Tiane Doan na Champassak , Feb 06, 2008; 05:02 a.m.
am currently in India and my Minox B camera is giving up on me. I doubt I can
fix this shutter related problem but in case there was a minox tech genius
that could save my trip...
when I "arm" the camera to take a photo the silver shutter is already partly
openned which means the film will be exposed. a small part of it can be seen
in the viewfinder. it seems the blades have become loose. anyone know if there
is a way to look inside? I really doubt it but must use this camera this month
so am still hoping....
thanks
Tiane
Jeff Polaski 
, Feb 06, 2008; 07:26 a.m.
Unless you can find a Minox repair shop (and they are far and few between), I'd suggest gatting another camera for the photos you must take.
Robert Ottino 
, Feb 06, 2008; 08:05 a.m.
Check you email. I sent you a not via your website. Let me know what you want to do and I'll do my best to make it happen.
Robert Slotboom , Feb 10, 2008; 07:07 a.m.
Any news about this problem?
Robert Ottino , Feb 10, 2008; 11:17 a.m.
Help arrived in Calcutta in the form of a loaner B. Its not perfect but it will do in a pinch. I really hate having a Minox eat a shutter blade while on a trip. This happened to me going to China last year. One our fellow Minoxers helped me out so I am passing along the favor...
Robert Slotboom , Feb 11, 2008; 03:58 a.m.
Very nice of you Robert! I hope you saved the project :-) Are Minox's shutter blades malfunctioning often?
Robert Ottino , Feb 11, 2008; 04:11 a.m.
Yes, Minox cameras both the small format and the 35mm variety have a history of failures. I say that not ever owning a Minox 35L but I know a lot of folks that had them and the shutters seemed to fail at one point or another. I have been using Minox small format cameras since 1985 and average one failure per year. I prefer a Minox III, but carry a "B" and now a LX. I think the shutter blades are more sensitive to contamination than a regular camera. Of course I am not the most careful user. I carry one everywhere and so it sees more than a fair amount of environmental changes. Despite this shortcoming, they are perfect for what Walter Zapp envisioned them.
Robert Slotboom , Feb 11, 2008; 08:43 a.m.
Hmmm. I just send my "B" to DAG for CLA. Should I ask for a future quantity rebate :-)
Concidering Tiane's and your story, I think I'll have my "IIIs" cleared as well so I've got a spare Minox just in case.
Robert Ottino , Feb 12, 2008; 02:44 p.m.
It might be a prudent move to have an active spare. I used to have a few on hand for various missions, B&W, color or slide film. However, last year I started giving them away as gifts rather than let them sit on a shelf waiting. I have four brothers and a dad, so that just about wiped me out on B and III types. Just hoping to creat a few more minox users. This left me with one operational LX and a III. In reserve were three B types with non functioning counters. The III had a shutter problem where the time open was the same rather it was 1/1000 or 1/2. I think it is stuck at 1/30th but it is now out of service. That leaves me with a LX and some funny Bs. If Tiane can get some use out of it, great. He seems to be on a mission and I am only glad to help. Wish I had a better camera to send though and I hope it holds up. 50 rolls of film is just about a years worth for me.
Robert Slotboom , Feb 13, 2008; 04:44 a.m.
Robert,
Maybe it's worth sending in one or more Minoxes to Don Goldberg DAG. Don is educated at Wetslar and is able to fix almost everything.
DAG Camera repair
2128 Vintage Dr
Oregon, Wi 53575 USA
I've got some other questions about the pictures you took, I'll send these by mail.
