telenous
Well-known
Hello,
Just a very specific question on Minox 35 longer exposures at widest aperture and high(er) ISOs.
I have read that earlier versions of the camera expose @f/2.8 and 1s, only with dial set at 100. As you increase film speed (and change the ISO dial speed accordingly), longest (slowest) speed at widest aperture gradually drops (to shorter/faster). So that the longest shutter speed available at ISO 1600 and f/2.8 is just 1/15s or thereabouts. There is no question this is so, manuals for earlier versions explicitly say so, and users report this behaviour in past threads. (BTW this is a typical shortcoming for many film P&S cameras - I have a bunch of old Nikon P&Ss that do that too and I think Contax P&Ss also change their shutter range when used at their widest aperture.)
My question is then this: Does anyone know if later versions of Minox 35 (GTE, GTEII, GTS, MCD and possibly other) eliminated this shortcoming? A later manual I found on the web does not resolve the question. Would it be possible to expose @f/2.8, 1s and ISO1600, for example? Does anyone know from hands-on experience? Thanks in advance for any help!
.
Just a very specific question on Minox 35 longer exposures at widest aperture and high(er) ISOs.
I have read that earlier versions of the camera expose @f/2.8 and 1s, only with dial set at 100. As you increase film speed (and change the ISO dial speed accordingly), longest (slowest) speed at widest aperture gradually drops (to shorter/faster). So that the longest shutter speed available at ISO 1600 and f/2.8 is just 1/15s or thereabouts. There is no question this is so, manuals for earlier versions explicitly say so, and users report this behaviour in past threads. (BTW this is a typical shortcoming for many film P&S cameras - I have a bunch of old Nikon P&Ss that do that too and I think Contax P&Ss also change their shutter range when used at their widest aperture.)
My question is then this: Does anyone know if later versions of Minox 35 (GTE, GTEII, GTS, MCD and possibly other) eliminated this shortcoming? A later manual I found on the web does not resolve the question. Would it be possible to expose @f/2.8, 1s and ISO1600, for example? Does anyone know from hands-on experience? Thanks in advance for any help!
.
Dwig
Well-known
This so called "shortcoming" is a FOL (Fact Of Life) and there is no way around it. Light meters, any and all, have some low light limit below which they will not read accurately and they have a bright light limit as well. For any one f/stop, the higher the ISO that you use the higher the shutter speed will be when the meter hits its low light limit.
How a particular manufacturer addresses this will vary. Some turn off the meter when the limit is reached to avoid poorly exposed images and some just let the meter keep working and rely on the use to understand that they are swimming without a lifeguard.
user237428934
User deletion pending
I doubt that the camera knows what aperture is set because that is a very simple mechanism. i still have a GTE lying around but the winding mechanism is broken. I remember I took quite a lot of longer exposures and always had 400 color film in it.
jbrubaker
Established
I have a Minox 35ml that I just checked to see if what you say is true and it seems to be so. At f2.8 and 1600 iso, the shutter speed is short regardless of low light levels. At f2.8 and iso 400, there is a delay between shutter opening and closing, indicating a speed of maybe 1/4 second. The Minox cameras are very nice pocket cameras but only in normal daylight conditions , I guess. regards---john.
user237428934
User deletion pending
Just dug out the GTE, battery is still working. Set iso to 1600, f2.8 and the shutter closed after 5sec. or so in a darker room. If you want that feature, get one of the latest models.
telenous
Well-known
Tom, that's exactly what I needed to know, many thanks for checking your camera. Thanks for the other replies too.
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RichardP
Member
Am I being dim? If the camera is indicating 1/15 at 2.8 with 1600, can't you just change the film setting to 800, i.e. treating the ISO dial as an exp comp dial.
telenous
Well-known
Sounds right to me. But not having a Minox myself (yet) I can't confirm either way. It may be a good workaround for times one needs to let a little more light in. Btw older Minox cameras go up to (only) ISO 800.
RichardP
Member
Yes, I have the original Minox 35EL bought new when they first came out in 1973. Actually not quite true since the early models had a peeling paint problem and Leitz replaced mine a few days short of the 1 year guarantee so it is my second one ;-)
EDIT I've just checked in the handbook and page 29 advises changing the ASA (as it was then) for back lit etc situations.
The exposure range is given as ASA 800, 1/500 to approx 1 sec to ASA 25 1/500 to approx 30 sec but it makes no mention of the f-stops for those ranges.
telenous
Well-known
Thank you for confirming with the manual. I suppose the EL takes a Mercury battery (PX27)? Is it still possible to find these batteries?
RichardP
Member
Yes 5.6V PX27 but I am using a PX27A 6V alkaline ("Golden Power Made in China"). I don't know if it was the higher voltage but it cured my non-workin shutter when I installed it even though the previous battery was testing "good" in the camera.
There are various work arounds for the battery using multiple cells but if you Google PX27 there seem to be several *27 alkaline 6V versions available now.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
FWIW the Minox 35ML and some other later models use the still-available PX28 silver oxide battery.
Chris
Chris
telenous
Well-known
Thanks. Actually I have on order an ML. There are various advantages to this model, the battery type being but one. I just hope it works (the seller said it does) because I bought it pig-in-a-poke style albeit very cheaply. If the camera works for me I will consider the later models for their extended shutter speed range.