Page Contents
Well-traveled
After I bought this camera, it worked for exactly one day, then the housing would no longer slide together. As it arrived safe and sound, I couldn’t blame the seller. Nevertheless, he kindly agreed to give the camera to a friend for free repair.
The first journey
… was to the vicinity of Bayreuth, Germany (900 km). There it was discovered that the gear rack was blocked. After a few attempts, the mechanism was repaired and I got the camera back.
As I don’t just collect cameras, but take photos with them, I immediately put a film in it. The camera could be operated normally again. Unfortunately, the pictures were a disappointment. The images were totally blurred and the individual images overlapped on the film. It looked as if there were two problems at once. The transport of the film did not seem to work properly and the distance setting did not seem to work.
Unfortunately, at this point I had no idea how to repair a Minox. Even opening the housing was a complete mystery to me. So I asked around for another repair shop and the camera went on its next journey.
The second journey
… was to England (1000 km). I sent the camera and film there, which now also involved customs formalities due to Brexit. The camera was not supposed to be sold, but only repaired and sent back to me. If you’ve never done anything like this before, it’s not so easy to formulate the declaration.
The camera was repaired and returned in no time at all. Unfortunately, German customs charged high import fees. Out of principle and to better understand the process, I objected (in vain) and have now learned a lot about the concept of “Inward processing relief”.
Of course, I immediately exposed a film with the camera and was very curious about the pictures. Unfortunately, it was another disappointment. The film transport now worked perfectly, so that there was no more overlap but the images were still just as blurred as before.
Frustrated, I searched for another repair option and came across DAG camera parts via some forum posts. After a few encouraging emails from Don Goldberg, I decided to send the camera there.
The third journey
… went to the USA, to Oregon, Wisconsin (16,000 km). I had already been warned that he doesn’t promise appointments and so it was. Time was not an issue for me. I wanted a working camera. So I instructed Don to check everything and fix whatever he thought was necessary. After a few months, the camera suddenly came back and I was very excited.
The moment I picked up the camera, the first interaction was a surprise. I intended to pull the Minox apart to open it. Before I consciously pulled, it was already open. It was incredibly smooth. At that time, I already owned several Minox cameras, but I had never experienced anything like this before. Opening, releasing the shutter, and closing it was like a dream. A film had to be exposed immediately! But I already knew it beforehand, all the pictures would be perfect. None of the other Minox cameras I own possess the gentle grace of this one, after its third voyage.
At the end of all journeys
Nine months after buying it and traveling a total of 17,900 km for repair, I now have a Minox IIIs that works like new. Not only does it take perfect photos, but it is so smooth to use that I have only one name for it: La Douce.
And now?
Appearence
Did I mention that the camera still looks pretty good on the outside? Sure, it has a few signs of use, but no dents. One design element is the matt surfaces around the controls, which stand out beautifully against the gloss of the other surfaces.
All functional elements are clearly and intuitively arranged together:
The leather bag
I was also lucky enough to get a leather case in good condition to go with the camera. The Minox bags at that time were made of saffiano leather. The name “Saffiano” is derived from the Italian fashion brand Prada, which developed this process in the 1910s and named it after the Moroccan city of Safi.
Saffiano leather is a high-quality leather with a distinctive embossing that impresses with its robustness, durability and elegance. It is a popular choice for products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Its unique appearance is achieved through a specific embossing process that creates diagonal lines and a crosshatch pattern on the leather. The result is a subtle sheen and a certain texture that make the leather highly resistant.
What makes Saffiano leather so special?
Saffiano leather is particularly robust, durable, elegant, and versatile. Its embossed surface and a protective wax coating make it highly resistant to scratches, stains, and water. The high quality and robust surface ensure that Saffiano leather products have a long lifespan. Additionally, the characteristic surface gives products made of Saffiano leather an elegant look. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of products, from handbags and wallets to accessories and furniture.
The process typically begins with goat leather, known for its fineness and strength. The leather is heated and then machine-embossed with the characteristic pattern. Subsequently, a protective wax coating is applied, sealing the surface and increasing its resistance.
My reference camera
After its last absolutely professional service, this is my reference for the purely mechanical Minox cameras, e.g. for the shutter speed tolerances. The extremely smooth-running mechanism also predestines this Minox for my every day photography in the sub-miniature range.
