Minox Classic Leica M3 White edition

Photos by Eric Carlhan text by Eric Carlhan. From the collection of Eric Carlhan. Last update 2023-12-08 par Michel Rochevalier.

Manufactured or assembled in China from (Circa) 2010 to (After) 2010.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 14530

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Minox

In the early 2000s, Minox embarked on the production of 1/2.5 scale replicas of certain prestigious cameras from Leica and Rollei brands: Leica I F, Leica M3, Leica III F (standard et swedish army), Contax I, Rolleiflex 2.8 F, and Hasselblad SWC-C. The abundance of Leica models is due to Leica's acquisition of Minox's camera division in 1996. This line is known as the Minox Classic Collection. Initially, these miniatures used Minox film. The reduction factor was not applied uniformly across the entire camera, as certain components such as the viewfinder or film compartment would have been too small. The reproduction is faithful, featuring movable elements like the focus ring and lever, although they are non-functional. The lens is a Minoctar 5.6/15 mm. The aperture is fixed, as is the shutter speed (1/250). It is possible to connect a specific electronic flash.

These cameras are manufactured by Megahouse, a Japanese toy manufacturer. They are distributed under the Megahouse, Sharan, or Minox Classic Collection brands.

Yielding to the digital era, starting from 2002, the film was replaced by a CMOS digital sensor. The first version had a 1.3-megapixel sensor. Falling significantly below the contemporary standards in terms of sensor and ergonomics, it is quite evident that the target audience was not the digital camera user but the camera collector. The 4-megapixel version from late 2004 does not include a screen, and users must make do with the (tiny) viewfinder. The rear screen serves only as a frame counter. The 2006 version integrates a 5-megapixel sensor and finally includes a screen.

Apart from technical specifications, the manufacturing quality is high. The cameras are presented in a small metal case, while the early film versions were presented in a wooden box.

__________

It's a very handsome little camera, delivered in an elegant wooden case dressed in satin, truly stylish! Unfortunately, even when trying to place myself in the context of the time, I fear it was never a powerhouse, notwithstanding the extravagant description provided by the commercial materials of that era. The interface is rather poor, making its use cumbersome, even considering its very small size.

I'm not sure if there is another digital camera with a focus ring on the lens like this one. The focal length is fixed with only a 4x digital zoom. White balance can be adjusted to automatic, daylight, cloudy, lamp, or artificial light.

It has an integrated memory of 128 MB and a slot for SD cards up to 16 GB.

The screen is stated as 1.5 inches, but its resolution is not mentioned, though it appears to be quite low. The optical viewfinder is hardly any better.

There is a winding lever on the top, but it seems to be merely decorative, even though it can be operated. The lithium-ion battery is specific, labeled as BL1514B-345.

The flash shoe is significantly smaller than the standard, and you need to acquire a dedicated flash.

It's possible to record videos in AVI format at 320 x 240 pixels.

While the shape is strongly inspired by the Leica M3, these names are not found on the packaging or the camera.

Interesting links or bibliography :

Sur mes-appareils-photos.fr, suggested by Eric Carlhan

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