GAS attack - which minox?

srichards

srichards

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So I wasn't going to buy another 35mm camera but minox...

I've seen a few for sale but how do I tell which is the best one to have? I did find a model run down but two of the 3 I've found weren't listed. Just the PL.

Are the special editions like the golf or touring worth bothering with? I'd not have golf as I hate golf...

There's also the issue with the batteries. The original 6v types are unavailable and the small battery company that did have them is out of stock/unavailable. Is there a sensible solution to this?

I've found 2 smallish 6v batteries that might do:

http://cpc.farnell.com/gp-batteries/gpca21/battery-alkaline-6v-gp11a-1pk/dp/BT00458

http://cpc.farnell.com/duracell/7031679/battery-ultra-lithium-px28l-6v/dp/BT02412

I think the duracell might be too large.
 
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Minox GT 35
I had two one of which got used and offered decent results tbh for a subminature camera.
As for batteries, the GT worked by taping 4 LR44 cells together then using some tin foil to make up the mm gap between the cells and the camera contacts.
Worked a treat!
I'm presuming the PL battery requirement is the same as for the GT
Shame i live overseas as I have a GT for sale ( It's the one that's non tested mindst) ...Postage won't make it a viable sale to you I don't think.
 
Hmm. I'm wavering now as I see they have the thumbwheel film advance which I remember I'm not fond of.

So I probably should get something which is small and well built like the minox with automatic exposure and a lever film advance or motor wind. I don't care if it looks like a tacky camera either. It's function and image quality that are important. Xa2 I would have as well but that's another thumb wheel film advance.

My samsung fino does everything but image quality. It's ok but it's not got the wow factor at all.

Well that went well. Found the minox then got distracted by some 1990s boxed retro minolta and got that instead. Oops... Something called a Prod 20 that is based on a leaf shutter but has full AF and full everything else. I don't care if it takes crap photos, it just looks beautiful. Oh what have I done?!
 
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I've been looking at those Prod 20's for ages. A really interesting looking camera and I believe the IQ is pretty good.
 
According to that thread it's a re-bodied Minolta P&S so the internals a relatively basic with a different external shell. It's certainly a bit different to the basic P&S!
 
If it's like most P & S there will be a sweet spot of aperture and rough distance away that are probably half decent.

Lucky I bought it to mostly admire :)

After a bit of digging it seems the innards are a minolta riva 35. It seems to produce better results with faster films so it might just be that the widest apertures are poor and once you have a faster film then it's not so bad.
 
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So @Andysnap was looking for a Bessa and I thought I'd be helpful so I happened to go looking on that camera shop in Leeds Corn Exchange site to see if they happen to have one and they had a voigtlander minox clone thingy which is similar to the minox I fancied but it has a lever wind. So while doing a good deed I bought another camera...
 
srichards said:
So @Andysnap was looking for a Bessa and I thought I'd be helpful so I happened to go looking on that camera shop in Leeds Corn Exchange site to see if they happen to have one and they had a voigtlander minox clone thingy which is similar to the minox I fancied but it has a lever wind. So while doing a good deed I bought another camera...
Click to expand...

Photos or it didn't happen. :D
 
It will probably take terrible photos but somehow I won't care :D

I also read in the destruction manual that basically any film that isn't DX coded as 400 ASA will be exposed incorrectly. Higher than 400s are exposed as 400. Non dx or not ASA 400 are exposed as 100ASA.

It probably explains why results are a bit mixed.
 
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... and I was going to offer to lend you my Minox 35ML. :)

Nice sharp lens, lots of controls and lever wind on.
 
Film loads the other way round in the minolta. I've not had one that goes right to left. If it does half decent photos I'll be happy as it is nicely idiot proof feeling. Doesn't even give any kind of exposure info so I have no idea what shutter speed and aperture it will have chosen!
 
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