I was wondering if any one could provide a list of the type of flashes available for minoxes, the capabilities of each type of flash, whether the flash can be reused or if a new bulb has to be used each time, and which flashes fit which minoxes, and any adapters that might be available thanks!

-- Catherine Coz (cc473@is9.nyu.edu), April 17, 1999

Answers

Hi Catherine

BULB FLASH

1. BC Flashgun-USA. Made in USA flash gun for Minox. The flash head attached to the Minox camera at one end by friction. A folding fan type refector at other end. Uses flash bulb

2. MINOX A flashgun. A small aluminum flash gun attached to Minox A/B/C/LX/TLX by friction at one end; a slider on one side releases a tiny reflector from the flash attachment unit. Uses Eveready 504, Mallory M504 15 v battery Single use flash bulb AG1 ampoule type. Flash sync at bulb speed of 1/20 After use, pull the button to retract the reflector and reject the bulb. immediately to avoid burning the reflector, Battery hard to find[try Radio Shack].

3. MINOX BC flashgun. A small aluminum flash gun attached to Minox B/C/LX/TLX by friction at one end; a slider on one side releases a tiny reflector from the flash attachment unit. Uses Eveready 504, Mallory M504 15 v battery Single use flash bulb AG1 ampoule type. Flash sync at bulb speed of 1/20 BC flashgun has a small window overlap Minox B's exposure meter. After use, pull the button to retract the reflector and reject the bulb. immediately to avoid burning the reflector. Battery hard to find[try Radio Shack].

4. B4 cube flash . Aluminum flash head for Minox B; looks similar to BC flash gun,, but has no retractable reflector. Instead uses flashcube

5. C4 cube flash Aluminum flash head for all Minoxes except EC/ECX; looks similar to BC flash gun, but has no retractable reflector. Instead uses standard flashcube. PX825 battery

6. FL4 metal cube flash. Made for Minox LX, but fits also all Minoxes, except EC/ECX

7. FE4 cube flash for Minox EC. A small black plastic unit with three prongs to fit the EC. Uses flash cube

MINOX ELECTRONIC FLASH

1. Minox BC Xenon Flashgun-USA. Made in USA flash gun for Minox. The flash head attached to the Minox camera at one end by friction. A folding fan type reflector at other end. Xenon flash bulb

2. Minox ME-1 ELECTRONIC Flash gun. Aluminum flash head, looks like BC flashgun, but with a small Xenon flash at the side. But attach to a big battery pack through a long cord.

3. Minox ME-2 flash. A stand alone thyristor controlled electronic flash for Minox B,C,BL

4. MINOX Flash 8x11: Small electronic flash unit for MINOX EC, Guide number 12M at ISO 100/21. One 1.5 V akaline AA battery is good for about 200 flashes
5. MINOX flash unit adapter for use of MINOX flash 8x11 with MINOX A, B, BL, C, LX, AX, TLX,CLX

6. MINOX Flash ECX: Electronic flash unit for new MINOX ECX, Guide number 12 at ISO 100/21,

7. MINOX hot flash shoe for use of electronic flash units with standard hot shoe with MINOX A/B/C/BL/LX/TLX

8. A PC cable connect any automatic electronic flash unit.

9. Minox MX camera has its own flash unitm which in turn is only for MX.

I use the MINOX 8x11 flash often, it is small and convenient. When I need more power, I use my Vivitar 285 thyristor flash unit through a PC cord.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), April 17, 1999.

Clear AG1 bulb has a quide number 140 feet at 1/30 and EI 100 FILM.

Blue bulb AG1B has quide number = 80 feet at 1/30 and EI 100 film.

When using flashbulb on Minox LX/TLX/EC [set speed dial at flash icon] the automatic flash circuit in the camera controls the shutter, when the right amount of exposure is reached for a given film speed, the electronics automatically closes the shutter to cut off the light from flashbulb. This probably true also for C, but I have not try it.

When using AG1B blue bulb on Minox A/B, for ASA 100 film, the distance of object should be around 23'. Which is quite far. One can use the build in filter of Minox A or B to reduce the object distance, a green filter reduces the required distance by half, ND filter reduces required distance to one quarter.

There is no thryistor control for electronic flash on Minox 8x11 camera.

The guide number of Minox 8x11 flash unit is 12 M for ASA 100 film. For example for Agfpan APX 100 film, the object distance should be at about 4 meters. For ASA 50 film, the object should be about 2 meters. One can use color filter or ND filter to reduce the distance.

Source: Flash Bulbs and Flashcubes

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), April 17, 1999.

AG1 flash bulb and flashcube may self ignite by static elecric charge.

In the follow cases:
• When you get off car
• When you walk on carpet
• After you comb hair

Touch youself on grounded metal object to discharge yourself before handling flash bulbs.

Keep flash bubls and flashcubes away from microwave oven .

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), April 24, 1999.

In addition to those listed by Martin, I have come across the following:

1. Minox Fan Flash, uses AG-1 bulbs, will probably work on all the older models up to the B and possibly the C

3. I have also heard of a Maji-cube adapter for the Minox EC, not the regular flash cubes, but Maji-cubes, I would appreciate any information on such a device

Thanks

-- George Maltezos (George@Maltezos.com), May 13, 1999.

I just purchased a Minox 8x11 flash, but it does not have instructions. Does anyone know if this is controlled automatically by the meter on the Minox C (which has an electronic shutter control governed by the built-in meter)? Or does it just output a constant amount of light with each flash?

-- Ron Enfield (enfield@att.net), June 08, 1999.

Ron, the Minox 8x11 flash is a constant output flash, the only control is on/off and trigger. Guide number 12 meter with ASA 100 film. With Minox A/B/C etc, it reaches 12/3.5 = 3.5 meter. With EC it reaches 12/5.6 =2 meter.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.comm), June 08, 1999.

MINOX 35  FLASH  UNITS 

FC 35 ST	GUIDE NUMBER = 18 WITH ISO 100/21  Series thyristor, two aperture   GT, GL,GS-E,GT-E    GS-E, GT-X,GT-S
FC-E	SAME AS FC 35 ST   GT-E MATCHING DESIGN
MF 35 ST	GUIDE NUMBER =18 WITH ISO 100/21 Series thyrister, two apertures MINOX MDC,  35ML
MT 35	GUIDE NUMBER=26 FOR ISO 100/21.  VARIO COMPUTER THYRISTOR MINOX MDC, 35ML

 

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 25, 1999.

Minox FC-X and FC-S flash with three aparture settings. Perfect for the TLX

-- Kingson Lee (kkt@kk-tech.com), November 14, 1999.