Film cameras
MINOX LX User manual
User manual for MINOX LX. 40 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
40 pagesEnglish3.2 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Minox
- Model / document
- MINOX LX
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 40
- File size
- 3.2 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 3 · Read text
Inevitablyyou willfind some technicalterms in
this booklet.So beforeyou start readingthe
Manual,fold out this and the last page. Then
you can see at a glancewhich particulardial,
window or other part of the Minox LX the text
refers to.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 3Page 5 · Read text
Contents
Minox LX operation
Loadinothefilm .20
The battery 2 Unloading 22
Insertingthe battery 2 Flashshots 23
Batterytest 3 Automaticf lashexoosure 23
Openingthe camera 4 The Minox FL 4 with flashcubes- 23
Thethree"eyes" 5 Automaticrangeswith flashcubes_ 24
Holdingit steady 6 Electronicflash- 24
Takingthe picture 7 The ever-readycase 26
The push-pullrapidwind 8 Careof MinoxLX 27
Settingthefilmspeed o
Automaticdaylightexposure 1 0 Minox accessories
Longtimesignal 1 1 Minox8x11mmfilms 28
Overexposuresignal,ND filter 1 2 Flashunit and flashaccessories_ 28
Manualexposuresettings- 1 3 Tripodshots 29Focusinganddepthoffield- 14 Binocularshors 30 t
Close-upswiththe measuringchain: 15 Documentcopying 30
No aperturesettings- 16 Projection 32
The ultravioletfilter 1 6 Homedarkroom 32
The bright-framef inder 1 7
The exposurecounter 1 8 Technicaldata
www.orphancameras.com rView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
Congratulations!
Yournew MinoxLX is the latesttoo modelof the famous While you can operatethe Minox LX controlswithouta
8 x 11 mm Minox ultraminiaturecamera range. film, it does need a batteryto powerthe electronicshut-
You don't need to know much Minoxtechniqueto make ter and automaticexposurecontrol.That's why we start
good pictures. In each section the most important with insertingthe battery on the next page.
pointsare summed up in bold type. For more details
read also the paragraphsbelow them.
The Minox LX works even withouta film - so you can
familiariseyourselfwith-MinoxLX operationbeforeyou So now read on and get acquaintedwith Minox LX pho-
start shooting. tography.Have fun with your Minox LX!
www.orphancameras.comView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
The battery
The Minox LX only functions with a correct battery
(Varta 7150, Ucar EPX 27 or Mallory PX 2n in the
battery compartment (check correct polarity). Don't
use spent or old batteries.
www.orphancameras.com Inserting the battery
Pull the camerafully open, depress the snap lock in
the base and pull open the sliding cover. The bat-
tery compartment is now accessible from the ca-
mera top.
Firmly rub both battery contacts clean against
some rough fabric (e.9. your coat sleeve).
Raise the black battery compartment tongue. Insert
the battery the correct way round (note polarity
marks on tongue and battery) so as to permit easy
removal by pulling the tongue.
A clickon pressingthe releasedoesnof signifycorrect
shutteroperation.Use the batterytest to check correct
batteryfunctionand correctinseftion.
lf a batteryappearsto failtoosoon,try removingit,firmly
rubbingdown its contactsand re-inseftingit.
www.orphancameras.com 2View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
Battery test You can check the battery with the camera closed or open, but not released. Push the check switch, next to the shutter speed dial, fully towards the camerafront and hold for ab- out one second: The green signal must light up. lf the greensignallightsup at firstbut fadesor goesout withina second,the batteryis nearly exhausted'Re- Battery test. The signal lights up green.place as soon as possible. lf the green signal does not light,the battery is fully spentor too old (removeimmediatelyfrom the camera), or was insertedthe wrong way round. Check the batteryevery time you load a film or when you haven'tused the camerafor a week or more. But don't check the batterytoo often or for too long - that also exhaustsit. The batterytest does not indicatehow long it will still last. Preferablyfit a fresh batteryat least once ayear, even if the batterytest still shows sufficientpower. Removeeven a good batteryf rom the cameraif you are likelyto store the latterunusedfor long periods. 3 www.orphancameras.comView original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
Opening the camera To shoot - or to view the subiect - pull the Minox LX fully open. The Minox LX can shoot only when open. When you closethe camera,the lens windowand viewfinderare protectedinside the body and the shutter release is locked.You can open the MinoxLX and view through the findereven if you are not yetsurewhetheryou want to expose. Closing the camera without releasing it wastes no pictures. www.orphancameras.comView original page 9
Page 10 · Read text
The three "eyes" The front of the Minox LX shows - from top to bot- tom in the illustration- the silicon blue cell window (the metering cell of the automatic exposure con- trol),the finder window and the lens window. Take care not to obstruct these three windows with your fingers while shooting. Keepthe lenswindow absolutelyclean- that is vital for sharp and brilliant pictures. lf you cover the meter window as you shoot, you get wrongexposures. To checkwhetherthe lenswindowis clean,slidein the neutraldensityfilter(page 12); any dirt or fingerprints willimmediatelyshowup againstthe darkfilter.Prefer- ably clean the lens window with a clean rag wound rounda matchstick.Chemists'cotton-tippedswabsare also useful (see page 27). 5 www.orphancameras.comView original page 10
Page 11 · Read text
Holding it steady
Hold the Minox at eye level firmly, but relaxed,with
both hands. Keep the thumbs against the camera
base, the other fingers on top. Keep the fingers
away from the front to avoid obstructing any of the
windows.
The picturesshow suitablecameraholdsfor horizontal
and uprightshots.
lf you coverthe lenswindowwhileshooting,you will get
a shapelessshadowcoveringmostor all of the picture.
lf you obstructthe small meter window the exposure
becomestoo long.
For the steadiest hold, press both hands against
your head and press the camera ends againstyour
thumbs- as if you were tryingto bend the Minox.
The MinoxLX remainsin its ever-readycasefor shoot-
ing.Foldoverthe hingedsectionof the caseflat against
the fixed section.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
Taking the picture Once you have framed the view as you want it within the brightline finder frame, gently press the release key - without moving the camera. Gentlepressureon the releasekey is enoughto trigger the shutter. Duringreleasingholdyour breathand take the camera from your eye only after you have heard the shutter close. (There are two soft clicks- with short exposure timesthey sound like a singleclick.) 7 www.orphancameras.comView original page 12
Page 13 · Read text
The push-pull rapid wind
To get your Minox LX ready for the next shot push
the camera closed and pull it open again. This ad-
vances the film and tensions the shutter. The film is
however only advanced if you have released the
shutter before closing the camera.
The circle in the lens window means your Minox is
ready to shoot.
Always push and pull the camera movementall the
way.
A small circle in the lens window indicatesthat the
MinoxLX is tensionedand readyfor shooting.Afterthe
exposurethe circle disappears;so push the camera
closedand pull it open again for the next shot.
When you havefinishedshooting,closethe Minoxand
put it in your pocket.
For quickshootingsequencespush and pullthe Minox
as fast as you like - it can stand it.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
Setting the film speed
Set the speed of the film you are using on the film
speed scale in the camera base. Depress the milled
button and turn it to bring the ASA or DIN speed ra-
ting of the film opposite the arrow index on the win-
dow rims. (Every Minox film packing carries both
ASA and DIN values.)
To save space the scale carries figures for every
third step only; intermediate steps are marked by
dots (e.g. 64 and 80 ASA between 50 and 100 ASA).
Film speed scale, set here for 80 ASA or 20 DlN.
Too high an ASA or DIN speed settingyieldsunderex-
posed shots, too low a setting overexposedpictures.
You can also exposedeliberatelyfor longeror shorter
than indicatedby the meter. For double the exposure
time set the film speed dial to half the ASA value or 3
DIN lower.To halvethe time,set the film speedto dou-
ble the ASA valueor to 3 stepshigheron the DINscale.
See page 28 for a list of Minox28 x 11 mm films.
I www.orphancameras.comView original page 14Page 15 · Read text
Automatic daylight exposure
For daylight shots (or artificial light other than
flash, see page 23) set the shutter speed dial to A
(automatic).This controls the exposure automatic-
ally between 1 I2OOOsecond and about 15 seconds.
The up-to-date automatic exposure control of the
Minox LX uses a siliconblue cell (SBC) and an elec-
tronic shutter.This providesa long steplesscontrolCamera sef fo automatic daylight exposure control rangewith rapid and reliableresponseeven to abrupt
lightinglevelchanges.
The automatic system controls the correct exposure
duringthe actualshot. For deliberatelongeror shorter
exposuresadjustthe film speedsettingbeforeyou take
the picture(page 9).
The automaticsystem on the Minox LX controlsthe
exposuretime. As with all Minoxultraminiaturecame-
ras,the lens apertureof the LX remainsconstant(see
page 16).
The Minox LX readingis centre-weighted:it depends
much more on the brightnessin the centreof the view
than in the corners.
www.orphancameras.com 1 0View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
Long time signal
In poor light you can check before you shoot
whether the exposure time is likely to be longer
than about 1l3O second:
Set the shutter speed dial to A (automatic). Point
the camera at the subiect at waist level. Push the
check switch next to the speed dial fully towards
the rear of the camera.
lf the yellow slow speed signal lights up with the
key fully pushed back, the exposure time is longer
than about 1l3Osecond. That means greater risk of
camera shake.
Slow speed check. The signal lights up yellow.
With times shorterthan 1/30 second,the slow speed
signalstillblinksbeforethe key reachesits end position
- the "blink"ist aboutthe lengthof the automaticallyset
time.
You can operatea slowspeedcheckwith the MinoxLX
closed,opened or tensioned.lf you have alreadyre-
leased(no circlein the lens window)just push the ca-
mera closed beforeoperatingthe slow speed check.
You can still take picturesin poor light:either use the
Minoxpockettripod(page29) or shootwith flash(page
23).
To avoid excessive battery drain, operate the slow
speed check only briefly.
1 1 www.orphancameras.comView original page 16Page 17 · Read text
Overexposuresignal, ND filter
Very bright scenes (beach or high mountain sub-
jects with brilliant sun) can on a fast film lead to
overexposure even with 1l2OO0second.
To check, point the cameraat the subject, and push
the check switch next to the shutter speed dial fully
towards the camera back (as for the slow speed
check, page 11).lf the red signal lights up, you risk
overexposure.
To avoid that, slide the neutral density (ND) filter in
front of the lens by the filter slide above the finde.r
window. Push this fully towards the lens window.
A red mark in the top right finder image corner is a
Overexposure signal lf it lights up red, slide in the neu' reminder that the ND filter is in position.
tral density filter.
The overexposuresignal again operateswith the ca-
meraclosedor with the cameraopen,but not released.
Operateit only brieflyto save batterycurrent.
The neutraldensityfilterincreasesthe exposureabout
4 times.The exposurecontrolautomaticallyallowsfor
Sliding the ND filter into position. this when the ND filteris in position.
www.orphancameras.com 1 2View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
Manual exposure settings
You can set exposure times from 1|2OOOto 1/30
second manually without using the automatic ex-
posure control. ln this case turn the shutter speed
dial away f rom "A" to the required time. The figures
indicate fractions of a second (e.9. 30 : 1/30 sec-
ond).
Shutterspeed set manually to 1/2000 second.
4 Automaticcontrolsets a continuoustime range.With
manualcontrolyoucanset onlythevalueson the dial.lf
you happento set the dial betweentwo markedtimes,
the shutteroperatesat the nearestadjacentspeed.
The Minox LX, unlikethe previousMinoxC, needsno
manualexposuresettingsfor flash shots as the LX pro-
' vides automaticflash exposurecontrol(set the dial to
the flash gymbol,see page 23).
1 3 / www.orphancameras.com /View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
Focusing and depth of field
The distance scale is calibrated in feet and inches
(e.g. 1'6" : 1 foot 6 inches) or in metres. For spe-
cific distances set the distance scale to the large
black dot.
The two smaller dots indicate the extent of the
depth of field on the distance scale. For instance
with the snapshot setting to the red dot (approx. 12
feet or 4 metres) the depth of field extends from 6
feet (2 metres) to infinity (*).
For views with no significant item nearer than 12
feet or 4 metres from the camera, shoot at the infi-
nity (*) setting. The sharp zone then extendsSnapshot setting: depth of field from 6 feet to infinity backwards from 12 feet or 4 metres (the red dot(above) resp. from 2 metres to infinity (below). mark).
For mediumdistancesyou can use not only the snap-
shot setting(6 feet or 2 metresto infinity)but also other
settingsof extendeddepth of field.Thus at 6 feet or 2
metresthe depth extendsfrom about 4to12feetor 1.3
to 4 metres(usefulfor flashshots).Halfwaybetween3
and 6 feet (1 and2 metres)you get a sharp zonefrom3
to 6 feet (1 to 2 metres).For close-upsbetween8 and
24inches(20 and 60 cm) usethe measuringchain(see
next page).
www.orphancameras.com 1 4View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
Close-ups with the measuring chain At close range between I inches and2 feet (20 to 60 cm) you have very little depth of field. So use the measuring chain on the ever-ready case to estab- lish the exact distance. Wth the chain held taut, each bead matches an engraved distance setting on the scale:first bead forS inches, second bead 10 inches, third bead 1 foot, fourth bead 11/zfeet, full chain length 2 leet (on metrically scaled cameras 20,24,30, 40 and 60 cm resPectivelY). Measurethe distancewith the chain and set the di- stance scale, then hold the appropriatechain bead once more againstthe subjectto be sure of the correct distance.As you then removeyour handwith the chain, shootwithoutchangingthe distance. lf you use a ruleror tape measureinsteadof the chain, measurethe distancefrom the front of the camera' To mountthe measuringchaindirectlyon the MinoxLX without the camera case you need the tripod bush adapterfor the LX measuringchain(OrderNo. 18160) 1 5 www.orphancameras.comView original page 20
Page 21 · Read text
No aperture settings The aperture of the 15 mm Minox t13.5lens is fixed at its full opening. So the camera has no aperture scale. The exposureis controlledonly by the shutterspeed. In view of the full aperture this is always comparatively fast. Yet you have plentyof depth of field- for instance from about 6 feet or 2 metresto infinityat the snapshot 'setting. The ultraviolet filter The glasswindowin frontof the lensis an ultravioletab- sorbingfilterto preventloss of definitionin colourand black-and-whiteshots - also colour casts in colour transparencies- when the prevailingdaylightcontains a lot of UV radiation. The UV filter does not increasethe exposuretime. www.orphancameras.com 1 6View original page 21
Page 23 · Read text
The exposure counter The exposure counter or frame counter indicates the number of exposures you have left on the film. When you load the film set the counterto the appro- priatestartposition.Thereare Minoxfilmsfor 36 expo- sures and for 15 exposures.The counterscale for the short 1S-exposurefilm is markedin white on black. www.orphancameras.com 1 8View original page 23
Page 25 · Read text
Loading the film Always load (and unload) the film in subdued light- the shade of your body if necessary- and never in sunlight. Keep opening, releasing and closing the camera until the exposure counter arrives at the load set- ting. The load setting for 1S-exposurefilms is the red mark at No. 17 (illustration far left). The load setting for 36-exposuref ilms is the red dot between 0 and 36 (left). Depress the back cover snap lock in the camera base and fully pull out the sliding cover (bottom left). The film compartments are now accessible. Drop the Minox cartridge into the camera, push down and slide the cover over it, then close the co- ver to engage. Open the camera, release and close the camera twice in succession. This moves the exposure counter to its start posi- tion: No. 36 for 36-exposurefilms and No. 15 (at the beginning of the black-and-whitescale) for 1S-ex- posure films. Rememberalso to set the ASA speed of your film on the film speed dial (page 9). www.orphancameras.comView original page 25
Related documents and language editions
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.