gerald__

Black Minox AIII exist and these are original Minox factory

production, even if made to special order and not as is sometimes

seem someones' more recent garage/homemade blackening of a standard

chrome/silver AIII.

<p>

There are also black As in metric - it has been reported that all

black AIIIs went to the USA.

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MArtin was almost correct in a black chrome (? I thought chrome was

alwyays silver) brass camera would be made - the LX 2000 with gold

trim. The Aviator is a TLX with titan dials luminous numbers and a

black shell, 2001 release of only 300.

There where two Riga developing tanks for which I do not know the

dimensions.

<p>

All Minox tanks ARE the same size. I have 6 generations of tanks from

the early 1950s. The outside of the tank is identical on all. The

sprial and parts interchange on all.

<p>

The early 50s and 60s tanks are 50 exposure length. Two rings were

included in the late 60s, one larger one for 15 expouse and a smaller

one for 36. In the 70s with no more 50 exposure film the mould for

the spiral had a ring placed on the bottom of the spiral fixing the

tank to 36 exposure and a small ring spacer for 15 exposure film was

enclosed.

<p>

In 2002 Minox reported that only 50 tanks are sold per annum and that

as the mould is defective no more Minox tanks will be made. At this

stage it is not known if an alternative developing tank tool will be

made or not.

Polaroid produce a 4000x4000 dpi scanner and I am told (but who

believes a saleman) that the Micotek Artixscan 4000T is the same.

<p>

36-bit SCSI scanners for 900GBP (from one phot chain store in London).

<p>

The Minolta Dimage Scan Multi has a carriage for 16mm film, this is

2820dpi and has an APS adapter. Price, if you have to ask you can't

afford it. I can't.

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Starting with 8x11 (10x14, 12x17) needs all the res you can afford. A

scanner at 1200dpi is not good enough. Prints can not be made of all

negatives/positives, except at very great expence of time and cost.

<p>

Gerald

When I back-backed in India I took a Minox LX, an EX (for colour

prints) and a Rollie 16 (to use up the old film). Also with me as a

1.5kg Hi8 camcorder.

<p>

When I went to China and climbed the great wall I carried a Minox C

chrome and black (one for slides, one for prints) and a 3Kg Sony

V5000 in a case that weight in at 6Kg with lenses.

<p>

My wife does not like the grain or the expenses of prints from the

Minox, but she has been stuck with it as she forgets her 'large'

camera (a Konica APS that is infact smaller than the Rollie 16) all

too often and the Minox (now an LX) is always with me.

<p>

Most of my 35mm films from an SLR are perfect. Most of my Minox

pictures are very poor. Most of my 35mm picture are posed, taken in

the fullness of time. The Minox pictures are taken on the spot, on

the run, from a moving car, bus or train, when the event happens and

the moment is captured. A poor picture or no picture! If I take the

same care in Minox filming as the subject demands then the sun rise

in the desert of north west India or sunset across the Thames the

Minox is there and able.

<p>

Even my 600gram spy-camcorder does not get carried around with me

like the Minox.

<p>

The only thing more useful than carrying a Minox is a Switz Army

knife!

The measuring chain on the cameras matches the dial on the camera and

the copy stand notches. My original BL (1972) was in feet as no

metric cameras where imported into the UK. Minox changed the dial and

calibration for me and swapped the chains (I had a separate chain

without a case). Since then I buy from Germany as I am un-willing to

have a 1GBP=1DMK.