Minox LX Series

    First introduced in 1978, the Model LX series is still in production today, after 22 years, making it the longest running production cycle subminiature camera Minox has ever produced. The series was introduced with standard silver tone and black matte finished models (both now discontinued), and has seen small production runs since then of commemorative models in gold, platinum and sterling silver. A gold Walter Zapp signature commemorative model was released in celebration of Minox, GmbH's 50 year anniversary on 15 September 1995. At the same time, the current standard model, the titanium clad, black trimmed TLX was introduced. Since 1995 two other variations have been offered and are still available: the chromed CLX 60 year commemorative model that comes boxed with a video taped recording of the inventor telling his story of the Minox, and a black matte finished, gold accented Millenium Edition, specially issued for the year 2000.



    The LX series is the culmination of Minox engineering in subminiature cameras: over 268 miniscule glass and metal parts are scattered throughout it's aluminum body shell, combining to form the most sophisticated subminiature camera they've ever produced. The electronic shutter now provides a top shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second down to a full 16 seconds, and is coupled to an advanced Silicon Blue Cell (SBC) metre for fully automatic exposure control…even with 4 shot electric flash cubes mounted on the FL-4 accessory flash gun. A tripod socket is integrated directly into the body shell, the shutter release button and control knobs have been ergonomically redesigned, and the metre needle has been replaced with high tech green, yellow and red LED indicators (signaling good battery, low light and over exposure warnings, respectively). The photograph (above left) shows the black LX open in shooting position in the foreground, while from left to right in the background are the 8 x 11 electronic flash unit with adapter mounting foot attached, the FL-4 electric flash cube gun, and the slip on "hot" shoe adapter to allow mounting of any standard electronic flash unit.




New LX's range in price from $800 to $2700 (standard TLX shown above to gold finished "signature" commemorative model) depending on finish and where they're purchased; used ones in silver tone or matte black can be had for as little as $450 to $700, depending on condition and finish.




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© Sep 2000 by D. Scott Young, all rights reserved
Design & execution © Dec 2000 by Nicolas Maufrais
of the Minoxography Community, all rights reserved