Another day, another batch of Spy Film For Minox goes out into the world.  This here is film bound for Germany.  A pretty significant portion of all the film for Minox cameras sold in Europe originates right here in our shop.  It really is a matter of great satisfaction to us that we are able to keep these marvelous cameras loaded with film and making photos.⁠

The Minox B is a compact camera but there is so much more to it than that.  This is a camera that easily champions its competition in the niche world of sub-miniature film cameras.⁠

⁠The Minox B is entirely mechanical, meaning that it has no reliance on batteries or circuit boards. Think of it as built more like an old watch, relying on very tiny, perfectly-placed springs, gears, and screws.  The Minox B also has a built-in selenium cell meter for convenience.⁠

⁠There are many reasons to love the Minox.  Even if the tactile experience of using it doesn't impress you, you can certainly admire its fascinating history in the world of espionage.  It even has a few appearances in the James Bond films. ⁠

⁠We love these cameras so much that when Minox discontinued the film, we got their blessing to package our own.  We are the official worldwide producer of fresh Spy Film for Minox cameras and we have been at it for nearly a decade, currently offering 8 different emulsions!⁠

⁠These cameras are pocketable, reliable, repairable, and so darn good looking.  The Minox is a true companion.  What more could you ask for in a camera?⁠

dm/sd

Is it possible to tell you too many times how much we, at Blue Moon Camera, love these Minox cameras? ⠀ ⠀

We don't think so.

za/sd

Dearly beloved lab manager, David Paulin, went on his first ever European vacation in the summer of 2017.  He spent time in Italy, France, and Spain and had an incredible trip.   He sent us this image of his Minox B from Otsuni, a town in the heel of the boot of Italy known for its whitewashed, old town.  He went traveling with three main cameras: this Minox B, a borrowed Fuji TX-2 and a Stereo Realist.  This array of cameras made us laugh because, earlier that summer, the bossman went on vacation to France, taking along a Minox B and the same Fuji TX-2.  We were such jet setters in 2017.  Perhaps there is something to the idea that if you put photographers together, in close confines for long enough, they begin to sync their photographic habits with one another.

Anyway, we'll note that David opted to courier service a batch of film back to the states ahead of him, rather than carry it on his person.  The film arrived safe and sound.

za/sd

The greatest camera since the invention of sliced bread? ⠀ ⠀

Perhaps, perhaps not. Then again, when you see lunch being made and a tower of sliced bread is involved and the photographer in you thinks, "What that tower of bread needs is a camera on top" there are only so many cameras that will deftly perch atop such a pillar of carbs.⠀ ⠀

You must also remember that while we work long and hard at our jobs here at Blue Moon Camera, we also have fun. That fun is often expressed in silly little moments like this.⠀ ⠀

But really, the Minox B (our favorite) and its brethren are remarkable cameras, both in design and function. Once you get to know this camera, it is hard not to fall in love with it, sliced bread or not.⠀ ⠀ 

za/js

We often say that the best film camera to travel with is the Minox.  David, our lab manager, practiced what he preaches by taking this sleek, little camera across the world with him on a trip to Italy.

We find ourselves emotionally invested in a lot of the cameras that pass through the shop.  Don't ask us what our favorite camera is, we absolutely cannot give you an honestly accurate or consistent answer.  We love our Hasselblad 500Cs, Nikon FEs, Olympus XAs, Zero Image pinholes, Rollei TLRs, Pentax 67s, and so on and so forth...⁣⠀ ⁣⠀

That being said, if we were going to pin our hearts to one camera, if we were forced to.  If we had to pick just one camera for which we are most emotionally invested... we might have to say the Minox.  Further, if we had to choose a specific Minox, it would be the B... or maybe the III.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀

We are tied to these Minox cameras, in part, because of how amazing a camera they are: so elegant and svelte, reliable and rugged.  These cameras produce incredible image quality.  We are also tied to these cameras because of the work we have put in to keep them a viable creative tool for photographers.  Minox stopped making the film for these cameras years ago and, rather than sit around wringing our hands and lamenting its loss (we did that for a short while but it wasn't really our style), we set about to produce film for these cameras.  We got the blessing from Minox, as well as some technical help, and we have been keeping these cameras loaded and being productive since 2015 with our Spy Film. #SpyFilmMinox⁣⠀ ⁣⠀

We are proud of this. We are not just a camera store, we want to be a champion for analog photography. We are not just trying to sell film and cameras, we are trying to facilitate and motivate and inspire film photographers, regardless of who or where they are.  Meanwhile, all you Minox users out there... Keep doing what you are doing. It makes us so happy to see these cameras still in action.

za/sd

One of our customers sent us an order for Minox reprints in this wicked cool, vintage Minox envelop!

Big guy, little camera.

You know what they say, opposites attract. 

za/sd

There are few cameras out there better suited for the international man (or woman) of mystery. Need Russian documents copied from the desk of an ambassador? Need to smuggle a camera into an important diplomatic function? Want on-the-sly portraits of that revolutionary leader? The Minox is the spy camera of your wildest dreams. It is also just a great carry-around camera for more mundane everyday life. Oh, and let's remind you that we are now selling, developing, printing and scanning film for these cameras. So if you manage to catch one of them (good luck, they are sneaky) let us know. This photo will self-destruct in 10 seconds.

za/js

...At this point, our Spy Film for Minox cameras isn't exactly a state secret. 

That doesn't mean we can't have fun with a bit of styling.

za/sd

Cameras within cameras, visions within scenes, photos within photos...

B.⠀ ⠀
B is for button.⠀
B is for Blue Moon Camera.⠀
B is for Minox B.⠀ ⠀
B.

za/js

Staff member David Paulin, who manages and oversees all of our Spy Film production, carries his own Minox B with him everywhere... he even uses it, now and again.  He made this self portrait with a cooperative koi fish during the early testing of our Spy Films.

za/sd