Subminiature photography

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Tessina twin lens reflex subminature camera

Edixa 16MB black color Edixa 16mmm camera

Minox BL

Minox TLX

Subminiature photography is the practice of using unusually small cameras with unusually small film formats to make photographs. The exact boundary between cameras and formats that are "subminiature" and those that are merely "small" is the subject of debate among enthusiasts. The term "miniature" was originally used to describe the 35mm format, so cameras that used a format smaller than 35mm were referred to as "subminiature". The smallest of the small are often referred to as "ultra-miniature". In the interest of specificity, cameras that produce an image on the film smaller than the standard 135 format (24x36mm) are usually included in the genre, but some do not consider half-frame 135 (18x24mm) cameras "subminiature," while others still do not include the 110 cartridge format (12x17mm).

There are thousands of cameras that qualify as subminiature cameras and are too many to list here, but Minox, Tessina, Rollei, Yashica, Mamiya, and Minolta are the best known. All made small, precision cameras and a few are still in production today. Getting film and processing for smaller cameras is a challenge. While a few are still available, most require cutting your own film, and home-processing as they are no longer supported.

The best known subminiature formats are -- in increasing size -- Minox (8x11mm), Kodak disc (8x11mm), 16mm:Minolta (10x14mm,12x16mm), Rollei16, Edixa 16(12x17mm),110 format (12x17mm), Tessina (14x21mm) and half-frame (18x24). While many subminiature cameras were inexpensive and poorly manufactured, thus giving the format a bad name, but the Minox, Tessina and Edixa 16 were quality cameras capable of producing good results. Because of their small size and light weight, subminiature cameras can be readily carried in a pocket or purse and be available at all times.

First making an appearance in the 1800's, a subminiature camera craze developed soon after WWII when many consumer markets required small, inexpensive cameras. Kodak's introduction of the 110 camera in the 1970's and the Kodak disc camera in the 1980's brought the submininature camera to the forefront of the photographic market, but the many, cheap, and poorly made cameras that soon appeared drove Kodak out of the market and gave subminiature cameras a bad name. Still, there are many subminiature cameras that are very competent.

The various formats of subminiature cameras have come and gone over the years. Several factors have played a part in this. For example, newer submini formats have replaced other, older submini formats. In addition, many larger-formatted cameras, especially 35mm, become smaller in size and weight -- partly due to the impact of submini cameras -- and were able to replace some submini formats. For example, the full-frame 35mm cameras, such as the Minox 35 series and Olympus XA, were able to be made as small as the earlier half-frame submini cameras, such as the Olympus Pen. Still, some submini formats survive in the marketplace, such as the Minox and 110 formats. Most other subminis cameras are still completely usable -- especially if the photographer has access to a darkroom.

Subminiature photography Technique

Focusing of subminiature camera

Macro photography with subminature camera

Telephoto technique with subminature camera

Microscope photography with submiature camera

Development of subminature film

• Nikor or Jobo 16mm development reel
• Nikor or Joobo 9.2mm development reel
• Minox daylight development tank

Enlargement of subminature negative

• 12x17mm, 14x21mm and 8x11mm negative carrier
• Minox enlarger with 15mm Micro-Minox enlarging lens

External links

• [www.subclub.org]

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