>>2871491The controls are a bit fiddly, but the camera's really fun and cute. I'm always surprised at how small the thing is when the lens door is closed.
I got the camera with the box, packaging, eveready case etc. for €1,50 in an eBay auction (probably because there was no mention of it working) and for that price it's obviously great, but I'm not sure I would pay $50.
The controls you can get used to, but the biggest issue is reliability. A lot has been written about this online, some have never had any issues, some have had every minox 35 they owned fail multiple times. I had to fix mine when it arrived, and again a few weeks later. It dies completely without warning. If you pay attention, you can hear and feel the shutter doesn't fire properly, but I can imagine shooting away half a roll of film not knowing it's broken.
If you can, make sure the one in the store is working perfectly, test it with full batteries and fire the shutter a bunch of times.
Personally I would instead recommend an Olympus XA. It's a tiny little bit bigger than a closed Minox, but the clamshell design is superior to the flimsy door, it has a reliable reputation, the finder is better, it has a decent rangefinder and it has, surprisingly for its size, truly excellent controls.
It doesn't have full auto like some of the later Minox 35 series though and the lens doesn't have the same magic reputation as that of the Minox, but in my experience its every bit as good.
I got it similarly cheap as the Minox, but I would've gladly paid €50 or more for it. It's probably my favorite film camera, and the one I take with me most often.
