subminiature

MS Hobbies in the UK

 

Smallest full frame 35mm camera: Minox GT-E, Minox 35ML

Smallest 16mm film camera SCAT

Smallest TLR: Rolleiflex Minox, Gemflex

Smallest 9.5mm film camera: Minox EC

 

smallest full frame 35mm Minolta TC-1

http://submin.com/35mm/collection/minolta/cameras/tc_1_ml.htm

16mm - not sure http://submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/index.htm Croma is small.

As is the Pixie

http://submin.com/16mm/collection/whittaker/cameras/pixie.htm

http://submin.com/16mm/collection/scat/index.htm feels bigger than the Steky

http://submin.com/16mm/collection/steky/index.htm

but they all have such irregular shapes

Petie is tiny for 16mm

http://submin.com/16mm/collection/petie/index.htm

 

for 8x11 (no 9.5mm film) The Minimax

http://submin.com/8x11/collection/nikkoh/cameras/m_compared.htm and Minox EC / MX

are larger than the Chadt

http://submin.com/8x11/collection/chadt/index.htm

<p>Not sure of the value of square mm to weight (oz) ratio. Working in grams would be a little better (BMI kg/sq.m is a poor measure). Taking it on negative size might be more interesting against volume of the camera. The larger the negative the larger the camera has to be but no excuse for 16mm and 110 camera so much larger than Rollie 35, Minox 35 and Minolta TC-1. Big weight difference between the largely metal Rollie 35 and the plastic Minox 35.<br /><br />1oz = 28·349375 gms<br>

<br />Tessina 14x21mm</p>

<ul>

<li>162g (35 automatic, #63557)</li>

<li>166g (35 automatic, brushed aluminum, #65401)</li>

<li>166g (35 automatic, black, #363012)</li>

<li>165g (? black , #363113)</li>

<li>143g (? red, #464802)</li>

<li>180g (35 brushed aluminum, #765598)</li>

<li>154g (L gold, silent gears, #785033)</li>

<li>168g (? black crinkle, #865106)#<br /><br />ratio 54 for the silent gold L.<br /></li>

</ul>

<p>8x11 mm negatives<br />Minox LX 160g 5.6oz, AX 71g 2.5oz, BL 80g 2.8oz<br /> ratio 15.7, 35,2, 31.4<br />Chadt M1 22g ratio of 113 <br /><br>

12x17 mm negatives<br />GaMi 288g ratio 20.1<br />Minolta MG-s 210g ratio 27.5<br />Minolta QT 150g ratio 38.6<br /><br />GaMi f1.9, 1/1000 sec, steady hand grip. <br /><br />Agreed about the 10x10 mm Minicord, but it does have the most fantastic view finder and the softest trigger release. <br />GaMi is a camera that is designed to take every possible feature of any camera and some and package it up into a 16mm format rectangular block. One of the best lens on any subminiature.<br /><br />For size/weight to negative ratio the Minolta MG-s and QT are very good. Very good lenses, wide range of lighting conditions. 1/500 sec on the MG-s and close up lenses for under 1m. Far less grain than the Minox C or BL and can be blown up larger with less problems - that is easier to get a lab to do it for me - well back when the film was off the shelf. <br /><br />In terms of results the MG-s/QT perform better than the results I have from the Tessina, although some, in the best of light conditions proved to be just as good. <br /><br />Minox 35ML is still a cut above for enlargements of subject area. <br /><br />They are all fun to handle.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br>

</p>

<p>More details of Chadt 8x11 cameras at<br /><br />http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/chadt/index.htm</p>

<p>http://www.submin.com/large/collection/f21/cameras/zenith_mf-1.htm</p>

 

<p>http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/accessories/enlarger_model_i.htm<br /><br />Ebay<br /> 02/06/07 705EUR <br /> *02/08/07 550USD #213<br /> 03/06/16 620USD <br /> 04/02/08 382USD <br /> 04/05/22 256USD (with copy stand)<br /> 04/12/05 358USD #3xx<br /> 06/02/19 415EUR <br /> 06/08/12 358.99USD<br /><br />I would suggest at least $250, but condition is everything and it could be up to €700!<br /><br />But the market has changed and will continue to do so.</p>

35ML results always impress, even over later models.

<p>There is also a heat shield in the light path otherwise the slides melt. Many I have seen on sale have this missing.</p>

<p>Acmel cassettes are of a stronger and "better" finish than Minox ones. They inspire confidence. The old Yashica ones sold in the 70s leak light. I used a few in Minox cameras and the 16mm Minolta type in Minolta MGs and QT cameras.</p>

<p>It's a novelty - a toy - for a camera with 14Mp but with the controls and features of a 1.3Mp camera of 10 years ago. By style I wouldn't expect a zoom, but sharp focusing down to less than 30cm and a range of shutter, aperture and automated controls. <br /><br />The size has grown some what since the first 1.3Mp retro Leica models.</p>

<p>Minox supplied 2 CR1/3N with their later cameras. No holder needed. They also sell PX27 and PX28 holders for the 35mm and 8x11 camera ranges.</p>

<p>"Covert Affairs" used a Minox EC (or ECX) but I can't find which episode and spotted it on a trailer for season 3. I was hoping for more clips to see exactly what was being used.</p>

<p>What film are they providing? I thought Minocolor / Minopan film was discontinued years ago but they did have stocks of the raw film 'on ice' to slit to slit spool and box as new.</p>

<p>It may depend upon the version. They upgraded the lamp to 100 watts - they get hot.<br /><br />http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/accessories/projectors_hp30_1956.htm<br /><br />Two manuals are online at <br /><br />http://www.submin.com/8x11/manuals/minox/minox_hp30e.htm<br /><br /><br />Replacements are like this £23.50 plus VAT (now at 20%)<br />http://www.mcmullon.com/forsale/submin/minox/hp30_bulbs.htm<br /><br />You might find ex-stock locally. </p>

<p>Battery is of course a PX28. I have used button cells and the shell of an old mercury battery. don't get the PX27 8x11 camera adapter.<br /><br />http://www.payworxx.de/minox/index.php?cat=c54_Accessories-for-8x11---35-mm-Cam.html</p>

<p>The Rollei 16/16s are the built like tank subminiature cameras. The 12x17mm negative matched the results I got from Minolta MG-s and QT and for several years I had a film in all three. Accessories, back in the 70s where already hard to come by for the Rollei and it was not until eBay made international second hand stuff as easy to get as buying locally did I collect the full range.<br /><br />http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/rollei/index.htm <br /><br />I had my 16s stolen on a holiday, along with newly released Minox EC and LX and the first Hi8 camcorder. My film was already 10 years old having moved over to using more slide film than black/white or color negative. <br /><br />I eventually, a year or so later, did get a cream snake skin 16s and ran the last of my films through it. I doubt if any of the cameras I have have accurate light meters, harder to determine in the 16s than with the attachment of the Edixa. Only the later Edixa 16 is worth using, most have film doors that I would not rely upon to stay shut.<br /><br />http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/edixa/index.htm <br /><br />As Minolta 16 range, Kiev and GaMi don't need perforations they make for easier reloads than the Rollei 16s.</p>

<p>I paid $2000 for a newly built silent motor gold 35L. Most 'silver' models sell for around $400 even in the shops - I got one from B&H. eBay auction varies to model, color and accessories.<br>

<br />See<br>

http://www.submin.com/35mm/collection/tessina/index.htm<br>

under each camera model/variation for an idea of past auction prices.</p>

<p>The camera that has bought me the most attention is the Tessina.<br>

With the Minox you slide it out of your pocket, slip the case, set focus, raise to the eye (or waist level) shoot, put in case and away in seconds.<br /><br />With the Tessina you fiddle with the pop up view finder, fiddle with the aperture, fiddle with the shutter speed and meter, raise to the eye, shoot, wake up everyone to the fact that you have just hit the shutter release, fold down the pop up view finder, fiddle with getting it back into the case and respond to the the numerous questions about your "digital camera" and how small they have become.</p>

<p>The only wallets I have seen are<br /><br />http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/minolta/accessories/film_slide_wallets.htm<br>

and not since the early 1990s. I have seen advertised 110 sleeves but they were of a different size to the 35mm ones I have been using and didn't buy any.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Past auction results are listed under each variation at<br>

http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/accessories/developing_tanks.htm <br>

Which gives an idea, although it hasn't been updated for a while due to lack of general interest and feed back.<br /><br />Price/value is somewhere in the 20 to 80 range in USD, GBP or EUR.</p>

 

<p>Minicord (http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/minicord) is on the large size for a subminiature but the viewfinder is one of the best made and the trigger soft close shutter is very nice. As the negatives are 10x10 mm it looses out to those that managed 12x17mm on 16mm film like the GaMi and Minolta MG-s, QT and even the later Kiev Vega 2.<br>

The GaMi (http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/gami/ ) is also large and with the drop down lens protector and grip handle makes for a large profile. They packed a lot into it and the range of accessories I believe exceeded any subminiature including Minox, Minolta and Pentax Auto 110.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The question was raised 10 years ago "What business is Minox in - as it clearly isn't photography"<br /><br />http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/photo-news/534362/minox-issues-statement-on-compact-camera-future<br>

Looks as if they may keep a passing reference in a digital range but abandoned the spy type devices with every smart phone having a better camera.<br /><br />The binoculars are very nice. I particularly like the MD8x16 monocular and wish they supplied an accessory lens to make it into a x30 microscope as the field of view is so wide. I have rigid it up but it could be made pocketable if manufactured.</p>

 

<p>Minox should be said as the inventor used it. <br /><br />http://www.minoxclub.de/gedenken.html</p>

<p>Alas I don't think anyone will fix these now. For less money and less effort you can find one working, but by the time you have run a couple of films through it who knows?<br>

As excellent a camera as the MG is the image is 10x14 and both the QT and MG-s 12x17 mm negatives offer a better enlargement. I prefer the MG-s for it's wider range of shutter speeds and aperture and the fix focus lens has never been an issue for me. I have also used the 3 close up lenses on it and on the QT. I can 't tell the difference between the results of the MG-s or QT even when both were used at the same location (one usually with slide film, the other colour negative). Where as Minox BL and C results usually got a comment about the grain no one ever commented that the MGs/QT prints were not from a 35mm camera but often were surprised at the depth of field.</p>

<p>The ring insert depends upon which tank you have. Later tanks only accept 36 exposure and the ring for it to reduce it for 15 exposure. There are 36 and 15 rings for the earlier versions.<br>

http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/accessories/developing_tanks.htm<br>

See photo at the bottom of the page showing the variations in the developing tank. It did not really change much since the first Riga one.</p>

<p> </p>