In the very early 90s, the Minox 35 camera line was all the rage for both Minoxers and regular amateur photographers as well. Of course, these Minox cameras were not the only compacts on the market, but people were indeed interested in the Minox products, more than they are today, I believe. Many times, the 8×11 subminiature format users had one or two of these compacts, for various reasons. And one of those reason was that the Minox 35mm cameras were thought to be indeed good, they were known, easy to carry, good lens, good meters, and more important, they were Minox, right?
Minox felt the need to board the train of 35mm compacts later than other companies, and they did so by trying to jump on a full speed train. They came with this line of cameras, of which the 35PL is a good example (probably not their best model, but nonetheless of average functionality), as they did with the Minox 110 which got the cold shoulder from the amateur market. I am not going to discuss here why was that, let’s just say that it wasn’t what Minox thought to be, a real market breaker. If anything, they were breaking up a solid reputation for good cameras.
Minox 35 PL is a viewfinder (bright frame direct finder) camera, distance focus. A “drawbridge” type of lens cover brings out the lens, an interesting Minotar coated, 35mm/2.8, focusing from infinity down to an average 0.9 meters. The lens is said to be good, I cannot confirm not deny, for I have never ever bought or used a Minox 35mm compact (apart from my brief adventure with the Minox AF Mini 35). I always said that, for me at least, the word Minox encapsulates the 8×11 classic line, and nothing above that format. Back to this here camera: around the lens is the light meter cell, that crescent shape.
It sports an automatic exposure / program control: from 1/500 @f16 to 4 secs. @ f2.8 (100 ASA film). The top plate has a slow-speed warning (red diode) for anything under 1/30; it also has a self timer (12 secs), and a hot shoe, 1/90 X sync. The front plate also has the battery chamber, where a PX27-type of battery (5.6v) can be inserted, or a battery adapter can be used. Alternatively, you may set your preferred aperture manually.
Film winder is a double stroke one, short strokes that is. A thumb wheel under the film winder serves the same purpose, for those who cannot be bothered with twice turning the lever. Near the release button (green one), a threaded cable release socket can be found. A small switch near the viewfinder is the self timer thingy. On the top plate there are two switches: one for double exposure and the other for checking the battery.
There are rivers of ink written about these 35 mm cameras from Minox, so I am not going to bore you with any of these. Suffice to say that this camera came to me almost for free, in excellent shape, and I am going to put a film through it, just to relive the 90s. Never shot with one, now is the time to do so.