Review - Minox 35GL

The Minox 35GL is one of my favorite cameras in my collection. This is due mainly to its compact size, which makes this series of cameras some of the smallest 35mm cameras of all time. Pictures or videos online show how this folder camera can be easily pocketed or carried around in a small bag. That’s precisely what I tend to do when I go out on a walk or to run errands around town. Having the Minox in my every day carry bag ensures I can always capture ordinary, slice of life moments, which tend to be my favorite things to photograph. Also, for photographers who’re afraid to call too much attention to themselves when doing street photography with big, bulky cameras, like me, this is the perfect tool for the job.

Of course, a camera of this size means some level of compromise. In the case of the Minox 35GL, that compromise happens in the shutter. This camera uses an aperture priority mechanism, with an upper shutter speed of 1/500. Losing manual mode is fine by me, as aperture priority is my preferred shooting mode, but the limited shutter speed range can be hard to deal with in certain scenarios. With the right ISO, this shouldn’t be a problem, you just pick lower ISO film for sunny days and go higher for low light situations. The problem is using this camera for both indoor and outdoor shooting. An adapter can be printed to attach to the lens, which would allow attaching an ND filter, but it’s something I have yet to give it a try.

Another compromise of this series of cameras is that the viewfinder is not attached to a mirror (as with SLRs) and doesn’t have a focus confirmation mechanism (as with rangefinders). This means that zone focusing is the only way to use the Minox. It sounds intimidating at first, but once you get used to it, it’s not that bad. Missing focus can and will happen, but with practice it’ll happen less and less. Still, this camera is the perfect excuse to learn a skill required for street photography.

Attaching a flash to the camera is possible, but it’s not an option I have explored too much yet.

My favorite way to use the Minox 35GL is to load a roll of black and white film (Ilford’s HP5 Plus is a favorite) and go take a walk. I would also recommend it as a travel camera, as it is so easy to pack and it takes so little space, there’s no excuse not to take it with you. Taking it with me on bike rides has also been a recipe for success!

In summary, I love the Minox 35GL, and I would recommend it to any film photographer interested in getting an easy to carry every day camera. I’m convinced this series has some of the best film cameras ever made, both in terms of quality, usability, and, for a lack of a better word, vibes.

Gallery

Here’s a gallery of some of my favorite photos taken with this camera: