Introduction & contents

Introduction | Acmel MD black, silver-grey | Fujicolor MC 007 | Fujicolor M² | Minox MX | Revue MD | Film | MDX flash

Asanuma Camera and Mechanical Laboratory (Acmel) moved on from the Nikkoh Minimax type cameras (Acmel M / Acmel MX) and produced the MD along with matching MDX strobe. The camera was sold by Fuji as the MC 007 and a more restricted version M². Minox also sold a version, the MX, without CdS metering. The camera resembles the style of the Minolta MG-s with a film advance wheel, lens cover and CdS metering but has true focus at infinity and close up to 30cm without the need for additional lens verses both aperture and shutter speed selection of the Minolta.

There is no pressure plate and it relies on the tension of the film in the cassette. Also it doesn't have a safety lock when the cover is slid across the lens. The camera is ergonomically curvy and very attractive BUT it seems to have skipped things that are standard in older Minox subminiature cameras. The lettering on the camera body is not etched, or engraved, to the gold lettering for the focusing lever's distance scale will rub off in your pocket or from too much handling. Shutterbug gave the camera great reviews, but amongst user circles it disappointed.

Asanuma Acmel MD

Dating from 1991 the camera was also sold in North America by Microtec. Sometimes called the MDX (as labelled on the flash), but is not the same as the Acmel MX. It has an Azonon f/3.5 15mm (3 groups/4 elements) tessar type lens, fixed f/4.8, focusing scale marked 0.3m, 0.6, 1,2,4, hyper-focal point and infinity. Bright line viewer with close-up frame for 0.3m. Shutter 2 sec. to 1/500th. CdS photometer, linkage range EV 5 ~ 13 (ISO 100). Manual film speed dial setting ISO 25, 50, 100 and 400. A thumb-wheel allowing one-handed operation advances the film and readies the shutter for the next exposure. Viewfinder with two LED, a green one for shutter actuation confirmation lamp ("aperture is open") and a red one for slow shutter warning ("long time") and a separate button to test "long time" like on the Minox C)

"The camera was the size of the EC, had top shutter speed of 1/500 sec. like the EC, full auto exposure like the EC, fully auto flash unlike the EC and fully adjustable focus unlike the EC. Retailed for about $250 with flash. Asanuma produced 10,000 units in their first production run. They sold less than 500 units world wide the first year even though they were marketed thru one of the largest mail order catalogues in the world - Quelle out of Germany. It was essentially a marketing disaster." Seth Moore Submini-L March 1997

Fuji MC-007

Very similar to, if not the same as, the silver grey Acmel MD.  

Fujicolor M²

Very similar to the Acmel MD but without CdS meter, sold in silver grey.

Minox MD

A darker grey than the Fujicolor M² but with similar features, i.e. no CdS meter.

Revue MD

Quelle Revue has a long history of selling various re-badged subminiature cameras in Europe. The Revue MD is the same as the Acmel MD/Fuji MC-007 with a black finish.

Depth of Field

Flash

There are two versions of the flash unit, one for the Acmel MD and Fuji MS-008 and the other for the Minox MD cameras. The units are identical in size (61x42x20 mm, weighing 38g) but the the Minox MD version lacks a the ability to match light to film speed or available light. The unit is also similar in size to the Minox 8x11 electronic flash but with a budge to accommodate the C123A battery. It has a very fast recharge time. The identical 3 prong plug fitment, licensed from Minox will fit the Minox EC and with the 8x11 adapter will also fire from the LX/TLX cameras. Results with Minox C are more mixed (okay to 1/125th, but to fire the flash at faster speeds depend upon the camera) and Minox themselves claim that it is not compatible with other Minox cameras than their MX. Some users report success using this flash with the Minox EC, but others found the synchronization failed.

Last updated 29th August 2007