SUBMINIATURE DICTIONARY

8mm -- A film that is 8mm (and sometimes 16mm) wide. It comes in unperforated, single perforated and double perforated. It originally was designed as a movie film. Single perforated stock is also called "super 8". Various formats can be produced on the film. See Super 8, Split 8 and Dual 8.
9.5mm -- A film that is 9.5mm wide. It originally was designed as a movie film from Europe. It is best known to submini users as Minox-sized film, although Minox film is really about 9.2mm wide -- go figure.
16mm -- A film that is 16mm wide. It comes in unperforated, single perforated and double perforated styles. It originally was designed as a movie film. The "standard" 16mm film is perforated on both edges. Single perforated stock is sometimes called "super 16" since a larger image can be produced. Various formats can be produced on the film. See Super 16.
17.5mm -- A film size derived by cutting unperforated 35mm film down the middle. Originally used to minimize cost, it is used in many Japanese subminiature cameras.
35mm -- A film that is 35mm wide, it comes double perforated or unperforated. It was originally designed as a movie film. Various formats can be produced on the film.
110 -- The original "110" was a roll film size from the beginning of the 20th century. Kodak reused the 110 number for the cassette format that was introduced in the early 1970s for use with the Pocket Instamatic cameras. The film and backing paper is contained in a cassette that consists of a source chamber, the film path and a takeup spool. The takeup spool (and spent film) has to be removed by breaking the cassette. The film has special perforations along one edge, one perforation per frame. The perforations are used primarily to position the film behind the lens, and in many cameras to cock the shutter as well. Frame size is 12.5x17mm. The backing paper has frame numbers, to be viewed through a window in the camera back. Cassettes usually contained 12 exposures, although some 20 and 24 exposure loads were available. Only one type of cassette was made and this can be reloaded with enough time and energy.
double-frame -- The original term for the 35mm cameras with a 24x36mm format. It was twice the size of the original "single-frame" format.
dual 8 -- same as split 8.
f-stop -- this term is listed here more to set the record straight, than define the term. Many people wonder what the "f" means. Different authors have suggested everything from "formula", because it is calculated with a formula, to "fotography". In reality, it stands for "fraction", since the number is a fraction.
flashcube -- a set of four AG-1 flashbulbs enclosed in a plastic housing with a special connection on the bottom. NOT interchangeable with a Magicube. A battery is required to use.
flip-flash -- a set of ten AG-1 flashbulbs enclosed in a plastic housing having two rows of five flashes each..
full-frame -- A later term used for the "double-frame" format.
half-frame -- A later term used for the "single-frame" format. This term is also used for other "half' frame formats, such as half of the "standard" 127 film format.
Made In Occupied Japan -- "Made In Occupied Japan" is a common marking on cameras made during the late 1940's and early 1950's. After World War II, the United States occupied the country and required all items destined for export to be marked "Made In Occupied Japan". Most were marked in one way or another. But items made for the home market of Japan did not need to be marked. The Occupation officially ended in September of 1951, but some items may have still been marked for a brief time after this date. Add to this mix the fact that many of the "home-market" products were actually exported and others were brought home by toursits and G.I.s and it's a real plate of spaghetti.
Magicube -- a set of four AG-1 flashbulbs enclosed in a plastic housing with a special connection on the bottom. NOT interchangeable with a flashcube. No battery is needed to operate.
miniature -- A term which originally used to describe the 35mm camera. When they became popular in the 1930's, a term was needed to separate them from the normal, larger cameras of the day.
MIOJ -- "Made In Occupied Japan" is a common marking on cameras made during the late 1940's and early 1950's. After World War II, the United States occupied the country and required all items destined for export to be marked "Made In Occupied Japan". Most were marked in one way or another. But items made for the home market of Japan did not need to be marked. The Occupation officially ended in September of 1951, but some items may have still been marked for a brief time after this date. Add to this mix the fact that many of the "home-market" products were actually exported and others were brought home by toursits and G.I.s and it's a real plate of spaghetti.
single-frame -- the original term for the first 35mm film format. Originally 35mm film was a movie film and in these cameras it had a format of 18x24mm. The first still 35mm cameras kept this format, and were known as "single-frame" cameras.
split 8 -- 16mm film that is double perforated (it has twice as many perforations as regular 16mm film, but the same number as 8mm film) and split down the middle after processing to produce single perforated 8mm film.
subminiature -- This term arose to separate out cameras that were smaller than the normal, "miniature", 35mm cameras.
super 8 -- 8mm film that is single perforated. This allows for a larger image than the double perforated film.
super 16 -- 16mm film that is single perforated. This allows for a larger image than the double perforated film.
superminiature -- Another, alternative-term for the subminiature camera, but it never caught on.
ultraminiature -- A term made popular as an alternative to "subminiature". Some felt that "subminiature" was somewhat derogatory, suggesting that the "quality" of the cameras or results was "sub"-standard. "Ultraminiature" put a different spin on it, but never caught on..

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