Minolta 35
Model II Type 1

by Karen Nakamura

Overview and Personal Comments

Very few people know that Minolta made a series of Leica-screw mount clones in the immediate post-war period. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

Indeed, when I first saw this camera at auction, I thought it was one of the lesser expensive fixed-lens rangefinders that were produced in the 1960s. Imagine my surprise when the lens screwed off revealing a standard M39 rangefinder mount! The RF actuating cam has a roller on it, smaller than a Leica but still at spec.

I was determined to get this camera (along with the Canon IVsb that was in the same lot). Both were in near-mint condition, apparently owned by a single collector who bought them in 1953. The Canon even came with the original warrantee papers.

The Minolta 35 series was Chiyoda Kogaku Seisakusho's attempt at a Leica clone. The post-war period saw a number of these from a variety of manufacturers. As clones go, this is nicely done. It has a separate slow speed dial (seen to the right here) and a self-timer with two settings ('1' and '2'). The styling is very reminiscent of the Leica III series, however it uses a combined RF and viewfinder window (45mm normal view).

The shutter's top speed is only 1/500 sec. unfortunately. The shutter speed progression is also non-standard as you can see. The original Minolta 35 Models A-E have a 24x32mm or 24x34m film gate, which is smaller than the current 24x36 standard. This saved film and enlarged to 8x10 paper more easily.

With the Model II Minolta expanded the film gate to the standard 24x36mm because Americans were having problems with Kodachrome slide processing automatic film cutters, which chopped up the film into bits. The same will happen if you have film shot with the first models and try to get them processed at an automatic lab. Instead -- have the pro lab process your film (negative or slides) and asked for them to be returned "uncut, and sleeved." This will allow you to hand cut your film / scan it / process it manually.

One area that Minolta did improve on the Leica was in the viewfinder/rangefinder which had a built-in diopter adjustment (below). Even the Leica M7 doesn't have this feature to this date. Also, the back swings open for easier loading, rather than the bottom loading of the Leica rangefinders. This camera is knob-wind and knob-rewind, like the original Leica.

Interesting quirks

The Minolta shutter is a clone of the Leica: horizontal running and is made of rubberized cloth. However, unlike the Leica shutter which is legendary for its durability, the Minolta shutter is quite fragile. Very few cameras have made it to the current period with their original shutters. Most of the Minolta 35s you see on eBay either have broken shutters or are being sold by people who "know nothing about cameras. As-is." Be careful! Ask that the shutters are good.

There's a lever under the wind knob, marked "R", this is the rewind release.

The shutter button is on a stalk, which makes it easier to shoot but much harder to attach a remote-release. I'm looking into whether any remote releases were available.

There are two subtypes of the Model II. The easiest way to tell them apart is the top plate. My own, a Type I, has the initials "C.K.S." for Chiyoda Kogaku Seisakusho. The Type II models, released in 1955 are engraded "Chiyoda Kogaku" and have a reduced viewfinder window.

Interestingly, mine is not stamped "E.P." for Export Permit.

Technical Details

Comparison between the Minolta 35 Model II and other Rangefinders of the 1950s and 1960s

My Leica Mount Lens Collection (15mm , 25mm, 28mm, 35mm, 40mm, 45 mm, 50mm, 52mm, 85mm, 90mm, 100mm, 135mm)

About Minolta

Minolta began making cameras in 1928 as the "Nichi-doku Shashinki Shokai" (Japanese-German Camera Factory) and in 1937 was renamed Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha or Chiyoko for short. One man was the heart of the company, Kazuo Tashima. He ran the company from 1928 to 1972. Before the war, Chiyoko made medium and large format cameras and began making 35mm cameras after the war. They started using the Minolta brand in 1937. In the post-War period, they made a series of Leica clones, the Minolta 35 rangefinder.

In 1962, Chiyoko changed its name to Minolta. They are famous for the first SLR with fully coupled metering, the SR-7 and the first model with built-in motor drive (SR-M). They also produced the first camera with integral autofocus, the Minolta Maxxum 7000 (aka Alpha 7000) in 1985. I remember when in 1986, my dad brought home his shiny new Minolta 7000 and handed me down his old Pentax Spotmatic SPII (which still have). Ironically, the Pentax still sees more use than the Alpha because of its ability to run fully manually.

In any case, Minolta continues to make great 35mm SLRs as well as an increasing array of interesting digital cameras. In 2003, Minolta announced a merger with Konica, Japan's oldest camera manufacturer. Hopefully the merged company (Konolta? Monica?) will have enough financial resources to continue to produce high-end film-based SLRs and rangefinders.

On the Net

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