Subminiature photography
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Subminiature photography is the practice of using unusually small cameras with unusually small film formats to make photographs. The exact boundary between cameras and formats that are "subminiature" and those that are merely "small" is the subject of debate among enthusiasts. The term "miniature" was originally used to describe the 35 mm format, so cameras that used a format smaller than 35 mm were referred to as "sub-miniature". The smallest of the small are often referred to as "ultra-miniature". In the interest of specificity, cameras that produce an image on the film smaller than the standard 135 format (24x36 mm) are usually included in the genre, but some do not consider half-frame 135 (18x24 mm) cameras "subminiature", since the cameras can be almost as large as a regular 35 mm camera.
There are thousands of cameras that qualify as subminiature cameras, so there are too many to list here, but Minox, Tessina, Rollei, Yashica, Mamiya, and Minolta are the best known. All made small, precision cameras and a few are still in production today. Getting film and processing for smaller cameras is a challenge. While a few are still available, most require cutting your own film, and home-processing as they are no longer supported.
The best known subminiature formats are -- in increasing size -- Minox (8x11 mm), Kodak disc (8x11 mm), 16 mm (10x14 mm), Super 16 mm (12x17 mm), 110 format (13x17 mm), Tessina (14x21 mm) and half-frame (18x24 mm). While many subminiature cameras were inexpensive and poorly manufactured (thus giving the format a bad name), many others, such as Minox, Tessina, Gami, Edixa, Rollei, Pentax and Minolta made quality cameras capable of producing fine results -- even enlarged. Because of their small size and light weight, subminiature cameras can be readily carried in a pocket or purse to be available at any time.
First making an appearance in the late 1800's, often as concealed cameras, a subminiature camera craze developed soon after WWII when many consumer markets required small, inexpensive cameras. In response, Kodak's introduction of the 110 camera in the 1970's and the Kodak disc camera in the 1980's brought the submininature camera to the forefront of the photographic market. But the many, cheap, and poorly made cameras that soon appeared drove Kodak out of the market and gave subminiature cameras a bad name. Still, there are many subminiature cameras with top-quality lenses and a full range of features, such as variable apertures, selectable shutter speeds, focusing lenses, and numerous accessories.
The various formats of subminiature cameras have come and gone over the years. Several factors have played a part in this. For example, newer submini formats have replaced other, older submini formats. In addition, many larger-formatted cameras, especially 35 mm, become smaller in size and weight -- partly due to the consumer demand for submini cameras -- and were able to replace some submini formats. For example, full-frame 35 mm cameras, such as the Minox 35 and the Olympus XA, were made as small as the earlier half-frame submini cameras, such as the Olympus Pen. Still, some submini formats survive in the marketplace, such as the Minox and 110 formats. Most other submini cameras are still completely usable -- especially if the photographer has access to a darkroom.
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[edit] Subminiature photography Technique
- Focusing of subminiature camera
- Macro photography with subminature camera
- Telephoto technique with subminature camera
- Microscope photography with submiature camera
[edit] Development of subminature film
- Nikor or Jobo 16mm development reel
- Nikor or Joobo 9.2mm development reel
- Minox daylight development tank
[edit] Enlargement of subminature negative
- 12x17mm, 14x21mm and 8x11mm negative carrier
- Minox enlarger with 15mm Micro-Minox enlarging lens
[edit] External links
- www.subclub.org - "For a complete exploration of subminiature photography."
