>

<p>I wouldn't know about that "handful",Minox London...with 4 films shot,you certainly are one of the Minox users.Even 4 films per year still makes you one :-))</p>

<p>Anyways,like any of the hobbies where investment and quality ,attentive work is asked for,probably there are ups and downs.,especially during a severe economic recession which nowadays looms over us.I hope Minox photography will thrive ,and gather new adherents to the cause:-).</p>

<p>Regards,</p>

<p>JT</p>

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<p>Since I occasionally use my Minolta 16II I drop in here from time to time. Right now I'm considering using my Olympus E-410 to photograph my 16mm 10X14mm negatives. This may also be a viable option for converting Minox negs into digital files. If, and it is a big if, you can obtain the high magnifications necessary to cover a field that small. Might have to be a bellows set up with a copy lens. Could be this might work?</p>
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  • 2 weeks later...

<p>Well, judging by the amount of Minox film I have just sold (20+) , a lot more than four users in the UK. Biggest problem we have at Hobbies is getting hold of more film. <br>

One danger when scanning Minox btw is over-resolution. You end up resolving more of the film base and the dust/scratch/noise/mess than you do the actual picture....</p>

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<p>I took my Minox on a spin today and shot my first film in 2012! Even though Minox Photography remains difficult, i forgot to say, it is so much fun !!!! so here a small picture of my Minox, and what great news from MS Hobbies!!! Just shows how many owners are out there who would love to try Minox photography<br>

<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2qvqbgw" target="_blank"><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/2qvqbgw.jpg" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic" border="0" />Pic</a></p>

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<p>Although Minox Germany still sells Minox 8x11 cameras (CLX,TLX,ECX,MX) and Minox film (only Minopan 400), it has shifted toward digital spy camera such as Minox DSC(with fixed focus lens) and Minox DSC silver with focusing lens. Minox's main product line is now binoculars, not cameras.</p>

 

The Minox Spy Camera DSC/DSC silver has attracted world wide interest, as can be seen from the "Agent" distribution

world map

 

http://www.license-to-shoot.com/index.php?id=50&L=1<br>

 

members include people from Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan,Tokyo, Osaka,Mumbai, Kochi, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Malta, Palmo (Spain), Istanbul, Milan,Lucern,Paris,Stockholm,Dublin,Edingburg,Dublin,Puerto Rico,Honolulu, San Francisco, Miami,Dallas,Bogota,Rio de Janeiro,Sao Paolo,Santiago,NewZealand............................

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<p>The flame still flickers here at ms hobbies.<br>

Wth a professionally-designed and bespoke slitter, we are currently testing VC 160 film in Minox, and have found a lab which will do E6 Minox. However, because E6 film is much thicker than C41, we will limit it to 15/20 exposure rolls max. Will test and post results when I do it. Will start with a riga and work my way up the minox food chain - got to find a metal cassette first.<br>

It's the old trick really, as soon as people see some-one using a Minox, they often cannot help asking 'what is it' and sometimes 'where can I get one?' - especially the younger generation. If no-one uses the cameras, then users think that the format is dead.<br>

Pricing of Minox scans is exceptionally expensive in some areas. 1 euro per negative is excessive, with a dreaded 50 exposure film, a used Minox EC is cheaper than the processing. </p>

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<p>I'm a newcomer to this forum but have been using Minox equipment for several years. Its always puzzled me as to just how many photographers continue to use the format, I suspect that many, many, more people collect than use. I buy and sell all sorts of equipment on ebay, Minox cameras and accessories always sell well and continue to fetch decent prices but I wonder how much of it actually gets used. I have a sizeable collection of Contax cameras ranging from a pre war Contax II to an auto focus Contax AX but I have to admit that its those little Minox's that get the most use!<br>

I split, develop and print all my own film using a genuine Minox film splitter, Minox dev tank, and print, using the pride of my collection, a Mk II Minox enlarger.<br>

As far as cameras are concerned, I own a Minox A, B, C, LX and EC as well as a Yashica Atoron and Atoron Electro. There are all the usual accessories too, viewfinders, tripods, copy stands etc.<br>

All the Minox's apart from the EC have had the shutter blades replaced by myself using Martin Doktors superb replacement parts, I cannot recommend these shutter blades enough, they are a wonderful product and resonably priced too!<br>

Its so rewarding to get decent prints from these miniature marvels, and well worth the effort I have to put in with my own processing. With enthusiasts like us, I am sure that there will always be a place for these superb, little cameras!</p>

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<p>Most interesting, all these responses. I have been using Minox B since 1999.<br>

I agree with Bill Mitchell about the printing services; same experience. I would get stunning results, and then very bad. I want something for my $30-50 / roll. I am a Color Photographer. During my period of regular Minox use, 1999-2003, I actually went to the trouble of cutting, and slitting, Velvia into my cassettes and processing in a Tetanol kit E-6. I did this because I was having such widely varying results from the processors; the Slide is the film of Record. I got Excellent results; and even projected them. I still have 4 rolls of minox slide film, uncut, like jewels.<br>

After all, I get fine results with my Mamiya Six, Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, Nikon F, why would I NOT with the Minox?<br>

but the expense and lack of quality from the Color printers is what did it in for me.<br>

What I want to see is a 1963 Minox B outfitted with a Digital chip. I have seen small cameras at stores with tiny chips and good results, better than I ever got with Minox Prints, it could be done. it's just a brief flicker of light, the shutter opening onto either the film or chip. I am sure the Minox doc could do it. Just mount a card somehow and away you go.<br>

I know they make modern Minox Digital but I don't want plastic! Nor automatic. As regards the settings (white balance, etc) for the chip, I find that with my Nikon D40 Digital I basically Never change the settings (lazy, or always used under the same conditions). so the chip could be 'preset' to certain parameters and that would be that.<br>

Anyway that is what I want. My B has had yet another roll of color film in it, for about a year, will it ever get developed, I don' t know.<br>

I can easily do black and white, have developed it Rodinal 400:1 and all that, the fact is, I just don't want to. </p>

<p> </p><div>00a7NU-448791584.jpg.6a69628e30cc91f19b64cc424c5f901b.jpg</div>

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<p>Thanks for pointing that out to me. I am going to see about getting one.<br>

Sad to hear the end of 8x11mm camera production.<br>

But it has been a long time coming I guess, and nothing lasts forever.<br>

IMHO, they lasted longer than most. And with the high quality of the cameras<br>

still extant, will likely be around for 50 more years or more.</p>

 

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<p>Steve, you you buy Minox digital spy camera (ie DSC), get the newer verion called<br>

DSC silver<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15224138-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="510" /><br>

I have both of them<br>

The DSC black version has fixed focus lens, much like EC, DSC silver you can focus the lens<br>

as close as 0.6 m, not as close as Minox B, but good enough for close ups, more like a digital<br>

version of Minox B, but with super long rolls, instead of 50 exposure, you can have 16000<br>

exposures in a tiny 16gb microsd card</p>And you don't have scratches and dust issue anymore.

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<p>Here some of the Minox pictures I took that day :-)</p>

<ul>

<li>Picture 1 London black Cabs at night</li>

<li>Picture 2-3 Queensway with view on Whitleys shopping centre</li>

<li>Picture 4 Paul Rothe Marmelade and Jam in Marylebone</li>

<li>Picture 5 Burlington Arcade near Piccadilly</li>

</ul>

<p>Film was Rollei ATP shot at 40ASA and camera either latvian Minox or Minox B. <br /> <img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/nytyef.jpg" alt="" /></p>

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<p>Hi! Look here: Minox  Sub-Miniature There are 100 members of Flickr Minox community. I hope than one hand fingers. :) People are interesting in so beautiful and sophisticated technology as Minox cameras. It has all spirit of film photography in so small volume. Many people can not believe looking on my prints that they are shot on Minox. <br>

I shoot much with Minox. My main cameras are B or BL with Delta 100 and AIII with Agfa Copex. Not tested automatic cameras yet - I have only C for a while. ECX is going from ebay and TLX is in wishlist. I can not find it. You can see my pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/max_aleshin/sets/72157625676477033/with/6993562595/ It is the most numerous my set on Flickr. I prefer Minox to my other cameras (I have more than 50). I develop and scan myself. Some of pictures I enlarge on baryta paper - they look fantastic. For a while I still use my freezer film stock. Unfortunately Minox ceased all support and stopped cameras and film production. Now both of them are unavailable at Minox e-shop and many suppliers. I do not like it but I am not depressed and am ready to slit and reload. I do not like to do it so now I am buying remaining stocks and fishing for some interesting film offers on eBay.<br>

I suppose it is a real source of business for respected MS Hobbies - professional reloading of Minox cassetes. 8x11.com and Gerald McMullon did it. I still use their Copex and Delta. I am ready to pay 15$ for fresh factory loaded film. <br>

Guys, I am very glad that our small community exists. Let's support each other and do not forget to take your Minox every day from home to shoot.<br>

Yours, Max from Russia</p>

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  • 4 weeks later...

<p>Dear Diehards,<br>

Count me in so we are with more than five :-) <br>

Still like the little miracles. I got an A, B and C, a Minox enlarger and a dev-tank. Used to buy Ilford Delta 100 and AGFA Copex at 8x11film.com and slitted film at GoatHill but I took my last cassette to Berlin early this year. I’m out of film right now.<br>

Minox.de is out of Minopan 25 as is frugalphotographer and even Fotoimpex. So I agree with Max about offering reloaded cassettes; though I guess shipping to the rest of Europe will be somewhat expensive.<br>

But even when I got fresh film, the future will bring me other problems: Dr. Fisher Bulbs! I bought the very, very last one from Fotoimpex.<br>

keep on minoxing,<br>

Rob</p><div>00aFhM-456833584.jpg.07fcdbdf9f1f85bab56e37a73c32f245.jpg</div>

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