the minox spycamera is done

[MrBern]

Doctor Zapp created a camera that shot on microfilm inthe `30s. It was about the size of a pack of gum. Nazi spys loved them! The OSS looked everywhere to procure the cameras. You'll spot them in various coldwar spymovies.
Alas production is jsut about over.
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/minox_halves_classic_spy_camera_price_news_258887.html?aff=rss

heres a pic of a minox next to a more typical digital camera

 

[Doctor Strange]

I can't say I'm exactly surprised. Even 35mm is barely hanging on nowadays, so the handwriting was on the wall for a specialist format like Minox.

That said, I own two of them, and I have taken hundreds of great pictures with them over the past 13 years. (I also had one back in the sixties too, at the height of the spy craze.) I will continue using mine as long as I still have darkroom access and can cut down 35mm film to 9.5mm and reload my Minox cassettes. (Not to mention being able to develop and print the resulting negs.)

My 1956-vintage Minox IIIS [just like the one in the picture above, BTW] is always in its case on my belt loaded with b/w film: it's a fine photographic tool and a great conversation piece, not to mention a little gem of art deco design...

 

[Two Gun Bob]

Sad, but not surprising. These were always a niche market camera for obvious reasons.

I told Minox a couple of years ago they should be producing a digital version of this camera, I'm sure there is a 'professional' market for such a device, if you know what I mean . Hopefully they will come up with some such as a replacement.

Doctor Zapp created a camera that shot on microfilm inthe `30s. It was about the size of a pack of gum. Nazi spys loved them! The OSS looked everywhere to procure the cameras. You'll spot them in various coldwar spymovies.
Alas production is jsut about over.
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/minox_halves_classic_spy_camera_price_news_258887.html?aff=rss

heres a pic of a minox next to a more typical digital camera

 

[Flivver]

I've had a Minox for years. It was given to me in the early 1980s by a friend of mine who, at one time, was an auto industry spy photographer.

I like the idea that it once did the kind of spy photography it was originally intended to do!

 

[Doctor Strange]

Actually, its creator Walter Zapp intended it to be "an elegant companion, like a fine watch, for ladies and gentlemen to use to document their lives" - though its remarkably close focus of eight inches was definitely designed to copy letter-size documents.

But once its startlingly good results and tiny size became known, most of the prewar models (which were polished stainless steel, not brushed aluminum, and made in Riga, Latvia, not Wetzlar, Germany) were snapped up by various governments...

 

[Story]

Sad, but not surprising. These were always a niche market camera for obvious reasons.

I told Minox a couple of years ago they should be producing a digital version of this camera, I'm sure there is a 'professional' market for such a device, if you know what I mean . .

That 'profession' has mini-cameras that don't look like cameras.
http://www.ezwatchstore.com/spy-and-hidden-cameras.php?s_kwcid=micro%20spy%20camera|1676062636

 

[Feraud]

My dad has a digital camera the size of a spycamera. A cool little item.

heres a pic of a minox next to a more typical digital camera

 

[Doctor Strange]

Reports of Minox's death greatly exaggerated?

I just wanted to mention that I've been looking across many photo resources on the net, and Googling for press releases, and I see no other mention of Minox shutting down production. Not in the Minox forum at photo.net, not at the official Minox Germany company site, nor at a bunch of other Minox-oriented sites.

There's just the original linked-to-above piece, which seems to be nothing more than the British distibutor for Minox cameras declaring a sale. And even they don't seem to think that the film or batteries will be going away soon.

So... I think Minox subminiature cameras and accessories are still in production (or if not in active production, there is plenty of already manufactured stock put aside). Until I see some kind of official announcement, I believe Minox lives!

 

[MrBern]

I've seen a digital camera smaller than the Minox (in CVS in a hanging blister pack, of all places).

No doubt there is digital gear far smaller.
But the minox was designed 70 years ago!

And with the right film, the minox's resolution is far greater.


there were also cheapo novelty cameras that were far smaller.

Oh, the minox had great accessories.
Heres the mini tripod so you could photograph more steadily.

 

[The Wolf]

I had one of those novelty tiny film cameras also. Brings back memories.

Sincerely,
The Wolf