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Minox Minox C → ← Minox A
Subminiature espionage camera · 1958-1969
Minox-B is an analogue high-quality
subminiature camera that is small enough
to fit in the palm of a hand. It was built by Minox in Germany
as the successor to the post-war Minox A.
For Many years it was the worlds most famous and widely used camera
for espionage photography right until the end of the Cold War in the early
1990s. Production started in 1958 and ran to 1969 when it was replaced
by the improved Minox C, which never surpassed the
popularity of the Minox-B.
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Like its predecessor, the Minox-A,
the body of the camera is made of aluminum.
When closed, it measures just 97 x 27 x 15 mm, allowing it to be
concealed easily, e.g. in the palm of a hand
or hidden somewhere in the operative's clothing.
The camera is operated by opened by pulling it outwards
from both ends. When closed, the film is advanced to the next position.
The image on the right shows a Minox-B camera ready for use.
A chain,
that also acted as a measuring device, could be
attached to one side
of the camera, allowing it to be affixed to the
user's clothing.
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The negatives have a frame size of 8 x 11 mm.
The Minox-B is fitted with a very high quality lens. When used in combination
with high-grade film, it allowed black & white images with enormous
detail to be obtained from the small negatives.
The non-perforated film strip is 9.2 mm wide and is stored on a supply spool
inside a small cartridge that can hold 50 images.
In later years, colour film became available for the Minox-B, but it had
significantly lower detail than the B/W film.
Minox-B was the always ready for use. It was the first subminiature camera
with a built-in light meter that did not require batteries.
Based on a selenium cell, it converts light into
electricity, and drives the meter directly. As a result, the camera is 15 mm
longer than its predecessors, the Minox Riga
and Minox-A.
The Minox-B was by far the most popular of all Minox subminiature cameras,
with 384,327 units manufactured between 1958 and 1969 [3].
In 1969, the Minox B was succeeded by the Minox C, but
in 1972 and 1973 an improved version of the Minox-B – the
Minox BL – was produced in small quantities. Apart from the
new exposure meter — Cadmium Sulfide rather than Selenium — the
Minox-BL was identical to the Minox-B.
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The Minox-B has a mechanical shutter with speeds ranging from 1/2 to 1/1000
sec. The high-precision lens allows focussing from 20 cm (8 inches) to
infinity. When turning the focusing dial, the viewfinder moves in tandem
to correct for parallax errors.
Above the viewfinder is a so-called filter bar, that allows a green
or a neutral density (ND) filter to be
moved in front of the lens.
These filters are used to increase contrast and to reduce brightness in
full daylight. The latter is needed when photographing outdoors whilst the
camera is loaded with a highly sensitive film.
When photographing documents, the measuring chain comes in handy. It is 60 cm
long and has small markers (bullets) at 20, 24, 30 and 40 cm, just like the
markings on the focusing dial. When using the full length of the chain (i.e.
60 cm) the distance is ideal for photographing A4+ size documents.
Each time a picture is taken, the frame counter increases, up to the maximum
of 50 exposures.
Closing the camera, also protects the lens by moving a plate in front of it.
Please note that each time the camera is closed, the film is advanced to the
next position, regardless whether a picture was taken or not.
This mis-feature, or anomaly, was solved in later Minox models.
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Opening the camera in order to replace the film cartridge is simple.
First extend the camera in the usual manner, as if you want to take pictures.
Then turn the camera around
so that the bottom is up (1).
Next, extend the camera a somewhat further until a
recessed rig becomes visible
(2).
Use the nail of your thumb to
press down the recessed rig
(3).
This should unlock the camera.
Whilst pressing down the rig, slide away the body of the camera to
reveal the film cartridge
(4).
If a film is present, turn the camera upside down until the
film cartridge falls out
(5).
Take a new film
(6) from its
protective container
(7) and
place it in the camera
(8).
Then close the camera. Note that the first image is
lost as it is already exposed. Release the shutter and close/open the camera
to advance to the next position. Then release the shutter again.
The camera is now ready for taking pictures. In the images below, the camera is
loaded with a 36 exposure colour film.
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Black version of the Minox-B
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Some Minox cameras were produced in an alternative finish.
This was generally done as a limited edition or for special OEM projects.
One example is the rare black variant of the Minox B shown here.
As the camera is less shiny than the standard version, it's even more
suitable for covert operations.
The one shown here has an original Minox lens. With serial number 983 481
it was built just before production of this model ended in 1972.
More images of this camera below.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Thursday 22 March 2012. Last changed: Tuesday, 16 November 2021 - 08:01 CET.
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