Igors Gortinskis. Mazākā precizijas fotokamera pasaulē — VEF Minox. Atpūta. 1939, No. 772.
During its hundred-year existence, the photo camera has experienced great changes. The old, good tripod camera has long been forgotten, as photo amateurs and reporters use miniature cameras suited to the spirit of the times. But now, in the jubilee year of photography, as the highest achievement in this development, VEF presents a new type of camera — the VEF Minox, which is so small and convenient that it can always be carried with you, just as we do with a pocket watch or a knife. The external design of the Minox camera alone shows that it is constructed independently of all camera forms seen until now, but is fully adapted to the conditions of use and is created, in the full sense of the word, to fit a pocket, without sharp edges or parts protruding outwards.
By simply pulling open the stainless steel shell, the fully enclosed camera is readied for shooting, while this motion simultaneously cocks the shutter and transports the film. Therefore, the Minox camera has no winding knob.
The lens shutter can be set for moments from 1/2 to 1/1000 sec. and also for time exposures. The shutter setting knob is the only one that usually needs to be set accordingly before shooting. The distance scale needs to be adjusted only when the objects being photographed are located very close, because the depth of field for the Minox camera extends from 2 meters to infinity. Thus, practically 90 percent of shots can be taken without adjusting the focus.
With the VEF Minox photo camera, it is possible to photograph even at a distance of 20 cm without any supplementary lenses. If an object taken from this distance were enlarged to postcard format, one would obtain an image in natural size.
The camera’s small dimensions offer yet another important advantage: diaphragm adjustment is completely eliminated because the lens, despite its great light speed of 1:3.5, possesses great depth of field.
The lens is especially well protected against mechanical damage, as it is built behind a protective glass inside the apparatus. This design also possesses the good quality that no sun hood (lens hood) is needed for backlit shots.
The viewfinder of the Minox camera also features new advantages. The image is visible within a sharp light frame. The position and size of the image do not depend on the position of the eye. Since the viewfinder is also designed with automatic parallel axis alignment [parallax compensation], the image framing is always correct.
With the ribbed slider located above the viewfinder, a yellow filter can be placed in front of the lens; this automatically returns to its previous starting position when the camera is slid shut.
A film for 50 exposures can be inserted into the camera.
Changing film is especially simple. Due to the small dimensions of the light-safe film packaging, the packaging is designed as a double cassette. In this way, the unpleasant threading of film into a second, empty film spool is eliminated. It is sufficient to insert the entire package into the apparatus and, after exposure, take it out again.
As can be seen, the Minox is a completely new type of camera which, with its external simplicity and ease of use, encourages amateur photography, but also grants completely new paths and possibilities.
The Minox photos printed in this issue testify to the working capabilities of the Minox camera.
THE SMALLEST AND MOST CONVENIENT PHOTO CAMERA IN THE WORLD
VEF MINOX
Valsts electrotechnniskā fabrika
90% of shots without focus adjustment
