**This post will only be of interest to anyone who likes cameras and photography. And even they may not be interested**
I bought myself another camera last week, and it arrived this morning.
Many years ago, I saw that Minox of Germany were producing a replica of the Leica M III film camera. But it was a digital camera, in miniature.
(Photos can be enlarged, by clicking on them)
At first, it only boasted two megapixels, and had a small internal storage of 2 mb. Later versions extended the capacity to three, then four megapixels, and added a live rear screen, as well as the facility to use an SD card for storage. But it was ridiculously expensive, and little more than a collector’s item
The last manifestation of this tiny camera extended to 14 megapixels, and also allowed a 32 gb SD card. Now it was becoming more desirable, but also more expensive, at around £180. I thought about it, then forgot about it.
I looked on Ebay recently, and found an ‘open-box’, unused camera, for a fraction of the original selling price. It came with a still-wrapped charging cable, the original metal display box, and full instructions. It was for sale in Germany, from a ‘trusted seller’. So I bought it. The only downside so far is that I cannot work out how to change the menu language, so have to translate from the German shown, using Google to find the meanings of the words.
In this photo, it is next to my Sony RX 10 zoom compact. You can easily see just how tiny it is, palm-sized in fact.
The camera has metal parts alongside the plastic components, and is lovingly engineered as a replica. The film winder and self-timer levers both move, although they have no function. The lens focusing ring does work, changing focus from infinity to other settings. The metal viewfinder operates like one from the 1930s, as it is quite cloudy and distorted. However, the small screen at the rear serves as a back-up for composing photos. It also has a digital menu, allowing changes to white balance, and some other functions.
You won’t find a good review of this camera online. The tiny 1/2.3 sensor has its limitations, and most camera magazines and websites describe it as little more than a ‘toy’, with limited practical application in the modern world of photography. The lens is fixed at a full-frame equivalent of 46 mm, and the digital zoom feature is best avoided.
But I happen to think it is a thing of beauty. And it takes photos too.
Seems like I’m back to posting normally Pete. Bestiesl
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So far so good, Frank. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I sure like that RX10 next to it!! 😉 Seriously it’s a cute little camera and I hope it comes back to life for you! 🙂
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Thanks, Susanne. As an RX 10 owner, you can appreciate how small it is. Still on charge, so fingers crossed! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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It certainly is a cute little beauty: congratulations, and much success in using it!
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Thanks, Pit. Sadly, it decided to ‘die’ today, after being fine yesterday. I am currently trying to revive it! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a pity! 😦 I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you can get it back to life again.
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What a pity! 😦 I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll get it back to life again!
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Pete I can sense you are a man of gadgets and these days we nearly all carry a phone camera . I often smile when I see a poor homeless migrant carrying his phone , not that I begrudge him a little emotional comfort.
My dad used to talk about f numbers and light meters and the speed of different films back in pre digital history.
He used to gather the family , pull out a white screen and show us his slides with a projector.
You now have the huge advantage of mobility , which reminds me the mobiles were very small at one time a few years ago .
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Thanks, FM. I never settled with using a phone as a camera, and although I am not into electronic gadgets as such, I do like the mechanics of cameras, and the look of them as objects. I have many old film cameras stored in the loft, hoping to display them one day, if I can ever find the space!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Nice find Pete. I hope it’s a fixable battery issue.
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Me too, Kim. I am re-reading the manual now! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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🤞🏻
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congrats, Pete! a lovely addition to your ‘toys’. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, Wilma. It won’t work today, so may well end up just being a toy after all! 😦
Best wishes, Pete.
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As a youngster, I once considered asking my parents to buy me a toy poodle, but nixed the idea once I discovered it came from an animal shelter rather than a toy shop. I learned that some toys are real.
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Nicely done, David. This new ‘toy’ may well be jinxed. It was fine yesterday, but will not turn on today!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Looks like a fun toy! Can you post a pic of the back? I’d love to see how big the rear “backup” viewfinder is!
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It is two inches square, Nicholas. Unfortunately, it has decided to ‘die’ today, after working perfectly well yesterday. It won’t turn on! Fiddling with it as we speak.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh, no! So sorry to hear that 😦
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Thanks, I am still trying to discover what’s wrong. 🙂
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What a nice bargain find. I love cameras, too. Several years ago I was excited about the Lytro camera which allowed changing the depth of field in post processing. I knew the technology was early and not suited to the needs of a photographer. A few short (tech-wise) years later, the company is no longer and has been absorbed by the Google machine. I still like my old film cameras, but I rarely take them out of storage. I look forward to seeing some photos with your new camera.
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Me too, Maggie. Unfortunately, it has decided to not work today, after being fine all day yesterday! Grr…It refuses to turn on.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh, now that is frustrating. Hope you are able to resolve the problems.
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Thanks, Maggie. I’m re-reading the manual, and have put it back on to charge. Fingers crossed.
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To use an old slang expression, I think it is “boss” that someone is making digital replicas of old cameras. Kudos on your new toy. Try finding an English, online user manual, that could help with the translation. Warmest regards, Theo
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The supplied user manual has an English translation, Theo. But it doesn’t make it clear if I can change the menu language. It’s academic though, as it is refusing to turn on today, after working perfectly well yesterday!
Best wishes, Pete.
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It sounds like a return to me. Warmest regards, Theo
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I have it on charge again. I think I failed to ‘turn it off’ properly yesterday, and may have run down the battery. I have also discovered how to change the language, so I will try again tomorrow. 🙂
I am not quite ready to give up on it yet, so fingers crossed! It might just be ‘operator error’.
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I remember the original. I’m sure you’ll have great fun with it. The smaller the camera, the more likely you are to have it with you.
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That’s the idea, Ian. But of course, it has decided not to work today! After working fine yesterday, it won’ t turn on! 🙂
Cheers, Pete.
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That’s a shame. Charge it up, and if it still doesn’t work, send it back.
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It was supposedly fully charged yesterday, but I have it back on charge again. Might be an ‘old battery issue’. It was sold on Ebay ‘as seen and working’, and it was. But if I have no joy, I will contact the seller.
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Remember as kids how excited we were with a new toy? So much to explore, limitless possibilities…that feeling never changes, does it!
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It’s a fun feeling, John. Except after writing this, I took it out with Ollie, and it won’t turn on!
It was working well yesterday! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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OH NO! Oh well, you can spend some time tinkering!
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Raining and miserable today, so I will ‘play around’ with this little monster later. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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It is very tiny. Wonder how photos will look like. I hope I’ll see some soon! 🙂
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I have seen examples of the photos online, Karolina. They are very much of the ‘point and shoot’ variety. I will take some soon, and we will see. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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The camera is looking very nice. So tiny is great, and a replica of a Leica always is a gem. Congratulations! Michael
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Thanks, Michael. German engineering! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dont say it too loud. Our Bavarian Prime Minister just lamented about missing innovations. 😉 German engineering from the past. Since decades we are only good in producing tanks. -)
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Well, I am not so fond of it today, Michael. It stopped working, and won’t turn on! I am presently trying to cure the problem! 🙂
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:-))
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Whatever floats your boat, Pete! 😀 If you have trouble with the German, try me, and if I can’t answer, I know a few friends who could. Cheers, Jon.
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Thanks, John. I got a few words from their similarity with English, and the instruction book is in both languages, just not the camera menu! 🙂
I will certainly bear your kind offer in mind.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I find that I don’t really use my camera anymore – just the phone for taking photos.
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My old HTC phone has a poor camera, and will not transfer photos, only ‘save them’ to somewhere that I can never find them. I only use a phone for texting and making calls, Stevie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Didn’t understand anything but hey, Congrats!! Take some cute Ollie pics for Ollie fans, pleaseeeee. I want some fresh pics. Btw how is he now? All good??
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He is healing up slowly, Susan. The fur is starting to grow back, and he is enjoying playing with some new toys. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s great, you should start Ollie’s life segment. I would love to read all about him. Ahhhhh he is so adorableeeee!!!!! Photos please. 🙏🙏🙏🙂✌😭😭
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He features heavily on this blog. Ollie is the star! 🙂
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Yeah, he is. But you are a superstar. I hear annie is a hit. People are loving it. Now i an tempted to read it. 😛😁🙂✌
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It is being read, but not sure yet if it is a hit. 🙂
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It is.
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Thanks for the mention on your post about Netgalley, Suzan. It doesn’t seem to have a comments box, so I am replying here.
I have never used that service, but I am always happy to help with anything I do know about. 🙂
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WordPress GLITCH!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH. I COULD MURDER THESE PEOPLE AND NOT REGRET IT. 😤😤😡😡😡😡😡
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Sorry, Pete. This is the 5th glitch in 24 hrs. I am so tired. I can’t believe I am getting anger issues. This post was not even scheduled. It was published by me. 😔😔😔 fed up. Sorry once again.
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No need to apologise. I know how annoying it is, and I would be very angry too, if it happened to me. x
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I am stuck. I complained but I have no reply yet. 2 complaints.😭😭😭 should I post something else to see if my blog is working okay again??🙄
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I didn’t get a notification of your test post. Not yet, anyway. 😦
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Just do a ‘Test Post’ with no content. See if your comment box reappears.
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It did but it disappeared with my real issues quip post but I complained. And it’s back!!! It’s like a train that keeps on coming and going to a station.
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You are welcome. You are very kind to motivate me to keep reading. Thank you.
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I’m with Pete, post a test. Hang in there. Warmest regards, Ed
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Thank you, Ed. I have my comments on again. 🙂✌😁
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That’s dinky. Hope we see some results from it soon.
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I charged it up yesterday, just have to work out the German menu now. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good luck with that!
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I suspect I will be sticking with ‘full auto’ for now. 🙂
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My daughter just got an old Leica…she may have Minox as well….she loves her antique cameras…..post some pics when available….chuq
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Will do, chuq. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a find! Have fun using that! 🙂
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Thanks, MBB. It will fit in any pocket, so I won’t need a camera bag. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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How cute is that! Nice one Pete. Can’t wait to see the results from it.
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Cute is the word! I couldn’t stop holding it yesterday, and don’t even care if the photos it takes are not that good. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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New cameras are always exciting 🙂
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Yes they are. As I can’t afford the ones I really want, I have to get excited about buying old ones that are cheap. 🙂
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Got a few of those myself 😀
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