Minox EC - Worth buying?

[dave lackey]

Just stopped by the local camera store (Wing's) here in Atlanta and noticed a nice Minox EC in box with flash and instructions. I know nothing about that thing other than it takes 16mm film.

So, is it worth buying?

Where does one buy 16mm film?

Where does one process the 16mm film?

Is the larger Minox "spy" cameras a better buy?

 

[sevo]

The Minox EC does not take 16mm film, but the regular 9.5mm Minox cartridges. It was their cheapest submini camera in the eighties, with a plastics body and fixfocus lens. It has neither the haptics nor the versatility of the "real" Minoxes.

Given that there are ongoing supply issues with the film, prices for more serious models are at a all-time low, at least if you stay off "collectors editions" and the A (and Riga) generation. The mass produced (and accordingly not particularly collectible) B and C now often sell for 30€ on ebay, the price of three rolls of film (if it should ever return at the last list price) - there is not really any point in getting a EC any more, unless you are a Minox collector trying to have everything they ever made.

 

[Godfrey]

Just stopped by the local camera store (Wing's) here in Atlanta and noticed a nice Minox EC in box with flash and instructions. I know nothing about that thing other than it takes 16mm film.

So, is it worth buying?

Where does one buy 16mm film?

Where does one process the 16mm film?

Is the larger Minox "spy" cameras a better buy?

I'm a long time Minox user. I have two or three ECs and a few of the other models as well. ;-)

The Minox EC is a simplified Minox camera with a fixed-focus f/5.6 version of the same lens that's in the more expensive models. It has an electronic shutter with auto exposure and takes film speeds from ASA 25 to 400. The flash position on the control switch allows a fixed shutter speed of about 1/30 second, and you can manipulate the ASA setting to achieve exposure compensation.

The Minox EC takes Minox film cassettes, which contain 9.2mm wide film (not 16mm). You can buy Minox film from a couple of vendors, or you can make a film slitter and load Minox cassettes yourself. One roll of 35mm 36-exposure film can be slit to produce up to four 30 shot rolls of Minox film. The Minox subminiature format produces an 8x11mm image size.

I generally work with only B&W film and process the film myself using the Minox Daylight Developing Tank. I then scan it with a high resolution film scanner (recently obtained an excellent quality adapter so I can scan it with the Nikon Coolscan 9000) and process it for printing with Lightroom.

Blue Moon Camera and Machine is one of the US shops that handles Minox film and processing. They have a good Minox FAQ and other info:

http://www.bluemooncamera.com/Minox_Frequently_Asked_Questions.php
http://www.bluemooncamera.com/MinoxDevIH.php
http://www.bluemooncamera.com/MinoxScans.php
http://www.bluemooncamera.com/MinoxMachineENL.php

Minox subminis are great fun and can produce some wonderful photographs. One of my favorites from a few years ago:

​

While my C and B models are more sophisticated and produce even better results, I have to admit that the EC is the one I carry most of the time. It's simply easy to use and great fun.

G

 

[dave lackey]

Thanks, guys...I have always thought about getting a B or a C in the past. Just saw this one at the shop, they said it took 16mm film, and IIRC, it was around $30. And they had an Argus with box, etc. for $25.

Not knowing a thing about either, I walked away with neither.🙂 But, the EC is so small...like Zippo sized.

This research should be interesting!

 

[bjornkeizers]

I bought a few Minoxes recently, but film is proving to be an issue. I've seen some sites that sell slit film like Kodak Tmax in reused cartridges.

They are fun from a collecting & fiddling standpoint. I own an EC, B and LX. Just playing with them without film is a treat - they are well made little wonders.

 

[whitecat]

The metal ones are little masterpieces. I had an EC but it lacks the feel of a metal camera. Yes, Blue Moon just sent a mail to me saying film is available now but outdated and re-speooled. They did say some new will be coming from Germany but no date.