The Minox is a subminiature
camera conceived in 1922 and
invented in 1936 by German-
Latvian Walter Zapp,[1] which
Latvian factory VEF (Valsts
Elektrotehniskā Fabrika)
manufactured from 1937 to
1943. After World War II, the
camera was redesigned and
production resumed in
Germany in 1948. Originally
envisioned as a luxury item,
[citation needed] it gained wide
notoriety as a spy camera.
Minox branched out into 110
film format and 35 mm film
cameras in 1976 and 1978,
respectively. Minox continues
to operate today, producing or
branding optical and
photographic equipment.