I’ve got a “Zipslit” for slitting 35mm film to load Minox cassettes with somewhere. I used to have one about 20 years ago. I carry an Olympus XA around now, plus I’ve always got my phone with me anyway. I agree with you, they are exquisitely made and the Complan lens is superb! Later models had a slightly different lens.
The Photographer's Bag It’s not too bad really. You do need to have a ruler in your changing bag, in order to load the correct length of film to get 50 exposures.
I have never held one in my life. These cameras began to be produced in Latvia before the Second World War - somewhere in the second half of the thirties. As far as I know, they were produced by the Latvian company "VEF" State Electrotechnical Factory. 1940 when Latvia and the rest of the Baltic states were occupied by the Soviet Union, they continued to produce these cameras, because no one had produced such cameras anywhere in the world before that. But the ones made in Latvia were engraved that they were made in Latvia and the USSR ordered to remove that inscription from all cameras and to engrave them as made in the USSR. Of course, when Nazi Germany drove out the USSR army, the Nazis also wanted these cameras for themselves and then produced them again with a new engraving. The greatest value of these cameras in the eyes of collectors would be if it were possible to get another one that still has the engraving that it was made in Latvia - that is, the very first one in the period from about 1937. - 1940.
My grandad worked for the CIA and had one of these (idk the model). He told everyone he was a mechanic who also armor plated cars for important people. That story became a bit less likely after he died and old fake IDs were found lmao. Still have no idea what he did despite my mom asking several of his coworkers since none of them would say anything about his or their jobs
excellent video mate i have a minox b and c model i love this sub miniture stuff yachica also did a sub miniture camera but it is huge compaired to the minox
Hi, thanks for your kind words, they are special cameras and the build quality is very high, a bit specialist but film is available, did not know of the Yashica, will have to investigate!
I have had one of these cameras since I was a child. Just came across it again. I also have the developing tank,tripod,flash attachment and also some developing liquid. What would this package be worth today?
Hi, thanks for a very interesting question, a quick search of eBay shows these sort of outfits are quite expensive, if you have the original packaging and instructions then around 800-1000 USD seems to be being asked, this does not mean that they are selling for that though, your ownership since childhood provides excellent provenance however, a dealer will offer considerably less than a collector, wish you well if you decide to sell, film is available for these cameras again nowadays.....
For people ho thinks this was made in Germany is totally wrong it was made in Latvia. First was made in 1937 till it was made until 1942 Only 1948 it started to produce in Germany. Man ho made this was born in Riga Latvia born 1905 Valters Caps
It‘s the identical model. Cameras sold in Europe had a distance scale in meters and centimeters (metric system) and the film speed was given in DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung = German institute for standardization) instead of ASA (e.g. 15 DIN = 25 ASA, 21 DIN = 100 ASA, 24 DIN = 200 ASA). Cameras sold overseas in countries with imperial system had distance scales in feet and the filmspeed was given in ASA (American Standard Association).
USA sold Minox B (see the engraved B for those sold in the USA) in a European and UK box. The Minox Corporation sold the cameras in a black and gold box. This particular B is an early version as seen by the lattice style light meter.
Had one in my fatigue top pocket. Had some great shots, including strafing runs by F4s.
I’ve got a “Zipslit” for slitting 35mm film to load Minox cassettes with somewhere. I used to have one about 20 years ago. I carry an Olympus XA around now, plus I’ve always got my phone with me anyway. I agree with you, they are exquisitely made and the Complan lens is superb! Later models had a slightly different lens.
Thanks for sharing, the Zipslit sounds interesting, a lot of work I guess....
The Photographer's Bag It’s not too bad really. You do need to have a ruler in your changing bag, in order to load the correct length of film to get 50 exposures.
I‘ve got the minox C from my father a few years ago. Very interesting camera. It‘s still a film in it.
Here from that Pawn Stars video where that guy in the bucket hat tried to sell one.
beautifully done video, very smart and almost soothing, thank you very much from the US
A real wonder of spy ingenering! Thank you for the story!....
I have never held one in my life. These cameras began to be produced in Latvia before the Second World War - somewhere in the second half of the thirties. As far as I know, they were produced by the Latvian company "VEF" State Electrotechnical Factory. 1940 when Latvia and the rest of the Baltic states were occupied by the Soviet Union, they continued to produce these cameras, because no one had produced such cameras anywhere in the world before that. But the ones made in Latvia were engraved that they were made in Latvia and the USSR ordered to remove that inscription from all cameras and to engrave them as made in the USSR. Of course, when Nazi Germany drove out the USSR army, the Nazis also wanted these cameras for themselves and then produced them again with a new engraving.
The greatest value of these cameras in the eyes of collectors would be if it were possible to get another one that still has the engraving that it was made in Latvia - that is, the very first one in the period from about 1937. - 1940.
My grandad worked for the CIA and had one of these (idk the model). He told everyone he was a mechanic who also armor plated cars for important people. That story became a bit less likely after he died and old fake IDs were found lmao. Still have no idea what he did despite my mom asking several of his coworkers since none of them would say anything about his or their jobs
excellent video mate i have a minox b and c model i love this sub miniture stuff yachica also did a sub miniture camera but it is huge compaired to the minox
Hi, thanks for your kind words, they are special cameras and the build quality is very high, a bit specialist but film is available, did not know of the Yashica, will have to investigate!
@@thephotographersbag if you want i will send you a photo ?
Hi, that would be great, my email is: thephotographersbag@gmail.com
Thanks for the offer, sounds interesting!
There's a small shop in Putney High St, London, who do film and processing. I think it's called M.S. Hobbies, not been there myself (yet).
Hi Chris, thanks for the information, would really like to use the camera...
I owned several Minox cameras in the 70's and 80's, had the BL with CdS instead of selenium. Blast to use--but of course no match for my M-3 Leica...
Hi, love their engineering and quality but nothing really compares with the Leica, thanks for sharing....
I wonder if they monitor who purchases this camera is considering the kind of things one can get up to if they had one.
great condition
I have had one of these cameras since I was a child. Just came across it again. I also have the developing tank,tripod,flash attachment and also some developing liquid. What would this package be worth today?
Hi, thanks for a very interesting question, a quick search of eBay shows these sort of outfits are quite expensive, if you have the original packaging and instructions then around 800-1000 USD seems to be being asked, this does not mean that they are selling for that though, your ownership since childhood provides excellent provenance however, a dealer will offer considerably less than a collector, wish you well if you decide to sell, film is available for these cameras again nowadays.....
ANZ: commonly used in larger acronyms to stand for "Australia & New Zealand."
For people ho thinks this was made in Germany is totally wrong it was made in Latvia. First was made in 1937 till it was made until 1942 Only 1948 it started to produce in Germany. Man ho made this was born in Riga Latvia born 1905 Valters Caps
Hi, thanks for the great information, always keen to add to my knowledge....
It isn't wrong though. This one was literally made in Germany. Do you say the same thing about all the things made in China but designed elsewhere?
All Minox B cameras were made in Germany. The original Minox cameras made by VEF in Riga, Latvia, are an earlier model
Walter Zapp, not Caps.
@@lindagiovannazambanini6218 Caps is Latvian, in Latvian it is written Caps..
I have a "C", I wish it was cheap to shoot and pictures were sharp and clear snapshots. Much ado about spy cameras.
How much did they cost back in the 1960s?
Ｂは前期型と後期型があり
特徴は前期は露出計窓が格子状後期は蜂の巣状になってる
内蔵フィルターが3枚
レンズ保護兼用にUV固定
グリーンとND
Ｃ型に成りカラーフイルム使用が多くなったのでグリーンは省かれた
レンズがコンプラン15mmF3.5
Ｃ型に成りMINOXレンズに変わった
I’ve got one that looks the same but has the ‘din’ rating instead of ASA. Which model would it be?
It‘s the identical model. Cameras sold in Europe had a distance scale in meters and centimeters (metric system) and the film speed was given in DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung = German institute for standardization) instead of ASA (e.g. 15 DIN = 25 ASA, 21 DIN = 100 ASA, 24 DIN = 200 ASA). Cameras sold overseas in countries with imperial system had distance scales in feet and the filmspeed was given in ASA (American Standard Association).
@@heinundpiet Thanks!
No battery?
Did he forget to show how to put the filter(s) in place?
Is there a battery compartment?
No need.
Russel adler had one of these
Hi, yup the definitive spy camera, Cold War standard equipment....
Tengo una igual , la quiero vender
USA sold Minox B (see the engraved B for those sold in the USA) in a European and UK box. The Minox Corporation sold the cameras in a black and gold box.
This particular B is an early version as seen by the lattice style light meter.
Hi, thanks for the interesting information, did not know they were available in the US, the packaging sounds more premium than the European version...
You should really understand the camera that you are presenting. Read the manual.
Hi, very true,will try and improve my knowledge before making a video, helpful suggestion, thanks....
Some has smoker's fingernail
Hi, you got me, discusting habit, too old to change, best not to start and really expensive here in the UK.....