Minox C

Photos by AB text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of AB. Last update 2024-01-05 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1969 to (After) 1979.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 13243

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		Minox 3.5/15 mm	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		Black
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.

Built from 1969 to 1979, the C model is the first to be equipped with a CdS cell, leading to a significant increase in length, making it the longest among Minox subminiatures (the LX being 12 mm shorter). The addition of the flash extends its length by an additional 40 mm before even inserting the appropriate flashcube.

Regarding the light meter, it enables automatic exposure as soon as the speed setting (in the middle) is set to A. Choosing one of the speeds switches the camera to manual mode. There is no aperture selection as it is fixed, which may pose an issue in very bright conditions. Just above the lens, there is an area carved with small diamonds to provide better grip for the finger. This piece can slide laterally and move a gray filter (graufilter, page 13 of the manual) in front of the cell window and the lens. This allows for an extension of the exposure time.

It is also available in black.

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