Minolta Miniflex
The Minolta Miniflex (ミノルタ・ミニフレックス) is a 4×4 TLR made by Minolta in 1959. 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.
The Miniflex has an advance knob at the left and a big focusing wheel at the right. There are two accessory shoes, one on each side. The finish is blueish grey in two tones, with matching leather covering.
The Miniflex is equipped with a Rokkor 60/3.5 taking lens, a Rokkor 60/2.8 viewing lens and a shutter to 1/500.
It 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Links
In English:
- Miniflex at Pacific Rim photographica pages
- Pages of the Manual Minolta website: 127 film Minolta cameras and Minolta TLR cameras
- Miniflex in the highlights of the April 2001 auction by Auction Team Köln
- Miniflex, lot 701 of Auction 17 (7 December 2002) by LP Foto
In Japanese:
- Miniflex at Aya's website
- Pages at Asacame:
