Minox LX Owner's Manual
Contents
1. setting The sharp zone then extends backwards from 12 feet or 4 metres the red dot mark For medium distances you can use not only the snap shot setting 6 feet or 2 metres to infinity but also other settings of extended depth of field Thus at 6 feet or 2 metres the depth extends from about 4 to 12 feet or 1 3 to 4 metres useful for flash shots Halfway between 3 and 6 feet 1 and 2 metres you get a sharp zone from 3 to 6 feet 1 to 2 metres For close ups between 8 and 24 inches 20 and 60 cm use the measuring chain see next page 14 No aperture settings The aperture of the 15 mm Minox f 3 5 lens is fixed at its full opening So the camera has no aperture scale The exposure is controlled only by the shutter speed In view of the full aperture this is always comparatively fast Yet you have plenty of depth of field for instance from about 6 feet or 2 metres to infinity at the snapshot setting The ultraviolet filter The glass window in front of the lens is an ultraviolet ab sorbing filter to prevent loss of definition in colour and black and white shots also colour casts in colour transparencies when the prevailing daylight contains a lot of UV radiation The UV filter does not increase the exposure time 16 Close ups with the measuring chain At close range between 8 inches and 2 feet 20 to 60 cm you have very little depth of field So use the measuring chain on the ever ready case t2. Agfaortho 25 Professional Special document copying film 36 exposure cartridges Document copying Minox copy stand Four legged collapsible stand can be set up for size A4 A5 or A6 originals and for 8 inch or 20 cm subject distance Illustration on opposite page left Minox document copying film Agfaortho 25 profes sional 36 exposure cartridge Special black and white copying film yields exceptionally high resolution and high contrast You can control the contrast by tank de velopment in special document copying developer Minox FL 4 Flash holder for electric flash cubes illus tration on page 23 Fits all Minox 8 x 11 mm cameras with flash socket Exclusively with the Minox LX Auto matic flash exposure controls the exposure of flash shots with the FL 4 Minox ME 2 adapter Fits the Minox FL 4 flash holder to cameras other than Minox ultraminiatures The camera must have a standard hot shoe or flash socket Minox hot shoe For direct connection of electronic flash units to Minox 8 x 11 mm cameras Only suitable for flash units with hot shoe fitting Illustration on page 25 28 Binocular shots Minox binocular attachment Clamps the 8 x 11 mm Minox to binoculars as a lens attachment The latest version of the attachment with two cable release sockets can be used with all 8 x 11 mm Minox models The older version only one cable release socket is not usable with the Minox LX as that has a differently locat
3. marks on tongue and battery so as to permit easy removal by pulling the tongue A click on pressing the release does not signify correct shutter operation Use the battery test to check correct battery function and correct insertion If a battery appears to fail too soon try removing it firmly rubbing down its contacts and re inserting it Opening the camera To shoot or to view the subject pull the Minox LX fully open The Minox LX can shoot only when open When you close the camera the lens window and viewfinder are protected inside the body and the shutter release is locked You can open the Minox LX and view through the finder even if you are not yet sure whether you want to expose Closing the camera without releasing it wastes no pictures Holding it steady Hold the Minox at eye level firmly but relaxed with both hands Keep the thumbs against the camera base the other fingers on top Keep the fingers away from the front to avoid obstructing any of the windows The pictures show suitable camera holds for horizontal and upright shots If you cover the lens window while shooting you will get a shapeless shadow covering most or all of the picture If you obstruct the small meter window the exposure becomes too long For the steadiest hold press both hands against your head and press the camera ends against your thumbs as if you were trying to bend the Minox The Minox LX remains in its ever ready case for shoo
4. you generally utilise the whole light output of an electronic flash The automatic flash exposure control at the setting closes the Minox LX camera shutter after about 1 300 second if the flash of the electronic unit would yield a correctly exposed or overexposed picture The shutter closes after about 1 30 second if the flash is inadequate for a correct exposure Apart from the shutter speed dial setting you can for electronic flash shots select any of the fixed time set tings from 1 30 to 1 500 second Computer flash units with automatic flash duration con trol can be used with the Minox LX including at the shutter speed dial setting if the flash unit provides a correct exposure with the film speed used and at an aperture of f 3 5 or approx f 4 Check the instructions of your flash unit 25 Automatic flash control setting Hot shoe adapter here on a Minox C The ever ready case Attach the snaphook of the measuring chain to the eyelet of the small lock on the ever ready case Push the camera into the case with the tripod bush first scales on top push the chain eyelet into the slot of the lock like a screwdriver and screw the lock clockwise into the camera s tripod bush thus secu ring the camera in the case You only need to remove the cover from the case to change the film or the battery To secure your Minox LX against loss attach the fastening ring of the measuring chain to a b
5. ed release key lt Minox M811 microfilm reader For reading 8 x 11 mm microfilm negatives mounted in Minox document copy ing film sleeves with blue cover Magnification 29 x linear Screen 320 x 315 mm 12 6 x 12 4 inches large anti reflection coated Rotating size A6 film car rier with two way sliding tracks Brightness of 15 volt 150 watt tungsten halogen lamp adjustable in four steps For illustration see opposite page right gt You can mount the Minox LX on any normal tripod by the built in tripod bush LX cable release bracket Permits attachment of a cable release to the Minox LX Advisable for all tripod shots Minox pocket tripod Rigid tripod with built in ball and socket head and cable release Can be used as a table tripod chestpod or wall support To close it insert the legs in each other the tripod is then hardly larger than a pencil Clean the lens window with a cotton swab or with a clean rag wound around a matchstick Slide in the neutral density filter to show up soiling and marks Projection Minox HP 24 Automatic magazine slide projector for 3 x 3 cm Minox slides Fitted with 35 mm Minox Minogon 2 7 lens and 24 volt 150 watt tungsten halogen lamp Built in fan remote control and mains lead Levelling by self clamping drop down foot With carrying handle and tape control socket Minox HP 24 Autofocus AS HP 24 but in addition with autofocus system for aut
6. MINOX GmbH MINOX LX TLX Owner s Manual Optische und Feinmechanische Werke Walter Zapp Stra e 2 35578 Wetzlar 960007 e Subject to alterations Printed in Germany VIII 96 Inevitably you will find some technical terms n this booklet So before you start reading the Manual fold out this and the last page Then you can see at a glance which particular dial window or other part of the Minox LX the text refers to Overexposure signal red Long time signal yellow Check switch Shutter speed dial Exposure counter Distance scale Flash socket Battery check signal green Meter cell Silicon blue cell Filter slide Viewfinder window Lens window Release key Contents Congratulations Minox LX operation Loading the film 20 The battery 2 Unloading 22 Inserting the battery 2 Flash shots 23 Battery test 3 Automatic flash exposure 23 Opening the camera 4 The Minox FL 4 with flash cubes 23 The three eyes 5 Automatic ranges with flash cubes 24 Holding it steady 6 Electronic flash 24 Taking the picture 7 The ever ready case 26 The push pull rapid wind 8 CareofMinox LX 27 Setting the film speed 9 Automatic daylight exposure 10 Minox accessories Long time signal 11 Minox8x 11 mmfilms 28 Your new Minox LX is the latest top model ofthe famous While you can operate the Minox LX controls without a Overexposure signal ND filter 12 Flashunit and flash accessories 28 8 x 11 mm Minox ultraminiature camer
7. a range film it does need a battery to power the electronic shut Manual exposure settings 13 Tripod shots 29 You don t need to know much Minox technique tomake ter and automatic exposure control That s why we start Focusing and depth of field 14 Binocular shots 30 good pictures In each section the most important with inserting the battery on the next page Close ups with the measuring chain 15 Document copying 30 points are summed up in bold type For more details No aperture settings 16 Projection 32 read also the paragraphs below them The ultraviolet filter 16 Home darkroom aids 32 The Minox LX works even without a film so you can ne Thebright frame finder 17 familiarise yourself with Minox LX operation before you So now read on and get acquainted with Minox LX pho The exposure counter 18 Technical data 33 start shooting tography Have fun with your Minox LX The battery The Minox LX only functions with a correct battery Varta 7150 Ucar EPX 27 or Mallory PX 27 in the battery compartment check correct polarity Don t use spent or old batteries Inserting the battery Pull the camera fully open depress the snap lock in the base and pull open the sliding cover The bat tery compartment is now accessible from the ca mera top Firmly rub both battery contacts clean against some rough fabric e g your coat sleeve Raise the black battery compartment tongue Insert the battery the correct way round note polarity
8. and pull it open again for the next shot When you have finished shooting close the Minox and put it in your pocket For quick shooting sequences push and pull the Minox as fast as you like it can stand it Setting the film speed Set the speed of the film you are using on the film speed scale in the camera base Depress the milled button and turn it to bring the ASA or DIN speed ra ting of the film opposite the arrow index on the win dow rims Every Minox film packing carries both ASA and DIN values To save space the scale carries figures for every third step only intermediate steps are marked by dots e g 64 and 80 ASA between 50 and 100 ASA Too high an ASA or DIN speed setting yields underex posed shots too low a setting overexposed pictures You can also expose deliberately for longer or shorter than indicated by the meter For double the exposure time set the film speed dial to half the ASA value or 3 DIN lower To halve the time set the film speed to dou ble the ASA value or to 3 steps higher on the DIN scale See page 28 for a list of Minox 28 x 11 mm films 9 Film speed scale set here for 80 ASA or 20 DIN Camera set to automatic daylight exposure control Automatic daylight exposure For daylight shots or artificial light other than flash see page 23 set the shutter speed dial to A automatic This controls the exposure automatic ally between 1 2000 second and about 15 seconds The
9. d brilliant pictures If you cover the meter window as you shoot you get wrong exposures To check whether the lens window is clean slide in the neutral density filter page 12 any dirt or fingerprints will immediately show up against the dark filter Prefer ably clean the lens window with a clean rag wound round a matchstick Chemists cotton tipped swabs are also useful see page 27 5 Taking the picture Once you have framed the view as you want it within the brightline finder frame gently press the release key without moving the camera Gentle pressure on the release key is enough to trigger the shutter During releasing hold your breath and take the camera from your eye only after you have heard the shutter close There are two soft clicks with short exposure times they sound like a single click 7 Battery test The signal lights up green The circle in the lens window means your Minox is ready to shoot The push pull rapid wind To get your Minox LX ready for the next shot push the camera closed and pull it open again This ad vances the film and tensions the shutter The film is however only advanced if you have released the shutter before closing the camera Always push and pull the camera movement all the way A small circle in the lens window indicates that the Minox LX is tensioned and ready for shooting After the exposure the circle disappears so push the camera closed
10. er cell Silicon photo diode SBC 33 a i e a S Film speed Adjustable from 12 to 400 ASA 12 to 27 DIN Light signals Yellow slow speed automatically selec ted exposure time longer than 1 30 second Red overexposure use neutral density filter Green battery check Battery Single 5 6 volt battery Mallory PX 27 Ucar EPX 27 or Varta 7150 Lens 15 mm f 3 5 Focusing range infinity to 8 inches or 20 cm Full aperture only Filters UV filter as permanent lens window Approx 4 x ND filter can be switched into light path Lens hood Permanently built in Finder Bright frame finder with automatic parallax compensation Red warning signal for ND filter Exposure counter Counts backwards from 36 to 0 Short film section from 15 to 0 Flash contact X contact Tripod bush Built in 4 Length closed 10 8 cm 4 25 Length open 12 4 cm 4 9 Width 2 8 cm 1 1 Height 1 6 cm 0 6 Weight 88 grams 3 1 oz without battery or film 98 grams 3 5 oz with battery without film 100 grams 3 5 oz with battery and film Made by Minox GmbH D 35578 Wetzlar Germany Tripod bush Film compartments Film speed dial Snap lock Sliding back cover Serial number Transport shaft Finder eyepiece Battery
11. lter is in position 12 Manual exposure settings You can set exposure times from 1 2000 to 1 30 second manually without using the automatic ex posure control In this case turn the shutter speed dial away from A to the required time The figures indicate fractions of a second e g 30 1 30 sec ond Automatic control sets a continuous time range With manual control you can set only the values on the dial If you happen to set the dial between two marked times the shutter operates at the nearest adjacent speed The Minox LX unlike the previous Minox C needs no manual exposure settings for flash shots as the LX pro vides automatic flash exposure control set the dial to the flash symbol see page 23 13 gt gt Shutter speed set manually to 1 2000 second Snapshot setting depth of field from 6 feet to infinity above resp from 2 metres to infinity below Focusing and depth of field The distance scale is calibrated in feet and inches e g 1 6 1 foot 6 inches or in metres For spe cific distances set the distance scale to the large black dot The two smaller dots indicate the extent of the depth of field on the distance scale For instance with the snapshot setting to the red dot approx 12 feet or 4 metres the depth of field extends from 6 feet 2 metres to infinity For views with no significant item nearer than 12 feet or 4 metres from the camera shoot at the infi nity
12. o estab lish the exact distance With the chain held taut each bead matches an engraved distance setting on the scale first bead for 8 inches second bead 10 inches third bead 1 foot fourth bead 1 2 feet full chain length 2 feet on metrically scaled cameras 20 24 30 40 and 60 cm respectively Measure the distance with the chain and set the di stance scale then hold the appropriate chain bead once more against the subject to be sure of the correct distance As you then remove your hand with the chain shoot without changing the distance If you use a ruler or tape measure instead of the chain measure the distance from the front of the camera To mount the measuring chain directly on the Minox LX without the camera case you need the tripod bush adapter for the LX measuring chain Order No 18160 15 The bright frame finder The brilliant luminous frame within the finder shows the actual subject field recorded on the film When the neutral density filter is in position a red signal appears in the finder page 12 The Minox finder incorporates automatic parallax com pensation Thanks to a coupling between the distance setting and the pivoted finder the latter shows the cor rect field of view even with close ups With extreme close ups at about 8 10 inches or 20 24 cm the subject field recorded on the film is reduced by approximately the width of the finder frame line 17 The exposure counter The exposu
13. omatic slide refocusing Minotact not illustrated Semi automatic projector for 3 x 3 cm Minox slides With 35 mm Minostar f 2 7 lens and 12 volt 100 watt low voltage lamp Home processing aids Minox daylight developing tank Develop your black and white films without a darkroom Needs no special knowledge Next to enlarger in illustration Minox model 2 enlarger This black and white enlarger preserves the full definition of the Minox negative even in the enlargement Other home processing accessories Minox special ultra fine grain developer Minox film sleeves Technical data Camera type Minox LX ultraminiature camera Minox model Nos 10 610 chrome finish metric distance scale 10 620 chrome finish feet scale 10 630 black finish metric scale 10 640 black finish feet scale Negative size 8 x 11 mm Films Minox 8 x 11 mm films in double daylight Cartridges for 15 or 36 exposures 8 x 11 15 or 8 x 11 36 Film advance Push pull rapid wind operates only after shutter is released Film pressure plate Closing force approx 7 5 N with Camera in shooting readiness film gate opens during film advance and loading Shutter Electronically controlled double blade shutter Manual setting range 1 2000 to 1 30 second Automat Ic control range with shutter dial set to A daylight expos ure automation 1 2000 second to approx 15 sec Onds with scale set to g flash exposure automation from 1 2000 to 1 30 second Met
14. prung end only but not at the other end thus blocking the sliding cover This means that by chance the key in the cartridge core exactly hit the transport shaft prongs instead of sliding past them To remedy this not a malfunction lift out the cartridge again and slightly turn the three pronged shaft with your finger tip 21 Flash shots The Minox LX can take flash shots with any type of flash unit A particularly handy unit is the special Minox FL 4 flash holder for electric flash cubes see illustration not only because of its small size 2 x 3 2 x 5 4 cm but also because of a special feature of the Minox LX au tomatic flash exposure control Automatic flash exposure For flash shots set the shutter speed dial to the flash symbol 4 automatic flash exposure control Minox FL 4 with flash cubes Within certain distance ranges determined by the film speed the Minox LX automatically controls the expos ure with flash cubes Once you have set the shutter speed dial to the silicon blue cell of the Minox LX measures the flash illumination reflected from the sub ject and closes the camera s electronic shutter as soon as the meter has recorded the correct exposure The longest time is however 1 30 second 23 As an electronic flash has a much shorter duration than the flash of a cube the automatic flash exposure control cannot close the shutter before the electronic flash is over So even at the shutter dial setting
15. re counter or frame counter indicates the number of exposures you have left on the film When you load the film set the counter to the appro priate start position There are Minox films for 36 expo sures and for 15 exposures The counter scale for the short 15 exposure film is marked in white on black 18 19 Loading the film Always load and unload the film in subdued light the shade of your body if necessary and never in sunlight Keep opening releasing and closing the camera until the exposure counter arrives at the load set ting The load setting for 15 exposure films is the red mark at No 17 illustration far left The load setting for 36 exposure films isthered dot between 0 and 36 left Depress the back cover snap lock in the camera base and fully pull out the sliding cover bottom left The film compartments are now accessible Drop the Minox cartridge into the camera push down and slide the cover over it then close the co ver to engage Open the camera release and close the camera twice in succession This moves the exposure counter to its start posi tion No 36 for 36 exposure films and No 15 at the beginning of the black and white scale for 15 ex posure films Remember also to set the ASA speed of your film on the film speed dial page 9 20 Unloading After the last exposure make two blind expos ures and advance the film each time This moves the exposure counter to
16. sioned If you have already re leased no circle in the lens window just push the ca mera closed before operating the slow speed check You can still take pictures in poor light either use the Minox pocket tripod page 29 or shoot with flash page 23 To avoid excessive battery drain operate the slow speed check only briefly 11 Slow speed check The signal lights up yellow Overexposure signal If it lights up red slide in the neu tral density filter Sliding the ND filter into position Overexposure signal ND filter Very bright scenes beach or high mountain sub jects with brilliant sun can on a fast film lead to overexposure even with 1 2000 second To check point the camera at the subject and push the check switch next to the shutter speed dial fully towards the camera back as for the slow speed check page 11 If the red signal lights up you risk overexposure To avoid that slide the neutral density ND filter in front of the lens by the filter slide above the finder window Push this fully towards the lens window A red mark in the top right finder image corner is a reminder that the ND filter is in position The overexposure signal again operates with the ca mera closed or with the camera open but not released Operate it only briefly to save battery current The neutral density filter increases the exposure about 4 times The exposure control automatically allows for this when the ND fi
17. t ing Fold over the hinged section of the case flat against the fixed section 6 Battery test You can check the battery with the camera closed or open but not released Push the check switch next to the shutter speed dial fully towards the camera front and hold for ab out one second The green signal must light up If the green signal lights up at first but fades or goes out within a second the battery is nearly exhausted Re place as soon as possible If the green signal does not light the battery is fully spent or too old remove immediately from the camera or was inserted the wrong way round Check the battery every time you load a film or when you haven t used the camera for a week or more But don t check the battery too often or for too long that also exhausts it The battery test does not indicate how long it will still last Preferably fit a fresh battery at least once a year even if the battery test still shows sufficient power Remove even a good battery from the camera if you are likely to store the latter unused for long periods The three eyes The front of the Minox LX shows from top to bot tom in the illustration the silicon biue cell window the metering cell of the automatic exposure con trol the finder window and the lens window Take care not to obstruct these three windows with your fingers while shooting Keep the lens window absolutely clean that is vital for sharp an
18. the red dot between 0 and 36 Open the sliding back cover The cartridge jumps up by a few mm and is then easily removed with a fingernail Immediately wrap up the exposed film in black paper or the black plastic container The exposure counter set ting with the red dot between 0 and 36 for removing the exposed film is also the load setting for a 36 exposure cartridge So you can immediately reload a new 36 ex posure film without advancing the exposure counter If the next film to be loaded has 15 exposures first ad vance the exposure counter to the red index at No 17 see page 20 before loading the film 22 Automatic ranges with flash cubes Approx distances for automatic exposure _ Without With ASA DIN ND filter ND filter 25 15 1 0 3 0m 05 15m 3 10f 112 5 ft 64 100 19 21 2 0 6 0 m 1 0 3 0 m 6 20ft 3 10f 200 24 3 0 9 0m 1 5 4 5m 10 30 ft 5 15ft 400 27 40 12m 2 0 6 0m 12 40 ft 6 20 ft Distance ranges apply to rooms of average ceiling and wall reflectivity If for any reason you want to expose with flash cub but without automatic flash exposure control set the shutter speed dial to 1 30 second You then always uti lise the full light output of the flash cube Electronic flash Preferably mount electronic flash units with contact foot in the Minox hot shoe attachment see illustration for fitting to the Minox LX 24 Very occasionally the cartridge may drop flush into the camera at the s
19. up to date automatic exposure control of the Minox LX uses a silicon blue cell SBC and an elec tronic shutter This provides a long stepless control range with rapid and reliable response even to abrupt lighting level changes The automatic system controls the correct exposure during the actual shot For deliberate longer or shorter exposures adjust the film speed setting before you take the picture page 9 The automatic system on the Minox LX controls the exposure time As with all Minox ultraminiature came ras the lens aperture of the LX remains constant see page 16 The Minox LX reading is centre weighted it depends much more on the brightness in the centre of the view than in the corners 10 Long time signal In poor light you can check before you shoot whether the exposure time is likely to be longer than about 1 30 second Set the shutter speed dial to A automatic Point the camera at the subject at waist level Push the check switch next to the speed dial fully towards the rear of the camera If the yellow slow speed signal lights up with the key fully pushed back the exposure time is longer than about 1 30 second That means greater risk of camera shake With times shorter than 1 30 second the slow speed signal still blinks before the key reaches its end position the blink ist about the length of the automatically set time You can operate a slow speed check with the Minox LX closed opened or ten
20. utton belt Care of the Minox LX Lens window Whenever you change films take the opportunity to check the window for possible fin gerprints or other marks slide in the neutral den sity filter to show up marks if necessary clean the window carefully Housing Clean with a soft rubber eraser Never use cleaning fluids Film compartments When loading blow out the empty film compartments Dust particles may scratch the film A hint for the seaside Salt water getting into the camera rapidly corrodes the internal mechanism To save the camera remove the film and immediately place the open camera into warm tap water Let it cool there shake out the water dry the camera near a heater and rush it to the Minox works or appropriate Minox agency loop or buttonhole for servicing 26 27 Minox accessories Minox 8 x 11 fil i x mm films Flash unit and flash accessories Tripod shots For colour prints Minocolor 2 film 80 ASA 36 and 15 exposure car tridges For colour slides Minochrome 64 64 ASA 36 exposures Processing but not framing included in purchase price Minochrome 64 R 64 ASA 36 exposures Purchase price includes processing and framing in 3 x3 cm glass less plastic frames For black and white prints Agfapan 25 Professional 25 ASA 36 and 15 exposure cartridges Agfapan 100 Professional 100 ASA 36 and 15 ex posure cartridges Agfapan 400 Professional 400 ASA 36 and 15 ex posure cartridges
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search