Minox Digital

Several years ago Minox announced that they were working on a Minox 8x11 style digital, I think they may be still working on it.

Watch out Chadt They announced that two new 8x11 camera will soon come to market one use 8x11 film, the other a digital.

However I think the new Chadt camera has a fixed focus lens, much like Minox M3 and Rolleiflex minidigi. I am waiting for a small digital with FOCUSING LENS.

The M3 has zones, like the DD1A and Aiptek Mini 1.3Megapixel. They are not 4Mp. For that Minox have the DD200 and the lastest slim credit card camera the DC6011 (87 x 54 x 18 mm) and DC5011.

I do not expect Minox will ever produce a digital the size of an LX with focusing lens. Sony got very close to the idea in a prototype and a Sony memory stick would fit into the form factor of a DLX being 20mm wide. However it is only Minox owners who think a digital the size of an LX would sell. Consumers are looking for large screens and recording video as well as 8Mp still. Personally I would like a x20 zoom lens with colour display in the viewfinder, memory stick and battery. It would be a tube 25mm diameter and under 100mm long. Give it bluetooth for immediate transfer to a storage device and you don't need hugh batteries either.

The current Minox LX lens could not be used in an autofocus system and that would be required along with zoom (x3 at least). The development cost would be very high and with technology advancing so quickly the production could be devalued before it was ready to sell.

Pencams (like the Aiptek range) have not advanced for several years. The credit card cameras have and now include the Minolta X1 with 8Mp and no view finder and the Canon Ixus 750 with a limited view finder and large display.

Gerald