Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]HI All, This recent minimalist topic inspired me to do a number of things technically Leica related. The original idea of the Leica was a small, portable, unobtrusive camera. That the camera was also reliable, well-made, and pruduced fine - if grainy - images, made the whole concept catch on. The original Leica, as everyone on this list probably knows, did not even have an interchangable lens, which was hardly a drawback when the fixed-lens rollfilm or sheet-film camera was the state of the art. Due to advances in film and camera technology, our Leicas when properly handled produce images of higher quality than those produced by the rollfilm cameras of 1925. Of course, there are people who argue correctly that medium and large format cameras will always produce a finer-grained image with more aparent detail, but we enjoy the advantages of the handy size of our cameras and the unique look Leica glass produces. It occured to me that today's analogue of the original Leica is the 8 x 11 mm format Minox camera. Its size is truely remakable. It is unobtrusive, and like the original Leica is fast to use, seldom recognized as a camera, limited to one lens of very high quality, and produces fine - if grainy - images. It has the additional advantage that one can easily carry two or three bodies and a flash in one's coat pocket, along with several rolls of different film. Of course, Minox is now owned by Leica. Perhaps Leica recognized this, too? Before any of us laugh at this line of reasoning, there is one more consideration. Compared to the consumer grade digital cameras, the TLX or EC Minoxes actually offer more information per negative than any of them. Further, when I browsed to the excellent Minox Lab web site (htttp://www.minoxlab.com), I discovered that they are already offering scanning services for 8 x 11 film. So here I am with my ancient Minox C and no accessories. Anyone on this list want to unload 8 x 11 Minox cameras or accessories? Please let me know, I may be interested (seriously!). Perhaps this little rant may inspire you to walk about with a true minimalist camera once again just to see what happens... Maybe I should submit an article on this to Mike... Will von Dauster