First, a thanks to the keepers and contributors of this forum.

Is the Minox B suitable for cold weather use? I am interested in using one on backcountry skiing trips because of their obvious small size and light weight. Also, they do not require battery power as batteries don't do to well in cold weather. Also, can their light meters be repaired for a reasonable amount of money?

-- David Bogle (bogle@bway.net), January 05, 1999

Answers

David, I use Minox B during cold Canadian winter (wind chill temperature some times reached -30 degree C) because of the reason you mentioned: it does not depend on battery. At winter out doors, my C sometimes behaved funny, I suspect due to its PX27 battery can not stand cold. Minox B selenium exposure meter may be repaired, if parts can be cannibalized from other not working cameras. Check with DAG, Donald Goldberg, and expert on Minox repairs, he may have parts. For contact info, see "Where to repair Minox" thread. As for Minox in Artic, I dunno, may be Tony can answer this, Alaska is closer to Artic then Toronto :)

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), January 05, 1999.

I've used the LX in Fairbanks winters when it was seriously cold (-50F without wind!) with no problems (not even with the battery), but I haven't used the earlier models in such cold. Unless the Minox is left out to freeze, I think they would all work just fine in sub-zero temps.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), January 06, 1999.

A Canadian Mount Everest team used Leica SLR and M6 to doecument the expedition, at final stage, only M6 worked. North Pole expeditioner Arved Fuchs carried eight Leicas. A British photographer reported using his Leicas at temperature down to -58 degree C.

-- mt (cg081@torfree.net), January 07, 1999.

I've used a Nikon F3 at -40C and more recently a Canon EOS-1n at -45C in northern Sweden. No problems at all except for battery life in the EOS. Camera and lenses worked perfectly. Most modern professional grade cameras and lenses are fine at these temperatures. I don't think Leicas are anything special in this respect.

-- Geoff Hander (dfg145@flagstaf.co.uk), January 07, 1999.

Very cold in Southern Ontario to day, -45 C; I took out my Minox C and took two snap shots of snow scenes. Army move in to help cleaning snow !

-- mt (cg081@torfree.net), January 14, 1999.

Adding to Tony's earlier comment about use in Fairbanks, I have used a IIIs here during the winter. Best to keep it inside your coat and take it out when you need it; left out it tends to stiffen up if kept out at below zero temperatures. If it is warm enough to wear onlined gloves, holding the camera in your fist will keep it warm enough.

-- John Lehman (ffjal@uaf.edu), February 07, 1999.

I don't know about the Arctic, but last winter my brother and I tested a number of cameras we own in very cold weather (-35F; we live in Minnesota). Canon AE-1 wouldn't work except intermittently; Leica M6 always functioned; Leica R4 no problem; Contax G1 froze up; Minox TLX worked perfectly. It may have helped with the Minox to keep it in an inside jacket pocket, where it was warmed, something you really can't do except with a Leica rangefinder or Contax G camera (but didn't help the Contax anyway). Speaking of Contax, it was interesting that the G1 froze up but my new TVS II worked fine in the bitter cold.

-- Bob Woods (woorob@msn.com), April 19, 1999.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh took Antarctic landscape and wild life pictures with a Minox subminiature camera.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanaada.com), January 04, 2000.