Street Candids with a Minox Leica M3

[Tee Why]

Got this little tiny camera and decided to make some candid street shots for fun. Minox is more of a toy than a camera and it makes for some interesting effects as I hear the exposure is taken like a slow scanner and introducing funky blur is easy.

Anyway.
1. Posted before, lone diner.
http://tomyi.smugmug.com/photos/319902577_i2zeh-M-1.jpg

2. Alleyway where I was having lunch in Old Town Pasadena.
http://tomyi.smugmug.com/photos/322953667_2Wz2A-M.jpg

3. Quick trip to Hollywood where Chaplin is checking his text message.
http://tomyi.smugmug.com/photos/324002597_HecfD-M.jpg

4. Batman crossing Hollywood.
http://tomyi.smugmug.com/photos/324002719_6SbcG-M.jpg

5. Batman in a crowd.
http://tomyi.smugmug.com/photos/324002588_B39Tj-M.jpg

Here is a link to the Minox Leica.
http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=21&L=1

[Ob Com]

^^

its the expression on Batman's face and the blown highs that makes the last one so great imo. Really surreal. great photograph!

[TheHoff]

That is one cool little camera. My one concern about tiny digitals is the shutter delay -- how is it?

#1 is simply fantastic. I also like #5 but it's impact is lessened a bit by #4 (takes away some of the masked man's mystery).

[Dorman]

Very cool camera and cool shots to boot!

[bikerider]

excellent shots from a great toy :).

[Tee Why]

That is one cool little camera. My one concern about tiny digitals is the shutter delay -- how is it?

#1 is simply fantastic. I also like #5 but it's impact is lessened a bit by #4 (takes away some of the masked man's mystery).

It's actually faster than the Canon A780IS (IIRC) I had. Perhaps b/c there is no AF? The lens is set at infinity so all from 3 feet to infinity is in focus. I was snapping away like crazy without any significant delay. Mind you it's not a 1D MIII going off at 10fps though.

Of course the shutter release is sticky at times, but that's another issue. Adds to the fun though as I'm never doing any serious shooting with this little thing.

Thanks for the comments to all.

[Bas]

Nice :) Cool effect!

[Tee Why]

Sorry for the confusion, the Minox Leica M3 is a tine miniature replaica of the Leica. It's a 3MP digicam.
Here take a look.
http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=21&L=1

They sell for about $200, but I managed to get a like new refurb one from Amazon for $100. Not bad for $100. For $200, I'd skip it though.

[BottomBracket]

I have always wondered about this camera and this is the first time I have seen photos from it. They are wonderful, I think it will make a great street camera. How did you do the B/W conversion? BTW I used to have a small Minox 'spy' camera long ago, it was fun to use.

[Tee Why]

Hey thanks.
I use Lightroom to convert to greyscale and play a bit with the exposure features it has. I also play with the color channels as well.

Then in PSE, I use a little level/contrast/dodge/burn.

That's about it.

[TheHoff]

I was curious to see some full size files so here is the flickr pool if anyone else is as well...

http://flickr.com/groups/69214752@N00/pool/

[Tee Why]

I was curious to see some full size files so here is the flickr pool if anyone else is as well...

http://flickr.com/groups/69214752@N00/pool/
I'm personally not impressed by the optics, too much CA. Sharpness is so so.

[TheHoff]

How does it look at 8 x 10?

[Tee Why]

Haven't printed any shots. The images I see have me thinking more like 4x6 personally.

[cricketboy75]

i love the one with chaplin on his mobile.

[fireplug]

I love that little camera, I always wondered where you could buy one?

Awesome photos, Love the batman lol.

[Tee Why]

You can get them from Amazon, B&H, and a few other large online sellers.
I got mine as a refurb for about $100 at Amazon. I'm not sure it's worth $200 which is what it goes for new.