Subminiature photography


Subminiature photography is photographic technologies and techniques working with film material smaller in size than 35mm film, such as 16mm, 9.5mm, 17mm, or 17.5mm films. It is distinct from photomicrography, photographing microscopic subjects with a camera which is not particularly small.

Definition

Subminiature — "very much reduced in size", Oxford English Dictionary.
A subminiature camera is a class of camera that is very much smaller than a "miniature camera".
The term "miniature camera" was originally used to describe cameras using the 35 mm cine film as negative material for still photography; so cameras that used film smaller than 35mm were referred to as "sub-miniature". The smallest of these are often referred to as "ultra-miniature". Lipstick cameras and other small digital cameras are not included, because they don't use film. The smaller subminiature cameras, called ultraminiature cameras, particularly Minox, are associated with spying.
In short, some people define "subminiature camera" as one that uses film smaller than 35mm, but others define it any camera that has a film format smaller than the standard 35mm format of 24x36mm.

Types

There are many subminiature cameras. Minox, followed by Tessina, GaMi, Rollei, Yashica, Mamiya, Gemflex and Minolta are the best-known manufacturers. All made small, precision cameras and a few were still in production in 2006 but by 2011, only the Minox TLX model was still in production. Getting film and processing for most smaller cameras is a challenge as they are no longer manufactured or supported. Most require cutting your own film and home-processing.
The best known subminiature formats are—in increasing size—Minox, Kodak disc, 16 mm, Super 16 mm, 110 film, 17.5mm for HIT camera, and the Advanced Photo System with different aspect ratios on 24 mm film. While many subminiature cameras were inexpensive and poorly manufactured, Minox, Gami, Edixa, Rollei, Pentax and Minolta made quality cameras capable of producing fine results—even when enlarged. Some of these formats, or non-standard cartridges loaded with an otherwise standard ciné format, are best described as specialised ; half-frame 35 mm uses standard 35 mm film; cameras such as 110 and disc were aimed at the mass market.
The first subminiature single lens reflex is the Russian Narciss camera produced in 1961-65.
First making an appearance in the late 19th century, often as concealed cameras, subminiature cameras became popular soon after WWII when many consumer markets required small, inexpensive cameras. Friedrich Kaftansky's Mini-flex was designed in 1931, on the market in 1933. Walter Zapp's Riga Minox appeared in 1938. Kodak's introduction of the 110 camera in the 1970s and the Kodak disc camera in the 1980s brought the subminiature camera to the forefront of the photographic market. The many cheap, poorly made cameras that soon appeared drove Kodak out of the market.
Various formats of subminiature camera have come and gone over the years as newer formats have replaced older one. In addition, many larger format cameras, especially 35 mm, become smaller in size and weight—partly due to the consumer demand for subminiature cameras—and were able to replace some subminiature formats. For example, full-frame 35 mm cameras, such as the Minox 35 and the Olympus XA, were made as small as earlier half-frame subminiature cameras such as the Olympus Pen, using moderate wide-angle fixed lenses to minimise lens barrel depth. Some subminiature formats, such as the Minox and 110 formats, continue in production. Most other subminiature cameras are still usable if film can be obtained, particularly if the photographer is prepared to do the processing.

Subminiature camera film

;Focusing
The process of focusing a subminiature camera is the same as any other camera:
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. 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 the Minox 110. These increase the size.
Autofocus or through-the-lens focusing systems are not used on subminiature cameras to reduce the size requirements.
;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 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 to attach to telescopes or binoculars, but these give results of lower quality than the camera's optics can achieve.
;Developing and enlarging