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Minox LX |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1978 to 1996.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 2344
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Minox
"The" Minox has become an icon of spy cinema, especially in the hands of James Bond. Some deduce that it dates back to the Cold War, but in reality, it was created in Latvia by Walter Zapp at the end of the 1930s. It is a device using a 9.5mm film. Its overall form will persist until the early 21st century. The original patent describes it well.
U.S. Patent 2,169,548 dated August 15, 1939, with inventor Walter Zapp from Riga, Latvia. The applicant is Valsts Elektrotechnika Fabrika (VEF).
Excerpts from the description:
One objective of the invention is to create a camera of such small dimensions that it can be carried in the vest pocket.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a camera that can be manipulated very quickly and through which a plurality of successive exposures can be quickly achieved.
Another objective of the invention is to construct the camera in a way that minimizes protruding parts as much as possible. Specifically, the usual rotating handle for advancing the film is eliminated.
Another objective of the invention is to construct the camera in a way that protects the lens and viewfinder when the camera is not in use.
The models are numerous:
| Model | Years | Marking | Lens | Speed | Battery | Color | Misc. | |
| UR | c. 1936 | To be considered as a prototype. | ||||||
| Riga | 1938-40 | Made in Latvia |
Minostigmat 3.5/12.5mm |
1/2 to 1/1000, B, T | No | Stainless steel | ||
| Riga | 1941-42 | Made in USSR |
||||||
| Riga | 1942-44 | Nazi eagle | Swastika | |||||
| Riga | 1944-45 | Made in USSR |
||||||
| Riga |  |
1946-48 | VEF Minox RIGA | |||||
| (A) II | 1948-50 | Wetzlar | Pantar | Aluminum | III in USA |
|||
| (A) III |  |
1951-53 | Complan 3.5/15mm |
Aluminum / Black |
||||
| (A) IIIS1 |  |
1954-69 | Aluminum / Black / Gold |
|||||
| B |  |
1958-66 | Made in Germany | Aluminum / Black |
Selenium cell in lattice | |||
| B |  |
1967-72 | Aluminum / Black |
Selenium cell in honeycomb | ||||
| C |  |
1969-72 | Complan 3.5/15mm or Minox |
7 ou 10 to 1/1000 | Yes | Aluminum / Black |
Automatic | |
| BL |  |
1972-73 | Minox 3.5/15 mm |
1/2 to 1/1000, B | Aluminum / Black |
coupled CdS cell |
||
| LX |  |
1978-95 | 15 to 1/2000 | Aluminum / Gold / Platinum / Silver / Black | ||||
| EC |  |
1981-97 | Minox 5.6/15mm |
8 to 1/500 | Black | |||
| AX | 1992-95 | Minox 3.5/15mm |
1/2 to 1/1000, B | No | Aluminum / Black / Gold |
|||
| TLX | -96 | 100 Jahre Walter Zapp 04,09,1905-04,09,2005 | 15 to 1/2000 | Yes | Titanium | |||
| CLX | -98 | Made in Germany | Aluminum | |||||
| LX édition 2000 | -2000 | Minox LX Edition 2000 Made in Germany | Yes | Black and gold | ||||
| Aviator | -2001 | Aviator Made in Germany |
Black | |||||
| ECX |  |
1998-2004 | Minar 5.6/15mm |
8 to 1/500 | ||||
| MX |  |
1998-2003 | Japan | Minox 4.8/15mm |
1/125 | No | Grey | |
1The models feature a flash sync socket starting from the IIIS.
Beyond the movie anecdote, the Minox gained notoriety through various incidents. In 1950, two journalists from Chicago managed to sneak a Minox into the execution chamber of a prison in the Chicago area. They concealed it in the heel of a shoe, passed through X-ray screening, and captured photographs of James Morelli in the electric chair.
__________
The Minox LX is a technical evolution of its predecessors introduced at the 1978 Photokina. It is longer than them, except for the C. The reduction in length between the two models is explained by the relocation of the sensitivity adjustment wheel under the camera.
The shutter speed on the LX is increased to 1/2000. The shutter release button becomes long and curved for better finger positioning.
Above the camera, there are three diodes of different colors. The yellow one indicates slow speeds (lower than 1/30) and the risk of blur; the red one indicates overexposure and encourages the photographer to use the internal gray filter to reduce brightness. The green diode only lights up during battery check. These three diodes light up (or not) only if the small slider near the speed selection dial is moved forward or backward.
It is possible to disengage the automatic speed setting and use it manually. The aperture is fixed, and therefore, there is a very basic depth of field table. It consists of two small black dots located on each side of the line indicating the focus distance selected by the photographer.
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