Minox Miscellany

My Minox 35 sits on a bookcase next to my desk. It's no longer my everyday camera - a Minolta X20 digital now travels in my bag or pocket, for those moments that I need to take a quick snapshot. However, I still use the Minox quite a bit, particularly as a travel camera. It continues to be a reliable tool, and with more camera companies phasing out their 35mm offerings, I doubt there will be many (or any) more compact, relatively affordable film cameras with high quality optics released in the future. Even Leica has strongly hinted that the M7, the camera for those who insist on film, is going digital.

The wholesale movement to digital seems to be driving Minox prices to all-time lows. My advice: Snap one up, particularly a 35GT or 35EL. Check eBay, and look for one that has a battery conversion kit; this will allow you to use easy-to-find CR1/3 cells. Use a good quality color print film (Fujicolor Superia 400 is my choice), and you'll have an ideal camera for those times you want to carry a small, light, unobtrusive camera that doesn't force you to sacrifice image quality.