Minolta 35
Encyclopedia
The Minolta-35 was launched in the spring of 1947 by Chiyoda Kogaku
. It was the first successful new 35mm rangefinder camera with Leica
specifications to emerge on the market after World War II that utilises the 39mm screw lens-mount
. The Minolta-35 range of cameras was manufactured in quantities during its twelve-year production period, totalling about 40,000 units. Only the 1933 FED
and the 1940 Leotax cameras had appeared successfully before it, although several Leica copies
had appeared in both Italy and Japan.
and rangefinder
eyepiece
, negating the need to move the sight from one window to the other. It also features a self-timer and a rear door to facilitate film loading. The camera came with a decent Super Rokkor 45mm f/2.8 standard optic comprising five elements in three groups, including the front group of three cemented elements designed to secure sharp images on the small negative. When the camera appeared all engravings on the lens and on the slow-speed dial were oriented to be read from the front side of the camera. Later, at about serial no. 4000, they were turned to be read as one holds the camera for picture taking. Accessory mounted in the shoe on top of the camera is secured by a spring-loaded ball that sometimes mistakenly is assumed to be a flash synchroniser contact, which it is not.
receptacle was provided at the back just below the accessory shoe. The viewfinder now has an eyesight adjustment, accomplished by rotating the eyepiece bezel.
became available using a standard coaxial PC socket.
film format was introduced. During the production run several changes were made, allowing for a second version possibly introduced about serial number 70,000: The most notable feature is the deeper drawn top and base cover plates. In addition, the full company name is reintroduced: CHIYODA KOGAKU. A red X between 8 and 25 at the slow speed dial indicates the proper flash synchronising shutter speed. After two years run in the summer of 1955, two new 50mm standard lenses in modernised barrels became available; the Super Rokkor 1:2 50mm and the 1:2.8 50mm.
and its successors.
Minolta
Minolta Co., Ltd. was a Japanese worldwide manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It is perhaps best known for making the first integrated autofocus 35mm SLR camera system...
. It was the first successful new 35mm rangefinder camera with Leica
Leica Standard
The Leica Standard, Model E was the fourth version to be launched from Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar, Germany. The concept was conceived by their employee Oscar Barnack in 1913 at which time two prototypes were built. However, it was not until 1924 that Leitz decided to go ahead with the concept and...
specifications to emerge on the market after World War II that utilises the 39mm screw lens-mount
M39 lens mount
The M39 lens mount is a screw thread mounting system for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily rangefinder Leicas. It is also the most common mount for Photographic enlarger lenses....
. The Minolta-35 range of cameras was manufactured in quantities during its twelve-year production period, totalling about 40,000 units. Only the 1933 FED
FED (camera)
The FED is a Soviet rangefinder camera, mass produced from 1934 until around 1990, and also the name of the factory that made it.FED is indirectly named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Cheka...
and the 1940 Leotax cameras had appeared successfully before it, although several Leica copies
Leica copies
After World War II, the Allied countries made all German patents in their country available to the public free of charge. Ernst Leitz had no patents registered in the USSR. Cameras introduced later would not cause patent rights infringements as far as the early Leica models are concerned...
had appeared in both Italy and Japan.
Minolta-35 (Model A)
On entering the miniature camera business, Chiyoda Kogaku had decided to make the frame size 24×32mm, a logical proposition at the time since most photo copies were made at paper closer to this format. The already established international standard was 36 images of 24×36mm. By doing so, a standard length of film yielded four more exposures on a 36-exposure load. The Minolta-35 has a combined viewfinderViewfinder
In photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system. Viewfinders are used in many cameras of...
and rangefinder
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
eyepiece
Eyepiece
An eyepiece, or ocular lens, is a type of lens that is attached to a variety of optical devices such as telescopes and microscopes. It is so named because it is usually the lens that is closest to the eye when someone looks through the device. The objective lens or mirror collects light and brings...
, negating the need to move the sight from one window to the other. It also features a self-timer and a rear door to facilitate film loading. The camera came with a decent Super Rokkor 45mm f/2.8 standard optic comprising five elements in three groups, including the front group of three cemented elements designed to secure sharp images on the small negative. When the camera appeared all engravings on the lens and on the slow-speed dial were oriented to be read from the front side of the camera. Later, at about serial no. 4000, they were turned to be read as one holds the camera for picture taking. Accessory mounted in the shoe on top of the camera is secured by a spring-loaded ball that sometimes mistakenly is assumed to be a flash synchroniser contact, which it is not.
Minolta-35 (Model B)
Already after a few months production successive modifications were introduced, both internally and on the outside. The first one, at about serial no.600, the engraving sequence on the long time dial was changed from 1-2-5-10-25 to 1-2-4-8-25. At about serial number 1500 the inscription at the top of the camera was simplified from the full company name, Chiyoda-Kogaku Osaka, to the initials C.K.S. for Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko.Minolta-35 (Model C)
At about serial number 4000 the frame size was increased to 33mm length. It would gradually increase until finally, in 1953, it reach the full 36mm length when it was realised that it was impossible to obtain accept for the shorter format for export, since automatic cutting and mounting machines for colour slides would destroy three out of four slides. In addition, the rewind release lever was increased somewhat in size. The engravings on the lens and on the slow speed dial were turned to be read as one holds the camera for picture taking!Minolta-35 (Model D)
In 1949 at about serial no.10,000, a recess was introduced under the lens-mount to improve operating the lens focusing lever, and the rewind release lever was moved, placed under the frame counter. By now the film frame length has been increased to 34mm, and carrying strap eyelets has been added at either end of the camera body.Minolta-35 Model E
From late 1951 at about serial number 15,000, the camera model designation was engraved on the camera front in the upper right corner of the lens mount plate, starting at model E. At this stage, a mechanical flash synchronizationFlash synchronization
In a camera, flash synchronization is defined as the firing of a photographic flash coinciding with the shutter admitting light to photographic film or electronic image sensor. It is often shortened to flash sync or flash synch....
receptacle was provided at the back just below the accessory shoe. The viewfinder now has an eyesight adjustment, accomplished by rotating the eyepiece bezel.
Minolta-35 Model F
A year later at about serial number 17,000, the flash synchronizationFlash synchronization
In a camera, flash synchronization is defined as the firing of a photographic flash coinciding with the shutter admitting light to photographic film or electronic image sensor. It is often shortened to flash sync or flash synch....
became available using a standard coaxial PC socket.
Minolta-35 Model II
In 1953 at about serial number 35,000, finally the full frameFull frame
In cinematography, full frame refers to the use of the full film gate at maximum width and height for 35 mm film cameras. It is sometimes also referred to as silent aperture, full gate, or a number of other similar word combinations. It is the original gate size pioneered by William Dickson and...
film format was introduced. During the production run several changes were made, allowing for a second version possibly introduced about serial number 70,000: The most notable feature is the deeper drawn top and base cover plates. In addition, the full company name is reintroduced: CHIYODA KOGAKU. A red X between 8 and 25 at the slow speed dial indicates the proper flash synchronising shutter speed. After two years run in the summer of 1955, two new 50mm standard lenses in modernised barrels became available; the Super Rokkor 1:2 50mm and the 1:2.8 50mm.
Minolta-35 Model IIB
Finally, the last model was introduced in May 1958 at about serial number 103,000, now engraved under the company name at the top. The notable new feature is the lever wind with the frame counter in its hub and the rewind release lever moved away from it and it is much smaller. The standard lens on this model is the black finished Super Rokkor 1:1.8 50mm. Production ended a year later in preference of the new area of 35mm SLR cameras well on their way with the Minolta SR-2Minolta SR-2
The name Minolta was first used in 1932 on the 4.5×6 format Semi-Minolta using 120 film. The manufacturer was established in November 1928 by Kazuo Tashima as the Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten together with two Germans living in Japan, but reorganised as a joint stock company named the Molta Goshi...
and its successors.