Sub Miniature Cameras

Miniature Cameras

Technically, the term “miniature” when applied to cameras actually refers to 35mm “135” film, which has actually been the standard, most popular film size for the last forty-plus years. However, when it was introduced, it was much smaller than the established “120” film, which came in several sizes, from 41.5mm to 22.4cm across. And so, the name stuck. Therefore, many film sizes smaller than the standard 35mm are more accurately considered “Sub-Miniature” or “Ultra-Miniature” photography. There are numerous popular sub-miniature sizes, ranging from 8x11 mm (Minox, the best-known of the Ultra-Miniature “spy” cameras) to 18x24 mm (Half-Frame, having half the area of a typical 24x36 mm “135” film exposure).

A lot of sub-miniature photographers don’t consider the Half-Frame format to truly count as sub-miniature, as their cameras can often be as large as a typical 35mm camera, thus defeating the point. The archetypal Sub-Miniature cameras, the Minox brand, were invented in the late 1930’s as luxury items, however, when WWII began, both the Axis and Allies forces quickly capitalized on their small size for use in espionage. Although the Minox is still in production and other cameras can be found easily enough, a serious problem for sub-miniature enthusiasts is finding film, as many of the smaller formats simply aren’t supported by most manufacturers. Sub-miniature photographers typically have to cut their own film and develop it themselves in at-home darkrooms.

Miniature Digital Cameras

Freed from the restrictions of film, digital cameras can be made at far smaller sizes than regular cameras. One only needs to look at a cell phone to see how small they can become. Dedicated digital cameras can be made that are no larger than a credit card and only slightly thicker, and China’s Kodoka company markets a series of tiny, Ultra-Ultra-Miniature digital video cameras that are only 1.5 inches on a side and weighing less than three ounces.

Miniature Video Cameras

Current camera technologies allow them to be miniaturized enough to fit inside a smoke detector, on a button, at the front of a baseball cap, behind a photograph or nearly anywhere else. These kinds of cameras can be installed anywhere, almost totally unobtrusively, and be set up to broadcast their feeds to a nearby TV or recording device, making them perfect for home security purposes.