This category encompasses several formats that are narrower that 35mm film. Often these formats are called subminiature since 35mm was originally called a miniature format compared to medium format films. 110 cameras were the new "instamatic" cameras starting in the 1970s drawing from the 126 market. 110 cameras were "new and improved" because they were small and slender taking very narrow 110 film cartridges similar to the prior 16mm film cartridges used in Minolta 16 Model P below. Like 126 film cartridges, the 110 cartridges were easy to load. Many 110 cameras had advanced features such as dual focal length lenses (tele and wide or normal) and built in electronic flash. 110 cameras also had a rectangular format allowing vertical or horizontal oriented photos (i.e. "portrait" or "landscape"). Unfortunately, the film size was too small for clear photos, especially clear enlargements. A 110 frame dimensions are 17mm x 13mm for an area of 221 square mm. 126 frame dimensions are 28mm x 28mm for an area of 784 square mm; over 3.5 times larger than the 110 frame area. 35mm frame dimensions are 24mm x 36mm for an area of 936 square mm, or 4.2 times that of 110 film. The development of 110 cameras therefore appears to have been primarily a marketing, rather than a technical, decision. The later disc cameras had even a smaller film area with dimensions of 10mm x 8mm = 80 square mm, about a third of the area of 110 film and a tenth of the area of 126 film. Disc cameras had a relatively short life.

A final subminiature film format is the Advanced Photo System (APS) format. Kodak explains that in late 1991 Kodak, Fuji, Canon, Minolta and Nikon began a cooperative research and development venture for a new photo system. The system was announced in late 1995 and early 1996. The APS frame size is 16.7mm x 30.2mm or 504.34 square mm or 54% that of 35mm film. Easy loading was still a key marketing point for beginning users. APS film is in a closed container that drops into the camera. The film container can be removed mid roll and re-inserted later allowing users to change to a different ISO film in mid-roll. APS film also has a magnetic strip for recording exposure information, date and time. This information can be used in later processing and printing of the film. This allows three different aspect ratios- the normal or H setting (for HDTV) of 16.7mm x 30.2mm, the C (Classic) setting with a 2:3 aspect ratio and 16.7mm wide, and the P (Panoramic) setting with a 1:3 aspect ratio and 30.2mm long. The frame area is always 16.7mm X 30.2mm, however, and the C and P aspect ratios are achieved by cropping during processing. The length of the C format must be 25.05mm using the proportion 16.7/x =2/3. The width of the P format must be 10.1mm using the proportion 1/3=x/30.2. The film area for the C format would hence be 25.05mm x 16.7mm equaling 418 square mm or 45% that of 35mm film. The film area of the P format would be 30.2mm x 10.1mm equaling 305.02 square mm or 33% that of 35mm film. Kodak explains that print quality meets consumer expectations through better film emulsions and better data available for photo processing as a result of the data recorded on the magnetic strip. It is interesting to note that the film area is roughly equal to that of 35mm half frame cameras such as the Olympus Pen or Canon Demi popular in the 1960s which typically have a frame size of 18mm x 24mm for an area of 432 square mm. (See subclub.org.) APS cameras are less frequently found on the store shelves today with the rapid rise of digital cameras which occurred during the same time frame as the development of APS. For example, one of the earliest consumer digital cameras, the Apple QuickTake 100 made by Kodak, started to be developed in 1992 and was first sold in 1994, a year prior to the introduction of APS cameras. (Wikipedia.)

Canon

Kodak

Mamiya

Minolta

110 Format

The price in 1980-81 Sears Camera Catalog was $229.50, equal to $609 in 2008 dollars. The price was comparable to a decent 35mm SLR at the time. For example, a Minolta XG-1 with 45mm f2.0 lens was $239.50 and came with a $25 rebate coupon. A Pentax K1000 with 50mm f2.0 lens was $159.50. Granted the 35mm SLRs did not include a zoom lens which was expensive at the time with a Sears 35 to 70mm f3.5 zoom selling at $189.50. The 35mm SLRs did, however, produce a negative which was 3.9 times greater in area. (110 film has a 17mm x 13mm frame for 221 sq mm. 35mm film has a 24mm x 36mm frame for 864 sq mm. 864/221 is approximately equal to 3.9. You can also compare the areas to a medium format frame of 60mm x 60mm with an area of 3,600 sq mm or over 4 times that of 35mm film and 16 times that of 110 film. A Yashica Mat-124G sold for $179.50 at the time.) The Mark II is a very cool camera that feels nice in ones hands. In my opinion a 35mm SLR was a better choice, however, given 35mm film's larger negative and hence better image quality (other things being equal).

My Mark II was a generous donation. It had belonged to the donor's father who passed away. After putting in two new batteries it seems to work like a charm. It still has film in it and I may just keep shooting with that film. It also came with a Minolta Auto 118X flash ($38.50 in 1980-81 Sears Camera Catalog) which works with new batteries despite prior battery leakage. Also included is a case ($12.50 in 1980-81 Sears Camera Catalog) and the manual. On page 25 of the 1980-81 Sears Camera Catalog with the Mark II, I have also included the competing Pentax Auto 110 camera which had interchangeable lenses.

16mm Format

Disc Format

Besides the selfie feature, the camera was not particularly unique among disc film cameras. It has a 12.5mm fixed focus f2.8 lens. Additionally, however it has a macro mode where a supplementary lens slides in front of the main lens. There is a switch in front of the camera with a mountain for the normal mode and a person for the close-up mode. As you slide the switch to the close-up mode you can see the supplementary lens slide into position. It has two shutter speeds of 1/100 and 1/200 second. Minolta also had a second Disc camera, the Minolta Disc-5 which did not have the self-portrait mirror feature. I assume the Disc-5 was otherwise similar to the Disc-7. In discussing the Minolta Disc-5 aperturepreview.com states the camera shoots "at 1/100th of a second at f/2.8 with flash or 1/200th of a second at f/6 in ambient light. When the close-up filter is engaged, the camera will be shooting at 1/200th at f/6 with the flash once again no matter the lighting conditions." The Disc-7 is powered by "lithium batteries which have to be replaced by the manufacturer." (Camera-Wiki - Minolta Disc 7.) Aperturepreview.com, again discussing the Disc 5 camera, states: "They are lithium CR123A batteries, rated with a life of 5 years with average use." In most Disc cameras the batteries are soldered in place. It might be conceivable to try to solder in a new battery, but aperturepreview.com advises it would not be easy and is potentially dangerous since cameras with built-in electronic flashes have a lot of stored power in their capacitors. The front cover of the camera can be lifted open after removing three screws. The following photos with the camera cover off show the yellow batteries - 1, 2, 3. Just above the batteries is a capacitor for the flash. This capacitor is a high voltage hazard. I doubt many people went to the trouble and expense of having the batteries replaced after they died in five years or so. The camera therefore essentially had a five year lifespan. Disc cameras were not very successful in any event because the small negative lead to unacceptable grain and poor definition. (Wikipedia - Disc Film.) Disc cameras indeed had a very small negative of 10mm x 8mm or 80 sq.mm. 35mm negatives have an area over ten times larger. (24mm x 36mm = 864 sq. mm.) Even 110 negatives have an area 2.76 times greater. (17mm x 13mm = 221 sq. mm., 221/80 = 2.7625)

I purchased my Minolta Disc 7 on eBay on August 13, 2007 for $0.99 plus $4.95 shipping. The camera is in very good cosmetic condition and came with the original plastic case. Since as I write this in April 2023 the battery embedded somewhere in the camera is about 40 years old and 35 years past its 5 years lifespan, the camera does not work. That combined with the fact that disc film is no longer made or processed makes the camera a poor choice to actually use. Disc cameras were also a poor choice in 1983 since the film size was so small. (See generally Wikipedia - Disc Film.) The camera originally sold for $64.99 on page 28 of the 1984-85 Sears Camera Catalog. That's equal to about $186 in March 2023 dollars adjusted for inflation. It was the most expensive Disc camera on that page. Kodak 15 exposure Disc Film with Sears prepaid processing was $6.99, or about $20 in March 2023 dollars.

Advanced Photosystem (APS) Format

Minox

Focus. The camera has a 15 mm f/3.5 Complan lens with a fixed aperture of f3.5. The manual explains why there is only one aperture. "The 15mm Complan lens of your MINOX yields such extreme depth of field and, together with the slightly spherical curved design of the film gate, gives such outstanding definition over the entire film area that an adjustable lens diaphragm could be omitted --saving you an extra operation necessary with other cameras." Because of the very small negative and a wide angle lens, the camera has a great depth of field allowing focus from 8 inches to infinity. The close focus allows you to photograph the top secret documents! Looking down on the camera there is the engraved focusing disk on the right side of the camera which you turn until the black dot is at the estimated subject to camera distance. The black dot is in the middle of a little bracket. Any distance within the little bracket will be sufficiently in focus. "You need not set distances beyond 3 feet too critically - make the 'sharpness zone' bracket do the work for you." There is a red dot at 12 feet. If the red dot is matched up with the black dot, everything from 6 feet to infinity will be within the zone of focus. This is called the snapshot setting. The manual still recommends setting to infinity for distant landscape scenes. Everything from 12 feet to infinity will be sharp. The manual states: "[C]lose distances must be set carefully on the distance scale, but that is easy because the safety chain of your Minox has small beads for distances corresponding exactly with the close distance settings engraved of the distance scale. With the chain locked in the camera socket, held taut and at right angles from the camera to the subject, the beads are placed at 8, 10, 12, and 18 inches. The full length of the chain is 24 inches."

Exposure. The shutter speed dial is on the left side of the camera looking down. Shutter speeds are from 1/2 second to 1/1000 second. You have to press your finger on the knurled dial to set the speed. To set the ASA, open the camera and turn the shutter dial until the correct ASA is set on the scale to the far left. Then open the camera and press down on the crescent shaped notch on the bottom of the camera. Pressing this down disengages the ASA. This is the same notch you press down to open the camera to load film. While this notch is pressed down, turn the shutter dial to 100. Then open and close (push/pull) the camera. The ASA is now set. The Selenium exposure meter is coupled with the shutter dial. Press the button on top of the camera to the far left. Point it to the subject. Release the button. Look at the needle. Turn the shutter dial until the triangle matches up with the appropriate line to the needle. You have to take your eye away from the viewfinder since this match-needle does not show up in the viewfinder. The shutter release is the button in the middle of the camera.

Loading Film. Open the camera. Then press down on the curved notch on the bottom of the camera and slide the film door open in the opposite direction from the curved notch. The film is in a cassette and drops into the film chamber. There are further instructions for resetting the film counter especially if using a 36 exposure roll of film. Film and processing are apparently still available from Blue Moon Camera in case your spying activities haven't entered the digital age. They can also scan the film.

Built-in filters. The camera has two built-in filters than can slide over the lens. You slide them into place using the knurled slide above the viewfinder. The first filter is a green filter to enhance black and white landscapes and cloud photos. The second filter is a neutral density filter. Both filters absorb some light and require increased exposure. To compensate for this, you use the dot on the exposure meter when using the filters instead of the triangle.

Original Price, Ads and Other Sites. The original price for the Minox B in a 1958 magazine ad for sale on amazon.com was $169.95. That's over $1,750 in March 2023 dollars. Therefore, while it is a very small, innovative camera, it was not cheap. Looking@Cities has another magazine ad with the same price. The web page describes the Minox B as well as several other subminiature cameras. Submin.com has several Minox ads. Several other sites have excellent discussion of the Minox B including Wikipedia, Casualphotophile.com, CIA.gov, and Ollinger's Camera Collection. YouTube videos include those offered by The Photographer's Bag and Photography and More (shows how to operate).

My Camera. My camera was part of a very generous gift in July 2008 which included a Topcon RE Super, a Canon AE-1 Program, the Minox, an Agfa medium format folding camera, a circa 1950s zoom movie camera, and a Minolta 110 format SLR. The items belonged to the donor's dad who passed away about five years earlier. She wanted to give the items to someone who would appreciate them. The camera, case and chain are all in good cosmetic and working condition. The meter responds to light but I don' know if it is accurate.

Verdict. The Minox B is an extraordinary, ingenious, finely crafted camera that is wonderful for a collector especially with its spy camera history. It was quite expensive, however, and more of a novelty unless you had an urgent need for a very small camera. The very small negatives were a tenth the size of a 35mm camera and hence the image quality could not match that of a larger camera in its price range. Had I been an adult at the time I would not have purchased one new unless, of course, I worked for the CIA!

Olympus

Pentax

Rollei

I appear to have gotten my camera in 2012 perhaps at a garage or estate sale. I don't know what I paid for it. It is in good cosmetic condition with some scratches to the body and a small dent in one corner. The little automatic lens cover is slow to close and sometimes needs a little help. I am awaiting a battery to try it out. My camera came with a nice white display case line with red velvet along with the flash connector.

Verdict: It's a great camera for a collector - small, cute, innovative, originally expensive, prestigous brand. As a camera to buy and use, however, it was always hampered by its high price and small negative size. There were many compact 35mm rangefinder cameras in the 1970s such as the Olympus 35 RC or the Minolta Hi-Matic E with automatic exposure modes, more precise focusing and great lenses at a fraction of the price. While not as small as the Rollei A110 or E110, they were still very compact and the negative area was almost 4 times greater than the negative area of a 110 camera. (35mm: 36mm x 24mm = 864 sq.mm., 110: 17mm x 13mm = 221 sq.mm., 864/221 = 3.91)

Samsung

Sears

Vivitar

Yashica