Minox 35GL question

jgoetz4

Good Evening Folks,
I hope every one is well tonight :thumb I stopped in an antique mall this past weekend, and I picked up a ''grab bag'' of camera stuff for $7.50. I really didn't know what all was in there, since everything was wrapped in heavy plastic. I could make out Olympus & Minolta fixed lens film cameras, and various filters, caps, and a Nikon camera strap. There was more in there, but I was mainly interested in the cameras. When I got home and opened everything up, I was surprised to find a Minox 35GL camera, in a presentation box, with the partial hard case, and the flash unit, with case. Now, the manual focus and aperture dials turn freely, and the shutter clicks, but the shutter doesn't open. I was wondering if it needs a new battery for it to work. The flash unit worked after I put new AAA's in it. I've seen these cameras sell anywhere from $30 up to $90, depending on what's included. Any help is greatly appreciated :bow Thank you.
Have a good evening
Jim...

ziggy53

I believe that this is a link to a PDF version of the User Manual for that camera:

http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=1156&L=1&file=fileadmin%2Fdownloads%2Fbedienungsanleitungen%2F35mm%2FMinox_35_GL_lang_e.pdf

The documentation mentions an "electronic shutter", so almost certainly you will need a working battery in the camera in order for the shutter to work.

Note that the specified battery type is a "mercury" battery, which is no longer available in the USA. You may be able to find a suitable alternative however.

jgoetz4

ziggy53 wrote: »

I believe that this is a link to a PDF version of the User Manual for that camera:

http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=1156&L=1&file=fileadmin%2Fdownloads%2Fbedienungsanleitungen%2F35mm%2FMinox_35_GL_lang_e.pdf

The documentation mentions an "electronic shutter", so almost certainly you will need a working battery in the camera in order for the shutter to work.

Note that the specified battery type is a "mercury" battery, which is no longer available in the USA. You may be able to find a suitable alternative however.

Thanks Ziggy
I believe I can use 4-1.4v button cells placed in heat shrink tubing, as a replacement.
Have a good evening
Jim...

jgoetz4

jgoetz4 wrote: »

Thanks Ziggy
I believe I can use 4-1.4v button cells placed in heat shrink tubing, as a replacement.
Have a good evening
Jim...

Well whaddaya know ? The dead replacement battery was inside...

Art Scott

Set the shutter at 60 and see if it fires... a lot of older cams were made to fire at 1/60 without batt so one could guesstimate the aperture needed... that is one feature I really miss with digital ... ... ...

jgoetz4

Art Scott wrote: »

Set the shutter at 60 and see if it fires... a lot of older cams were made to fire at 1/60 without batt so one could guesstimate the aperture needed... that is one feature I really miss with digital ... ... ...

Thanks Art
I'll give it a try a little later.
Have a good afternoon
Jim...

knapph

We used this camera for many years on our long distance bike rides. We did not want to subject our SLRs to the vibration of the rough roads we road on nor did we want to carry the extra weight. This Minox was great. We put many a roll of slide film through the camera. The vibrations finally got to the camera and it developed a light leak. Still have the camera but do not use it too much these days.