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Minox 35 Camera Testing Guide

This document provides a 17-step process for thoroughly testing a Minox 35 camera to ensure it is functioning properly. The steps include testing the shutter at different aperture settings and ISO speeds, emulating overexposure, taking a test roll of film with notes on settings for each shot, bracketing exposures, and testing focus accuracy. Developing the test roll allows examination for issues like light leaks or frame overlaps that may require repair. The goal is to restore confidence in the camera's operation through an exhaustive testing process.

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Kjell Persson
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110 views2 pages

Minox 35 Camera Testing Guide

This document provides a 17-step process for thoroughly testing a Minox 35 camera to ensure it is functioning properly. The steps include testing the shutter at different aperture settings and ISO speeds, emulating overexposure, taking a test roll of film with notes on settings for each shot, bracketing exposures, and testing focus accuracy. Developing the test roll allows examination for issues like light leaks or frame overlaps that may require repair. The goal is to restore confidence in the camera's operation through an exhaustive testing process.

Uploaded by

Kjell Persson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Letsminox

MAR
26 How to Test

How to test your Minox 35 camera.

1. Insert fresh battery (4x LR44 Alkaline for testing) & open back cover
2. Advance film transport (double stroke)
3. Check battery health (Battery test button)
4. Set ISO to 100
5. Check the aperture blades/iris by turning the aperture dial
6. Hold camera up to a light source and depress shutter button. In normal
working condition, the shutter should open and close. You should be
able to see a flicker of light through the lens.
7. Point the camera away (low light) and take another shot. The shutter
speed should be slower.(the shutter leafs/blades opening & closing are
visible from the front as well.)
8. Set the ISO to 25 and adjust the aperture to f16, (slowest shutter
speed) the shutter should remain open for a while, depending on the
lighting condition.
9. Set ISO to 100 and test at different aperture settings. Repeat with other
ISO settings.
10. Emulate over exposure by raising the ISO and opening the aperture.
For Eg: in good outdoor light, ISO400 @ f2.8 (Meter needle is above
the stripe area) and perform tests looking for shutter lockup behavior.
(Read more on Shutter Lockup)
11. Repeat test 40 times or more … and for some of us, – till confidence is
restored.
12. Take the camera out and perform the same test over few days(without
film!).
13. Check battery health by pressing battery test button and with a multi-
meter.
14. Perform a shutter speed test. (only if you have tester, skip if not)
15. If all is well, load 4 fresh SR44 (Silver Oxide) batteries and a fresh
cheap roll of color film (ISO 100 or 200) (This will be a test roll). Get a
small notebook & a digital camera. Take photos with both cameras and
take notes on lighting conditions, distance, aperture and ISO
settings/compensation for every shot. When taking notes, describe the
scene/situation instead of only numbering the shots. For eg:
1. By the lake, sunny – 3m, f8, iso100 , time & date
2. Table by window, overcast – 1.5m, f5.6, iso100, time & date
3. Indoor living room, incandescent lamp – 2m, f2.8, iso25 time &
date
16. Take 2 or 3 shots (Bracketing) especially in low light conditions by
lowering the ISO by 1 stop and 2 stops. (read section on exposure).
17. in your test roll, also include:
1. Over exposures
2. flash photos (observe the guide number)
3. Long shutter with tripod- night shots (slowest speed- ISO25 @ f16
)
4. Back lighting + compensation
5. shooting through a 2-3X ND filter in bright conditions
6. Focus distance test. Take photos of objects at 1 meter @ f2.8 (use
a tape measure).

This process may be tedious, but it will make you a better photographer.

Once finished, develop the roll, examine sharpness, exposure, light leaks,
frame overlaps etc. If the roll comes back with some blank frames or other
issues, then its back to the repair table.

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