The Riga Minox is so called because it was the very first production Minox made, being produced in Riga, Latvia beginning in 1938. Highly prized among collectors for it's historical value, it is notable for it's heavier, stainless steel body shell (later models, being produced right after World War II, incorporating a lighter aluminum body shell), round, "port hole" style viewfinder, a single yellow filtre that slides into place for use with black and white film and a film counter calibrated for 50 exposure rolls of film.

    As with all models of Minox subminiature cameras (save the EC/ECX models) an F/3.5 fixed lens opening made proper exposure as simple as setting the correct shutter speed on the appropriate dial. Scale focusing allowed this camera to shoot as close as 8 inches from the subject; this is undoubtedly an important factour in it's later popularity with spies as 8 inches is sufficient to cover a standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch document when photographing secrets…

    The famous "push - pull" operating cycle allows the camera to completely telescope into its body, providing full protection to the lens when not in use. Pulling the camera ends apart extends the camera an extra 3/4" or so, exposing the lens and parallax corrected viewfinder for picture taking. This operating cycle also advances the film and cocks the shutter.

    Film loading utilized drop in cartridges, tiny versions similar to the Kodak "Instamatic" cartridges that wouldn't appear for decades later. The film produces a negative of 8 x 11mm; it is not uncommon to see the film referred to as 8 x 11mm size. It is also quite common to hear people refer to the film as "9.5mm" film, although an interesting Sub Club user group discussion reveals that this is, in fact, incorrect. Minox has apparently never referred to the film as 9.5mm, and the actual measured width is 9.2mm (thanks to Marcus Brooks for pulling out his calipers and checking…). The most proper way to refer to this film size is probably "8 x 11", or, more simply, "Minox film".

    These cameras were no longer produced after World War II; they are scarce and expensive when found.