Loading the MINOX

When open, a small curved indentation is visible on the back of the camera. Depressing it with the thumbnail will release the back cover, allowing it to slide open revealing the film chamber.

With the early models (A & B) the film gate will close when the camera is pulled completely open. The body must be pushed closed SLIGHTLY ( you can see the film gate open) to release the film.

With the film gate open and the cover clear of the film cassette, the film should fall out with a slight tap (on the hand, NOT on the table!).

Today's automatic cameras are marvels of engineering and do nearly everything for you, at a cost. The 8x11mm Minox cameras are also marvels of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and convenience, BUT also at a cost. The cost is minimal, but important. You must load and unload the film according to a proper procedure!

The cassette, shown without the covers and with white paper for film, shows the film being pulled from the supply chamber at the right and wound onto the take-up spool at the left. The Minox has an ingenious mechanism which maintains equal spacing between the frames, even though the film on the take- up spool is increasing in diameter, requiring less and less rotation of the drum with each film advance.

For the camera to know the rotation needed for the "next" frame, it must be told when a new roll has been loaded. You must provide this information by ALWAYS loading a new cassette in accordance with the instructions in the owners manual. The frame counter (examples shown below) has a "Loading Mark" in the form of a red DOT (or red BAR), and MUST be so positioned before inserting a new roll of film.

PLEASE NOTE that the new Minocolor PRO film for Minox 8x11mm is packaged in 30 exposure cassettes (a new length), with special counter setting instructions, for each camera style, included with each cassette.

Minox Riga, III, IIIs, B and some early Cs

  • Frame counters start at zero and end at 50 (50 exposure film was discontinued in the late 60's).
  • Counter indicates the number of EXPOSED frames.
  • You must remember the length (exposure count) of the film you have loaded.
  • After the last exposure, open and close the camera only twice (see below). Remove the film, THEN advance the counter to the DOT in preparation for a new roll of film.

Minox C (later), BL, LX/TLX and EC

  • Frame counters start at 36 and DESCEND to zero.
  • Counter indicates the number of frames REMAINING to be exposed.
  • 36 exposure film loads must be inserted with the counter set at the red DOT!
  • Exposing the nominal number of frames should bring the counter to zero.

15 exposure film loads -

  • must be inserted with the counter set at the red BAR!

If you use less than the nominal number of frames, be sure to advance the frame counter to the CORRECT POSITION before loading a new cassette.

Knowing when to START. The "leader" of the film strip is, of course, exposed during manufacture, as is the area between the chambers (with the crescent shaped notch). Closing the camera after inserting the cassette advances the film, BUT not enough to guarantee an unexposed "first" frame. To insure an undamaged first image, YOU MUST OPERATE THE WINDING MECHANISM ONE MORE TIME, to get the counter to the zero mark.

The film example shown is AgfaPan APX 25 which was inserted into, and removed from, the camera in very low light. Had it been fast film and subjected to bright light, some leakage through the felt light trap would have damaged the clear area rendering an important image, if placed there, useless.

Knowing when to STOP. It is no accident that the DOT is two frames AFTER the end of the film for which your model was designed (36 or 50 exposure). Advancing through two frames at the end of your roll ensures that the last image will be safely protected within the take-up chamber before exposing the cassette to light. It also positions the mechanism for the insertion of a new roll of film, without operating the winding mechanism through a full count to get back to the load point.

The much more dangerous prospect is that advancing the film too far, continuing until the tail of the film is drawn into the take-up chamber, leaving the light trap empty and less effective than designed. Always leave film extending between the chambers to maintain the integrity of the takeup chamber light trap!

So, load film at the "load point" and stop at the proper "end point".