Difference between revisions of "Minimax Pocket 110 EE"

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(lots of information from japanese blog; amount manufactured, lens elements, battery. cited submin for asa dial controlling aperture.)
 
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The '''Minimax Pocket 110 EE''' was a high-quality 110 camera. It was produced in 1978 by Sugaya Optical Company. Unlike the [[Pentax_Auto_110|'''Pentax Auto 110''']] or the [[Minolta_110_Zoom_SLR|'''Minolta 110 Zoom''']] this little camera was not an SLR. One focused using the Foot and Meter markings on the lens. The lens was a highly regarded 32mm f2.0. The shutter speeds ranged from 1/500th to 1 second, and film speed ranged from 64 to 400ISO.
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The '''Minimax Pocket 110 EE''' was a high-quality 110 camera. It was produced in 1978 by [[Sugaya#Sugaya_Optical.2C_late_1970s|Sugaya Optical Company]]. Unlike the [[Pentax_Auto_110|'''Pentax Auto 110''']] or the [[Minolta_110_Zoom_SLR|'''Minolta 110 Zoom''']] this little camera was not an SLR. One focused using the Foot and Meter markings on the lens. The lens was a highly regarded 32mm f2.0, with 6 elements in 5 groups<ref name="foto-pooh-supp">[https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/entry-11449009093.html MINIMAX ミニマックス 補足、訂正 (MINIMAX Supplement, Correction)] at [https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/ foto-pooh's blog]</ref>. The shutter speeds ranged from 1/500th to 1 second and is controlled by the electronic exposure, and film speed ranged from 64 to 400ISO. The ASA dial controls the aperture<ref name="submin">[http://www.submin.com/110/collection/minimax110/index.htm Sugaya Optical Company Minimax 110EE Variations] at [http://www.submin.com/  submin.com]</ref>. It uses two 1.35V mercury batteries<ref name="foto-pooh-battery>[https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/entry-12676833271.html MINIMAX用電池アダプター (Battery adapter for MINIMAX)] at [https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/ foto-pooh's blog]</ref>.
  
Very few of the Minimax were made (and estimated 200) and the high initial price was likely part of the issue.
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An estimated 4000 to at most 5000 units were manufactured<ref name="foto-pooh-camera">[https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/entry-11442411783.html MINIMAXミニマックス 110EE (MINIMAX 110EE)] at [https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/ foto-pooh's blog]</ref>.
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The frequently quoted number of 200 manufactured was likely the amount distributed by the company that purchased Sugaya Optical Co., with many units distributed through magazines, with some ending up unsold in warehouses<ref name="foto-pooh-lens">[https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/entry-12506211438.html MINIMAX 32/2 lensについて (About MINIMAX 32/2 lens)] at [https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/ foto-pooh's blog]</ref><ref name="foto-pooh-mini">[https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/entry-12661808145.html MINIが好き (i like mini)] at [https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/ foto-pooh's blog]</ref>.
  
 
This forgotten camera has an important role in the history of 110. It seems to have served as a basis for the Pentax Auto 110! According to correspondence with the designer of the Minimax Pocket 110 EE <ref>[http://www.vintagephoto.tv/minimax110.shtml Minimax Pocket 110 EE] at [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/index.shtml Scott's Photographica Collection],</ref>, Sugaya Optical developed a more advanced SLR prototype of this camera, but interest at Sugaya waned and the prototype and the blueprints were sold to Pentax.
 
This forgotten camera has an important role in the history of 110. It seems to have served as a basis for the Pentax Auto 110! According to correspondence with the designer of the Minimax Pocket 110 EE <ref>[http://www.vintagephoto.tv/minimax110.shtml Minimax Pocket 110 EE] at [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/index.shtml Scott's Photographica Collection],</ref>, Sugaya Optical developed a more advanced SLR prototype of this camera, but interest at Sugaya waned and the prototype and the blueprints were sold to Pentax.
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* [http://www.submin.com/110/collection/minimax110/index.htm Minimax Pocket 110 EE] at [http://www.submin.com/  submin.com]  
 
* [http://www.submin.com/110/collection/minimax110/index.htm Minimax Pocket 110 EE] at [http://www.submin.com/  submin.com]  
 
* [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/minimax110.shtml Minimax Pocket 110 EE] at [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/index.shtml Scott's Photographica Collection]
 
* [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/minimax110.shtml Minimax Pocket 110 EE] at [http://www.vintagephoto.tv/index.shtml Scott's Photographica Collection]
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In Japanese:
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* [https://search.ameba.jp/search/entry/minimax.html?aid=foto-pooh 【minimax】のブログ記事検索結果|Ameba検索 (Blog search for Minimax 110)] from [https://ameblo.jp/foto-pooh/ foto-pooh's blog]
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[[Category: Japanese 110 film]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 110 film]]
 
[[Category: M]]
 
[[Category: M]]

Latest revision as of 07:26, 26 August 2022

The Minimax Pocket 110 EE was a high-quality 110 camera. It was produced in 1978 by Sugaya Optical Company. Unlike the Pentax Auto 110 or the Minolta 110 Zoom this little camera was not an SLR. One focused using the Foot and Meter markings on the lens. The lens was a highly regarded 32mm f2.0, with 6 elements in 5 groups[1]. The shutter speeds ranged from 1/500th to 1 second and is controlled by the electronic exposure, and film speed ranged from 64 to 400ISO. The ASA dial controls the aperture[2]. It uses two 1.35V mercury batteries[3].

An estimated 4000 to at most 5000 units were manufactured[4]. The frequently quoted number of 200 manufactured was likely the amount distributed by the company that purchased Sugaya Optical Co., with many units distributed through magazines, with some ending up unsold in warehouses[5][6].

This forgotten camera has an important role in the history of 110. It seems to have served as a basis for the Pentax Auto 110! According to correspondence with the designer of the Minimax Pocket 110 EE [7], Sugaya Optical developed a more advanced SLR prototype of this camera, but interest at Sugaya waned and the prototype and the blueprints were sold to Pentax.

Links

In English:

In Japanese:

Notes