bob_woods

The white "Leica" lettering on the back side of my black M7 was smudged; the on-off switch did not operate smoothly; and there was a scuff-type of mark on the top plate -- all present immediately after I opened its factory-sealed plastic bag. Not very impressive quality control!

I returned it for a chrome finish version because I thought the black looked cheap. Hopefully the new one will be better.

Why don't they make the M7 available in a black painted version, with the "Leica" script engraved on the top plate?

As much as I like the idea of an automatic M camera, this one conveys the greatest sense of cheapness of any of the many M cameras I've owned.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

I now use S27PX silver oxide cells in both my 35 and 8x11 Minox

cameras. These batteries seem to be an exact replacement for the

PX27, but are silver instead of mercury. They seem to work perfectly.

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I purchased mine for $6 apiece plus shipping, from Ken Hanson Leica

in New York City, telephone 212-317-0923.

Fred, I agree this is interesting. But frequently on eBay I've

bought things described as "MINT" when in fact "very nice,"

or "excellent" would have been much more accurate. In my opinion

many eBay sellers use terms like "MINT" far too loosely. I think

I'll contact the seller to obtain verification of true mint condition.

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Bob Woods

I've recently cleaned the cosmetics on three or four Minoxes. To

clean the non-chrome areas, I first used Windex on a Q-Tip, then a

very soft toothbrush with toothpaste. Took off penciled notations,

dirt, etc. In fact, the C i cleaned came out in virtually new

condition. A very soft toothbrush is the best, I've found.

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Be careful!

Martin is absolutely right -- the Minox 35mm cameras yield superior

photographs. In my experience the quality of the slides compares

favorably with slides shot with my Leica M6, and visibly better than

pictures taken with my Contax TVS II.

I'd like to buy any mint condition Minox cameras. Doesn't matter which model so long as they are in pristine condition.

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Thanks; e-mail me if you're interested.

I too have been interested in the Kiev clone of the Minox 35, so

recently, like you, I bought one through eBay ($39 plus shipping).

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The camera is an obvious knock-off of the Minox 35. It looks like

they just made an exact copy of everything. It has a rather ugly

green finish and is not nearly as smooth as a Minox, but nevertheless

is an interesting conversation piece.

I encountered this same problem on one of my Minox 35GT cameras. I

sent it to Don Goldberg who fixed it like new and checked the

metering circuit, for $28 including return shipping.

Minox literature proclaims the lens for the new Minox ECX to be the

sharpest lens in serial production!

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How does it compare to the Complan or Minox lens?

I don't know about the Arctic, but last winter my brother and I

tested a number of cameras we own in very cold weather (-35F; we live

in Minnesota). Canon AE-1 wouldn't work except intermittently; Leica

M6 always functioned; Leica R4 no problem; Contax G1 froze up; Minox

TLX worked perfectly. It may have helped with the Minox to keep it

in an inside jacket pocket, where it was warmed, something you really

can't do except with a Leica rangefinder or Contax G camera (but

didn't help the Contax anyway). Speaking of Contax, it was

interesting that the G1 froze up but my new TVS II worked fine in the

bitter cold.

I have received my Minox CLX and it really is a beauty. Probably the

prettiest Minox I've ever seen. And the brass body gives it a heft

some of the other Minoxes lack -- like my ECX.

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has purchased (or seen) the limited edition Minox CLX camera? I'd be very interested, as I'm thinking of buying one.

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Thanks.

I've owned three APS cameras and got rid of each of them -- including

a $300 Canon Elph. Why? Because the pictures were not sharp.

Although I don't know if the APS format uses a pressure plate, the

absence of a pressure plate might explain the very disappointing

results I've obtained using these cameras. Frankly, I doubt whether

anyone could tell the difference between pictures shot with my Minox

8x11 and pictures shot with any APS camera, even an expensive one. And

the Minox can be carried anywhere.