Minolta Miniflex

The Minolta Miniflex (ミノルタ・ミニフレックス) is a 4×4 TLR made in 1959 by Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō, predecessor of Minolta. It appeared two years after the Rolleiflex Baby Grey, during the short revival of 127 film for the square format superslides. The same year Olympus announced the Eye Flex, that never reached the production stage.

Description

The Minolta Miniflex has the classical TLR shape. The front standard moves back and forth for focusing. There is a big focusing wheel on the photographer's left, containing a film reminder, and an additional plate with depth-of-field indications.

The film is advanced by a crank on the opposite side, at the bottom, engraved with an arrow and the word WIND to indicate the turning direction. The film advance is semi-automatic, and there is a round exposure counter window on the advance side. Another control is visible next to the advance knob, shaped as a large screw head, perhaps used to start the exposure counter.

There is a red window on the right of the back, used to set the position of the first exposure, and protected by a large rotating disc marked CHIYODA KOGAKU OSAKA JAPAN. The back is locked by a key at the bottom.

The viewing hood is three-fold and has a red M logo at the front. It contains a square magnifying lens but no sportsfinder. The nameplate is made of translucid plastic, with the name minolta miniflex written in gold letters in the typical 1960s Minolta font. There are strap lugs on both sides of the body. There are two accessory shoes, one on each side. The right-hand shoe has an indentation at the bottom, and is used to attach an accessory sportsfinder (see below).

The shutter release is at the bottom of the front standard, and protrudes towards the right. The shutter is an Optiper Citizen MVL (B, 1–500). It is cocked by a small lever on the side, above the release button. The self-timer lever is on the same side and is painted green. There is an M/X selector and a PC synch socket on the opposite side. The shutter name is inscribed between the two lenses: OPTIPER on one side and CITIZEN MVL on the other. There is a Light-Value scale under the taking lens, controlled by a lever at the bottom. The speed scale is on one side of the shutter and the aperture scale on the other; they are interlocked and move together for a given Light-Value setting.

The finish is two-tone blue: medium blue hammertone paint for the body shell, back and moving front standard, and light blue lacquer for the viewing hood and the casing surrounding the lenses. The sides and the back have a matching blue-gray leatherette covering.

The taking lens is a Minolta Rokkor 60mm f/3.5, and the viewing lens is a View Rokkor 60mm f/2.8. Both have a bayonet filter attachment and a seven-digit serial number, in the 110xxxx range on all the cameras observed so far.

Commercial life

The Miniflex was probably sold for a short time, because today it is quite rare. The common belief is that the production did not exceed 5000.

Bibliography

• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 1653.
• Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4. Pp.39–40 and 100–1.
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.98.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.681.
• Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp.50–1.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 2196.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Minolta Camera: nigan-refu kamera" (Minolta Camera: 二眼レフカメラ, Minolta TLR cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.25–30.
• Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.20.

Links

In English:

• Miniflex at Pacific Rim Camera
• 127 film Minolta cameras and Minolta TLR cameras at the Manual Minolta website
• Miniflex, lot no.693 of auction no.8 (27 November 2005) by Westlicht Photographica Auction (this particular example has no accessory shoe on the photographer's left, for some reason)
• Sales by LP Foto:
  • Miniflex, lot no.701 of auction no.17 (7 December 2002)
  • Miniflex, lot no.74 of auction no.26 (22 April 2007)

In Japanese:

• Miniflex at Aya's website
• Pages at Asacame:
  • Miniflex in the A-Z 127 film cameras
  • Miniflex, Walz Automat 44 and Primo Jr
  • Japanese 4×4 TLRs, including the Miniflex
• List of 4×4cm TLRs at the 44 Club