Subminiature Photography - Subminiature Photography Technique

Subminiature Photography Technique

Focusing

The process of focusing a subminiature camera is the same as any other camera:

• Unit focusing: the entire lens is moved back and forth relative to the film plane.ample: Minox B,C,LX,TLX; Edixa 16, Tessina. Minox 110, Monolta 16
• Front element focusing: Rollei 16, Rollei 110.
• Fixed focus, feasible with the great depth of field of short focal length lenses: Minox EC, Minox ECX.
• Internal focusing is not used.

The small size of the camera and film require the use of a lens with short focal length, and hence great depth of field. This simplifies focusing to some extent.

The simplest system is to use a lens with fixed focus set at the hyperfocal distance. This will produce images that are acceptably sharp from infinity to some near plane (usually five to eight feet away). This system is used in most cheaper cameras. More complex systems allow variable focus, through a dial or slider. Many cameras with this system have distance markings on the control; it is up to the user to set the focus according to the distance to the subject. Most Minox cameras use this system.

Some subminiature cameras include a rangefinder, for example Minox 110. These increase the size. Autofocus or through-the-lens focusing systems are not used on subminiature cameras to keep size down.

Macro photography

Subminiature cameras are less suited to macro photography than larger cameras, although the relatively large depth of field at close distances is an advantage. Where concealment is required, subminiature cameras are required; they (particularly the various Minox models) are well known as spy cameras, where they were used to photograph documents close up. Minox cameras for these purposes come with a 24-inch measuring chain attached, with markings corresponding to certain distances, to assist in focusing at these short ranges.

Telephoto

Few subminiature cameras have interchangeable lenses, which reduce the advantages of a small size system. Telephoto lenses for such small formats essentially do not exist, except for Steky and Gami. There have been attachments to allow cameras (generally Minox) to attach to telescopes or binoculars, but these give results of lower quality than the camera's optics can achieve.

Developing and enlarging

• Nikor or Jobo 16mm development reel
• Nikor 9.2mm or Jobo 8x11 development reel
• Minox daylight development tank

• 10x14mm, 12x17mm, 14x21mm and 8x11mm negative carrier used with 35mm enlarger.
• Minox enlarger with 15mm Micro-Minox enlarging lens