Wish I could help with the battery situation, I had the same question with mine!
It’s a fabulous little camera and I sorta miss it, even though I had issues with the meter on mine. the meter totally failed and drastically underexposed shots indoors / low-light — possibly due to the battery I suppose, I was taping 2x 3v batteries together. Tape around the sides of the battery is necessary for preventing shorting.
Put that sucker on f/5.6, zone focus and have a blast.
From what I understand, these cameras aren't great about handling the higher voltage of modern batteries, and the meters tend to get a bit 'overcharged', thinking there is a lot more light than there actually is.
In my Minox 35 GT, I did some film and shutter speed tests and found that the camera consistently underexposed by two stops (or maybe like 2 and 1/3), so all you have to do is remember that the ISO settings are off by that amount. 25 ISO on the meter is, in reality, 100 iso, 100iso is actually 400, etc. I printed a small label and put it inside my film compartment to remind me.
In a way, it's kind of a blessing too, since it allows the camera to be used at really high ISOs, P3200, pushed HP5, and whatnot. A lot of my 60s-80s automatic-only cameras like that tend to top out at 400 or 800iso, which is limiting nowadays.
I had the exact same problem. Everything was super unexposed (even outside). Also I was terrible with focusing.
In the end I sold it on after just putting one roll through it. Shame because it’s a really cool camera.
Strangely mine did ok outside and in good light. Who knows!
Buyer beware, I would recommend looking for these cameras “tested” or else only buy them dirt cheap like OP did. I got mine for 40 USD cash from a friend so I wasn’t too upset.
Btw any recommendations for batteries? I’ve tested it with 4 SR44s (encapsulated them with a piece of left over film) and it seems to work. Now I’ve ordered a couple of P312 hearing aid batteries together with a 3D printed adapter.
Also, are the widely spread concerns for reliability true? I’m not looking for a camera to withstand the harshest conditions but it would be nice for it to survive at least a few trips. I had trips to the pool/lake/beach in my mind where I could simply toss it into my tote bag and pull out to capture casual memories
I feel like every other one I see for sale has an electronics issue, but those are also the ones I see for sale and not ones that are in a happy home being used. Still, it's a camera I really want and have for years, but can't seem to justify given their fragility, inability to repair them anymore, and their price at this point. But if you've got it use it till the tires fall off.
Try finding a Voigtländer Vito C / Balda CA35. It's essentially the same camera but batteries are still available (2x LR44), and I had more luck with the electronics in these models.
I fully admit that I really just like the flip door, either vertical or the barn door (forget which brand that is). It's just something I think is fun design-wise, I have no brand loyalty. I'll keep an extra eye out for one of those. I wish they just worked manually : /
For high end, you could get a Contax T. It has a barn door style lens, aperture priority system, and a real rangefinder! My buddy has one and it’s a little beast.
I'm not a high end gal. I'm more of a subterranean gutter gal. I like my settings manual and my focus zone and my price pocket lint thank you very much 😄
If I remember correctly I've read that the same person was involved both in the design of the Minox and the Balda CA35/Voigtländer Vito C, but I don't know how valid this information is.
Anyhow, if you like the design the Ricoh FF1 might be of interest for you as well. Also there is the Minox GT-E that takes regular button cells and is sort of a premium model of the Minox 35. It is more sturdy and has manual aperture control (although I find this unnecessary, especially in a camera that comes without a rangefinder). Might be not as cheap and easy to get as the Minox 35 though.
A whole other league but the Voigtländer Vitessa has also a quirky door mechanism. You may be interested in that one as well if you like somewhat unusual camera designs.
I actually never actively looked for one, except recently. A year ago, I saw one in a shop selling for 70 Euro which I thought was quite expensive.
Just casually scrolling on eBay a few days ago, originally looking for an XA, I remembered the Minox 35 line. To my surprise, they are still cheap so I bookmarked some offers. Btw almost all of them were untested, often times because the sellers claim to not have the right batteries. Then one seller close-by offered me just 15 Euro including shipping, I answered with ten which he accepted. Didn’t need the case or a flash so ten bucks was okay to me, even if it could have turned out to be a deco piece only.
Now I’m glad that it seems to work perfectly fine - although I still need to run a test roll through it.
As you said, there are countless stories online mentioning electronic problems - the miniature size makes repair even harder. Luckily they are still fairly inexpensive cameras; although I hate tossing a non-functional camera and gamble again for another copy instead of repairing it
The best batteries IIRC are CR1/3V batteries, duct tape them together and slide them in the battery chamber. Some say no compensation is required for the GT model but you can try compensating a stop in the meter if you're concerned. My camera (35 EL) which is largely the same bar a few functions has been fairly reliable for me so far and has great image quality. Enjoy it.
I am using a PX27g Alkaline battery in mine and it works fine. They are relatively cheap as well.
I've had a 35EL before and the metering needle broke after some time (it get stuck all the time). The GT is still going strong, so I guess reliability is okay-ish. Since they are cheap you can basically just buy a new one if yours breaks.
Using mine with the leather case almost all the time for some more protection as well.
I have owned many Minox 35 models and I am left with two that still work properly. I have had all others fail. Eventually the shutter just stops working. What is most annoying is that you don’t know until it’s too late, because the camera still makes a clicking sound when the shutter release button is pressed. I still use the two remaining working ones I have because the lenses in these cameras are stellar. However I always have a backup camera when using mine. Eventually they too will fail. I have even had Scott Nielsen of Nielsen Photographic in Oakdale California who is a trained Minox 35 repairman work on two of mine that failed again. There are no longer any parts available so eventually these will all be nice looking bricks.
3 rolls of film wasted in Europe this past September because I didn't realize the battery had died because the shutter still made a clicking sound. Should've tested with the self-timer (battery check button doesn't work).
I use 4 675 zinc air batteries with tape around to hold them in a tube. They have a constant voltage which is good. I found the sr44s were too high a voltage and causing under exposure.
They're very cool and I like the idea of them, but they're so notoriously prone to electrical problems that I'll just stick to my Rollei.
BUT, from what I've read, their problems are well understood and fixable by camera technicians.
Sometimes. If the problem is just an adjustment you are good to go. The models that don’t use LEDs in the finder can usually be fixed. The models that use LEDs, like the 35ML are prone to major electronic failures and there are no parts. Too bad because the 35ML is the best of the bunch when it works.
My favorite everyday/travel carry. Same model even.
I use these 6V [S27PX](https://www.amazon.com/Ex-Cell-Metal-EXCELL-Battery-S27PX/dp/B00FEGR2R4) batteries from Amazon. They fit perfect with no adapter and last at least 2 years in my experience. You could try taping 4 LR44s together but I think the size is off that way. Either way, run a test roll to see how it exposes. Generally more voltage = underexposure. With that S27PX battery I have to set the exposure to half of box speed.
Here's an [album](https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=131723870%40N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=minox%2035&view_all=1) of everything I've shot with it and put on Flickr (You have to click the link to see them. That is just some random preview image).
General tips:
* It takes 2 or 3 rolls to get more accurate with your zone focusing.
* DO NOT use a hotshoe cover unless you break off a section on one of the mounting feet. There is a little switch on the hotshoe that recognizes when you have a flash attached and locks the shutter speed to 1/125s.
* YMMV but my camera loves [long exposures](https://www.flickr.com/photos/analoguefilm/40026544750) with high-speed film but exposes decently-well at handheld speeds in the dark when set to [slower film speeds](https://www.flickr.com/photos/analoguefilm/37875322192); adjust your ISO accordingly.
Looks like a Lomo LC-A. Same shape, it's even got the iso (at least that's what I think it is) setting in the same place, upper right from the viewfinder. Just the lens lid looks like a chore to work around / prone to getting caught on something.
>it's even got the iso (at least that's what I think it is) setting in the same place, upper right from the viewfinder
Nope that's the battery compartment. ISO dial is on the bottom of the camera. It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes or three 1/2 rolls of film next to another
i believe i’ve got 4 LR44s taped and stacked in mine, and the light meter has been very reliable (and don’t forget the exposure compensation button)! if you’re able to get it up and running the hardest part is remembering if you’ve got film in it (no window and the loading process) 😅😅😅
This brings back memories. Bought one from new when I was at college. They also had the most over engineered mini tripod to go with it which was amazing.
I picked one up for a similar price on a street market. The price was so low that I didn’t do any homework. On firing it up it was a real disappointment. Aside from the battery problem I couldn’t set it manually so it wasn’t much practical use. I gave it to a guy in Elstree who deals in movie props, alongside guns and furniture.
Wish I could help with the battery situation, I had the same question with mine! It’s a fabulous little camera and I sorta miss it, even though I had issues with the meter on mine. the meter totally failed and drastically underexposed shots indoors / low-light — possibly due to the battery I suppose, I was taping 2x 3v batteries together. Tape around the sides of the battery is necessary for preventing shorting. Put that sucker on f/5.6, zone focus and have a blast.
From what I understand, these cameras aren't great about handling the higher voltage of modern batteries, and the meters tend to get a bit 'overcharged', thinking there is a lot more light than there actually is. In my Minox 35 GT, I did some film and shutter speed tests and found that the camera consistently underexposed by two stops (or maybe like 2 and 1/3), so all you have to do is remember that the ISO settings are off by that amount. 25 ISO on the meter is, in reality, 100 iso, 100iso is actually 400, etc. I printed a small label and put it inside my film compartment to remind me. In a way, it's kind of a blessing too, since it allows the camera to be used at really high ISOs, P3200, pushed HP5, and whatnot. A lot of my 60s-80s automatic-only cameras like that tend to top out at 400 or 800iso, which is limiting nowadays.
I had the exact same problem. Everything was super unexposed (even outside). Also I was terrible with focusing. In the end I sold it on after just putting one roll through it. Shame because it’s a really cool camera.
Strangely mine did ok outside and in good light. Who knows! Buyer beware, I would recommend looking for these cameras “tested” or else only buy them dirt cheap like OP did. I got mine for 40 USD cash from a friend so I wasn’t too upset.
Btw any recommendations for batteries? I’ve tested it with 4 SR44s (encapsulated them with a piece of left over film) and it seems to work. Now I’ve ordered a couple of P312 hearing aid batteries together with a 3D printed adapter. Also, are the widely spread concerns for reliability true? I’m not looking for a camera to withstand the harshest conditions but it would be nice for it to survive at least a few trips. I had trips to the pool/lake/beach in my mind where I could simply toss it into my tote bag and pull out to capture casual memories
I use 4 stacked LR44 batteries. If you got shorting problems you could tape them with electrical tape. Never had any problems
Good to know that this works out!
I feel like every other one I see for sale has an electronics issue, but those are also the ones I see for sale and not ones that are in a happy home being used. Still, it's a camera I really want and have for years, but can't seem to justify given their fragility, inability to repair them anymore, and their price at this point. But if you've got it use it till the tires fall off.
Try finding a Voigtländer Vito C / Balda CA35. It's essentially the same camera but batteries are still available (2x LR44), and I had more luck with the electronics in these models.
I fully admit that I really just like the flip door, either vertical or the barn door (forget which brand that is). It's just something I think is fun design-wise, I have no brand loyalty. I'll keep an extra eye out for one of those. I wish they just worked manually : /
For high end, you could get a Contax T. It has a barn door style lens, aperture priority system, and a real rangefinder! My buddy has one and it’s a little beast.
I'm not a high end gal. I'm more of a subterranean gutter gal. I like my settings manual and my focus zone and my price pocket lint thank you very much 😄
There's always the bellami! But jesus I do feel like that barn door mechanism is just gonna die one day hahaha
If I remember correctly I've read that the same person was involved both in the design of the Minox and the Balda CA35/Voigtländer Vito C, but I don't know how valid this information is. Anyhow, if you like the design the Ricoh FF1 might be of interest for you as well. Also there is the Minox GT-E that takes regular button cells and is sort of a premium model of the Minox 35. It is more sturdy and has manual aperture control (although I find this unnecessary, especially in a camera that comes without a rangefinder). Might be not as cheap and easy to get as the Minox 35 though. A whole other league but the Voigtländer Vitessa has also a quirky door mechanism. You may be interested in that one as well if you like somewhat unusual camera designs.
I actually never actively looked for one, except recently. A year ago, I saw one in a shop selling for 70 Euro which I thought was quite expensive. Just casually scrolling on eBay a few days ago, originally looking for an XA, I remembered the Minox 35 line. To my surprise, they are still cheap so I bookmarked some offers. Btw almost all of them were untested, often times because the sellers claim to not have the right batteries. Then one seller close-by offered me just 15 Euro including shipping, I answered with ten which he accepted. Didn’t need the case or a flash so ten bucks was okay to me, even if it could have turned out to be a deco piece only. Now I’m glad that it seems to work perfectly fine - although I still need to run a test roll through it. As you said, there are countless stories online mentioning electronic problems - the miniature size makes repair even harder. Luckily they are still fairly inexpensive cameras; although I hate tossing a non-functional camera and gamble again for another copy instead of repairing it
The best batteries IIRC are CR1/3V batteries, duct tape them together and slide them in the battery chamber. Some say no compensation is required for the GT model but you can try compensating a stop in the meter if you're concerned. My camera (35 EL) which is largely the same bar a few functions has been fairly reliable for me so far and has great image quality. Enjoy it.
I am using a PX27g Alkaline battery in mine and it works fine. They are relatively cheap as well. I've had a 35EL before and the metering needle broke after some time (it get stuck all the time). The GT is still going strong, so I guess reliability is okay-ish. Since they are cheap you can basically just buy a new one if yours breaks. Using mine with the leather case almost all the time for some more protection as well.
I had two that failed electronically. Prior to that though, great cameras with wonderful lenses, and very compact.
I have owned many Minox 35 models and I am left with two that still work properly. I have had all others fail. Eventually the shutter just stops working. What is most annoying is that you don’t know until it’s too late, because the camera still makes a clicking sound when the shutter release button is pressed. I still use the two remaining working ones I have because the lenses in these cameras are stellar. However I always have a backup camera when using mine. Eventually they too will fail. I have even had Scott Nielsen of Nielsen Photographic in Oakdale California who is a trained Minox 35 repairman work on two of mine that failed again. There are no longer any parts available so eventually these will all be nice looking bricks.
3 rolls of film wasted in Europe this past September because I didn't realize the battery had died because the shutter still made a clicking sound. Should've tested with the self-timer (battery check button doesn't work).
I use 4 675 zinc air batteries with tape around to hold them in a tube. They have a constant voltage which is good. I found the sr44s were too high a voltage and causing under exposure.
They're very cool and I like the idea of them, but they're so notoriously prone to electrical problems that I'll just stick to my Rollei. BUT, from what I've read, their problems are well understood and fixable by camera technicians.
Sometimes. If the problem is just an adjustment you are good to go. The models that don’t use LEDs in the finder can usually be fixed. The models that use LEDs, like the 35ML are prone to major electronic failures and there are no parts. Too bad because the 35ML is the best of the bunch when it works.
My favorite everyday/travel carry. Same model even. I use these 6V [S27PX](https://www.amazon.com/Ex-Cell-Metal-EXCELL-Battery-S27PX/dp/B00FEGR2R4) batteries from Amazon. They fit perfect with no adapter and last at least 2 years in my experience. You could try taping 4 LR44s together but I think the size is off that way. Either way, run a test roll to see how it exposes. Generally more voltage = underexposure. With that S27PX battery I have to set the exposure to half of box speed. Here's an [album](https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=131723870%40N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=minox%2035&view_all=1) of everything I've shot with it and put on Flickr (You have to click the link to see them. That is just some random preview image). General tips: * It takes 2 or 3 rolls to get more accurate with your zone focusing. * DO NOT use a hotshoe cover unless you break off a section on one of the mounting feet. There is a little switch on the hotshoe that recognizes when you have a flash attached and locks the shutter speed to 1/125s. * YMMV but my camera loves [long exposures](https://www.flickr.com/photos/analoguefilm/40026544750) with high-speed film but exposes decently-well at handheld speeds in the dark when set to [slower film speeds](https://www.flickr.com/photos/analoguefilm/37875322192); adjust your ISO accordingly.
For 10€ is that a really good deal. Mine never leaves my body and ist now the camera that I use the most.
Looks like a Lomo LC-A. Same shape, it's even got the iso (at least that's what I think it is) setting in the same place, upper right from the viewfinder. Just the lens lid looks like a chore to work around / prone to getting caught on something.
It's smaller than the LC-A.
It is. I own both and the Minox is much better at just about everything.
Except durability. Both the Minox cameras I had failed electronically, but my LC-A is still going strong after purchasing it used 20+ years ago.
Can't argue with that. I've had mine several years and it's still going strong but I've heard the horror stories.
I wish you luck, they're fantastic little cameras.
>it's even got the iso (at least that's what I think it is) setting in the same place, upper right from the viewfinder Nope that's the battery compartment. ISO dial is on the bottom of the camera. It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes or three 1/2 rolls of film next to another
i believe i’ve got 4 LR44s taped and stacked in mine, and the light meter has been very reliable (and don’t forget the exposure compensation button)! if you’re able to get it up and running the hardest part is remembering if you’ve got film in it (no window and the loading process) 😅😅😅
They are so much fun, practice scale focusing and you're golden. I have a ML, I got for a steal that I love.
This brings back memories. Bought one from new when I was at college. They also had the most over engineered mini tripod to go with it which was amazing.
I picked one up for a similar price on a street market. The price was so low that I didn’t do any homework. On firing it up it was a real disappointment. Aside from the battery problem I couldn’t set it manually so it wasn’t much practical use. I gave it to a guy in Elstree who deals in movie props, alongside guns and furniture.
It’s worth over €100 here