john_westbrook

Earlier this year I had my Minox IIIs serviced (view finder replaced

and a cleaning) by DAG. I call him up, got a price quote, and sent

him a cashier's check along with the camera. He had my camera back to

me, repaired, one week later!

Seems I spoke too soon. Submini.com is now offering Minox type

cassettes (they're made in Japan). Info is still forthcoming but

pricing is $5.00 each or $3.00 when purchased with film, or $2.75 when

quanties are six or more with film purchase. Check them out at

www.submini.com.

Apparently MINOX GmbH is not aware that Minox Processing Labs in New

York has stopped selling empty cassettes, since they referred MPL to

me on 6/29/99. MPL suggested I just buy Minox film from them and ask

for the empty cassettes to be returned to me after processing. I hope

to find another source.

I am planning to build my own dark room. Due my own developing and film processing. Commercial processing for the Minox 8X11 format is getting too cost prohibitive for me. I will probably just due B&W processing, at least at first. Maybe, later graduate to color (although I due possess a passion for B&W). In any case, I have several opportunities to purchase Minox enlargers (models II & III)or a Beseler 45 or an Omega D-22. With the exception of the Minox, the others I will have to buy the enlarging lens and negative carriers seperately. For the Minox I will be paying around $200, for the Beseler and Omega, once I purchase the enlarging lens and negative carrier, probabaly the same amount, maybe a little less. Question, which one would suit me better. I doubt very much if I will be enlarging anything greater than 8X10", at least I havn't yet. My standard prints are typically 3= X5" or 4X6". I have been making a lot of enquiries with regards to the enlarging lenses available to me, and their compadibilty with either the Beseler and Omega. Anyone with an opinion and some reasons why I should pick one over the other?