His profound knowledge of the MINOX is based on years of historical research. His close contacts with Walter Zapp, with the MINOX Company and its present and former employees as well as with many collectors in Europe and overseas make him a recognized expert in the field of 8x11 photography. Heckmann is a founding member and President of the First German MINOX Club and an editor of the MINOX Freund, the magazine for MINOX insiders.