Re: The Minox GT -- An Unappreciated Leica?

[creadick@mindspring.com (Nowell Creadick)]

Sorry...what he said he said!

>Dear Colleagues,
>
>Below is a copy of a personal post to one of our members. It may be of some
>use to those who contemplate buying a true quality compact.
>
>Bob
>-----------------------------------------------------
>Thomas,
>
>I use a Minox GT, a 35mm camera that focuses by rotating the ring around the
>lens. Minox is now owned by Solms and the lenses of the GT type camera class
>appear to be Elmars in design. In any case the 35mm fixed lens is about as
>sharp as they come. It renders brilliant color.
>
>The GT is about the smallest 35mm made, outside the Rollie. It's made of a
>very tough composite (Makralon) -- not the plastic on most of the P&S. The
>lens speed is 2.8. Separate aperture and shutter assemblies, plus an
>automatic shutter that can be overridden by +2 stops when necessary. The GT
>focuses to about  2 feet. The GT takes standard flash units via a hot shoe.
>
>The Minox GT is made in Germany and is well supported by Solms. I consider it
>a professional quality pocket Leica and often use it as a 35mm lens backup to
>the M3. It's manual in everything but the automatic shutter, which goes up to
>1/500.
>A case is available for the GT that also permits a neckstrap. The lens is
>protected by a drawbrige lens cover, a classic idea that began with folding
>cameras. The more the GT is used the better it becomes. If you can judge
>distance and appreciate the 35mm focal length, and want true precision, there
>is no better compact than the GT. It's the camera that I have constantly with
>me. I've used it for about ten years.
>
>Bob Rosen