A wide variety of accessories were made for earlier models of Minox cameras, and some very useful ones are still being made for the newer models. Model C and earlier cameras had filtre sets, auxiliary viewfinder attachments and a selection of electric flash cube guns and electronic flash units made for them; these are still commonly available on the used market at reasonable prices.

The following accessories are still available (new) from Minox, USA (see the Resources section of this site for the link) for the specified cameras.

Tripod: an ingenious design, this metal pocket tripod is barely longer and only slightly thicker than a standard # 2 wooden pencil. The shaft on which the ball head is mounted is hollow, containing two more legs that unscrew and slide out of it from storage. These are then screwed into the ball head, making a sturdy 3 legged tripod. The last leg also has a cleverly designed cable release stored inside, completing the ensemble. These tripods have proven so popular that many owners of other brands of camera have purchased them as well. The tripod will allow you to directly mount a Model LX or AX, providing you don't have a need to use the cable release as well (these cameras have an integral tripod socket). If you do, then you'll purchase separately the plastic Universal Mounting Adapter, a small plastic cradle that holds the camera, and provides a screw in socket for the cable release. Model C and earlier models require the purchase of a metal Mounting Adapter, a cradle that holds the camera which the tripod then screws into; a cable release mounting point is part of the adapter. Both types of mounting adapter are still available for purchase from Minox, USA.

Copy Pod: new ones are now only available in a combined imperial/metric calibration, based on whether you read the English or German side of the instruction sheet. This is a 4 legged device with telescoping legs that screw into a mounting cradle. This allows the camera to be positioned at various heights above a table for quick photographing of documents, coins, or other objects for documentation purposes. The newer models contain two mounting points for a cable release, one for the Models LX and AX, the other for Model C and earlier.

Binocular Clamp: new ones now have two cable release mounting points to cover the LX/AX, and Model C and earlier. Essentially a cradle for the camera, on which two screw adjustable clamping jaws are fitted. The clamping jaws allow the unit to be clamped to the eyepiece of binoculars, telescopes, microscopes or other optical devices for a variety of photographic opportunities. Some exposure compensation is required; instructions on this come with the unit.

Hot Shoe Adapter: this slide on metal adapter provides a mounting point and electrical contact for standard electronic flash units from other manufacturers. Although they will physically slide onto and work with all models of Minox 9.5mm cameras (excepting the EC/ECX series), owners of Model IIIS and earlier cameras may find that it obscures their view through the viewfinder. Longer model cameras won't have this problem; a window cut out is built in so as not to obscure the exposure metres on the models that have one. Model III, II and Riga cameras do not have the electrical contacts necessary for a flash unit to function with them using this adapter. The photograph also displays a unique after market accessory cold shoe that would allow mounting a flash unit to the security chain end of the camera, so that the flash could be connected via a traditional PC synch cord. The locking lever on the side secured the bayonet lug to the security chain mounting point.

Tripod Adapter: This ingenious little unit allows Model C and earlier Minox cameras to be mounted on a tripod. Essentially a small cradle with a swing away arm for attaching a cable release, it contains a screw knob on the bottom that allows the locking lug to secure the camera in the cradle through the same little port that the security chain and cases fit to. The tripod head then screws into a matching threaded socket on the bottom of the screw knob.

8 x 11 Electronic Flash Unit: The earlier model (no longer made, but some still unsold on dealers shelves) was flat and square, about the size of a small matchbox. The newer model is still tiny, but is styled more like the traditional "potato masher" units. Both are manual units, and are designed to mount directly onto the side of the EC and ECX cameras via 3 curved electrical prongs and a pinch lock mechanism.

Flash Adapter Foot: For the 8 x 11 Electronic flash unit mentioned above, this adapter fits onto the 3 curved prongs of the flash, and then allows the flash unit to be mounted on all of the other Minox models that have a standard PC contact on the side (excepting the Model III, II and Riga, which had no provision for flash).

Chain Bushing: All models except the EC/ECX series came with a small security chain with distance measuring beads along the length for easily measuring close focusing distances. The ones for the LX and AX clip onto the carrying cases for these cameras; this bushing allows the chain to be clipped to it, which is then screwed directly into the camera's tripod socket for those people who want to secure the chain to the camera when it is out of its case.

Daylight Film Development Tank: for the darkroom enthusiast who wants to develop their own Minox film, this unique tank allows you to place the film cartridge into it, and then screw the lid down for a light tight seal. The film is then wound out of it's cartridge via the screw down action of a centre cylinder, and the proper developing chemicals poured in and out as necessary. An included thermometre allows you to monitor the solution temperatures, as well as using it to properly agitate the chemicals in the tank.

Minox Handheld Exposure Meter: This accessory has not been made for over thirty years, but there are so many of them out there, and they are so readily available that I have included it for the sake of collector interest. This was the Gossen designed selenium cell metre introduced with the Model III camera. Aiming through the viewfinder and pressing the top deck button for a few seconds would activate the metre. Releasing the button would freeze the display needle in line with the appropriate shutter speed. The metre was calibrated for 4 different speeds of film, up to ISO 80, via a thumb screw on the back side, which included a very handy exposure table for using it with other cameras.

Battery Adapter Sleeve: Beginning in 1994, it became illegal to transport PX-27 batteries across state lines in America due to their mercury content; this effectively resulted in the battery being impossible to find. Minox cameras, and other devices powered by this battery can still be operated by purchasing the replacement battery set from Minox, USA (see the Resources section of this site for the link to their site). The user makes a one time purchase of a $20.00 battery "kit", which consists of a plastic holder and 4 button cell V-386 batteries providing 1.55 volts each. The batteries go into the plastic holder, the holder gets snapped into the camera. Thereafter, the user pays a $5.00 purchase price for a replacement set of 4 button cell batteries, minus the holder. The user retains the holder for reuse in the future. Minox cameras affected by this are the Models C, LX and EC; Minox accessories affected include the FL-4 and other similarly styled flash cube guns utilizing electrically fired 4 shot flash cubes. Both the Model BL and the ECX each use different style batteries and are not affected by this. The new battery setup provides a total voltage of 6.2 volts, as opposed to the original PX-27's 6 volts; Minox has certified the 6.2 voltage as being perfectly safe for their cameras and accessories.

This is just a partial listing of what is available by way of accessories; excepting the 8 x 11 Electronic Flash Units listed above, all other accessories will not fit on the EC or ECX models. Replacement leather cases and measuring/security chains for a variety of models are also available.

 © Sep 2000 by D. Scott Young, all rights reserved

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