Greetings,

I haven't a Minox reference book so I have a few questions regarding the
Minox B and BL:

What was the difference between the type 1 and type 2 Minox B?
===================
The major difference as I understand it is that the later version used the
so-called "honeycomb" light-meter window rather than the "lattice" type.
Whether this made a difference in metering, I don't really know. I'm not
sure if the difference in UV filter vs. clear glass window over the shutter
and lens that's been addressed recently coincides with this or not.

There were probably other differences too, as the B was in production for
quite a long time (more than 380,000 model Bs were made)... How about it,
guys? Some of you have multiple Minox Bs - are there other significant
differences?
===================

When was the Minox BL introduced? How long was it in production? What type
battery did it require?
===================
The Minox BL was only made in 1972 and 1973 - it is very rare, and therefore
quite expensive used. There were only 17,000+ made! I think it uses the same
discontinued PX27 battery as the other Minoxes; you can now get 4 small
batteries in a special holder that fit and provide proper voltage.

The BL isn't desirable simply because it's rare, but because it represents
the Minox B "perfected". It has many nice features: the more sensitive CdS
meter rather than the B's Selenium meter, the most shutter speeds ever
available on a Minox, the interlock that prevents advancing the film when
opening and closing the camera without taking a picture... I'D certainly
like to get my hands on one!

Again, there are several folks on this list who actually have BLs - what
have I forgotten?

MSG
=====================
Thanks.

M.Phillips

=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 21:37:23 -0500
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From: peter zimmerman <peterz@E....>
Subject: Re: Minox B & BL
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At 16:25 96/12/09 -0400, you wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>I haven't a Minox reference book so I have a few questions regarding the
>Minox B and BL:
>
>What was the difference between the type 1 and type 2 Minox B?

The 'type1' and type2' Bs, so far as I know, differed visibly in the grid on
the light meter: window screen on the early model; honeycomb appearance
later. Somewhere along the line the ND filter was changed from 10x down to
4x in, I think, 2 steps.
>
>When was the Minox BL introduced? How long was it in production? What type
>battery did it require?

About 17000 BLs were made, starting around 72. the run was only about 2
years long. If you'ld like better numbers than that, let me know and I'll
look them up in Minox Story of Variations in 8x11.

The battery is a small mercury cell, Mallory PX 675. No longer available.
The factory is trying to come up with a near-perfect replacement by testing
every cell that fits, apparently.
>
>Thanks.
>
>M.Phillips
>
>
My pleasure!
pete z
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Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 21:37:25 -0500
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From: peter zimmerman <peterz@E....>
Subject: Re: Minox B & BL
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At 16:43 96/12/09 EST, you wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>I haven't a Minox reference book so I have a few questions regarding the
>Minox B and BL:
>
>What was the difference between the type 1 and type 2 Minox B?
>===================
>The major difference as I understand it is that the later version used the
>so-called "honeycomb" light-meter window rather than the "lattice" type.
>Whether this made a difference in metering, I don't really know. I'm not
>sure if the difference in UV filter vs. clear glass window over the shutter
>and lens that's been addressed recently coincides with this or not.
>
>There were probably other differences too, as the B was in production for
>quite a long time (more than 380,000 model Bs were made)... How about it,
>guys? Some of you have multiple Minox Bs - are there other significant
>differences?

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ Except for the varying ND filter, I don't see any
differences from B to shining B.
pz

>===================
>
>When was the Minox BL introduced? How long was it in production? What type
>battery did it require?
>===================
>The Minox BL was only made in 1972 and 1973 - it is very rare, and therefore
>quite expensive used. There were only 17,000+ made! I think it uses the same
>discontinued PX27 battery as the other Minoxes; you can now get 4 small
>batteries in a special holder that fit and provide proper voltage.

\/\/\/\/\/ Would that it were so. The BL uses a PX 675, and you can't get
them anymore.
>
>The BL isn't desirable simply because it's rare, but because it represents
>the Minox B "perfected". It has many nice features: the more sensitive CdS
>meter rather than the B's Selenium meter, the most shutter speeds ever
>available on a Minox, the interlock that prevents advancing the film when
>opening and closing the camera without taking a picture... I'D certainly
>like to get my hands on one!
>
>Again, there are several folks on this list who actually have BLs - what
>have I forgotten?

\/\/\/\/\/ No curved focal plane; better way to set EI; linear movement of
the needle in the meter. A hair longer than the B. Won't easily take
B-type filters; you have to use the C-type which came in only a tiny
variety. The package has a green (useful) + an R3 and an R6 warming
filters. The R3 might be useful on top of Mont Blanc to cut down on the UV
even more than the UV filter does; no idea when to use the R6. Oh yes, it
also has just an ND filter, not a green and an ND. The filter bar also
controls the battery check; you push it past the ND stop just a bit and it
puts current to the meter. It is my favorite camera of the whole bunch
exactly because it IS the perfection of the B. But I sure wish they had
left in the green filter. And I wish it weren't so damned valuable. But I
lucked into mine and paid very little for them, so I do use one when I can
get batteries. :-) ;-) :-(

One last caution, even if you have/can get the battery for the BL. The
damned things LEAK, so don't leave one in a camera and forget it!!

pete z
>
>MSG
>=====================
>Thanks.
>
>M.Phillips
>
>
=========================================================================