Minolta 35
Chiyoda Kogaku, later to be called Minolta, was relatively late to start making a Leica based 35mm rangefinder. The first was produced in 1947[1] and was called the Minolta 35. Up untill then, Chiyoda had specialised in rollfilm cameras (such as the Semi Minolta). Eventually, Minolta would even cooperate with Leitz to build rangefinder cameras, such as the Leitz Minolta CL.
Minolta 35 Model I a
The first Minolta 35 was similar to the Leica III with which it shared a common lens mount. The Minolta took 24×32 mm pictures on 135 film. Its Rokkor 45mm standard lens has enough coverage for this[2] so called Nippon format, but not for the full 24×36mm. Obviously, this makes lens exchangability with the screw-mount Leica a one-way street.
From a users point-of-view however, the Minota has some advantages over its German contemporary:
The Minolta 35 has a combined rangefinder/viewfinder window, and a self-timer. The Minolta's hinged back door enables quicker film loading than on a camera where the back has to be taken off entirely.
variations
This camera was not made in large numbers: serial numbers range from 0101 to 0900 or 1000. Later models in this series have a slightly different set of slower speeds: 1, 2, 4, 8, 25 in stead of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25. The change is said to have taken place at number 0800[3] or 0900[4].
- ↑ Canon already made Leica-style rangefinders in 1933.
- ↑ article in Photo Deal II/2007 p17.
- ↑ article in Photo Deal II/2007 p17.
- ↑ http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/minolta.htm
Links
- features of Minolta 35 mm rangefinder cameras at the Antique and Classic Camera Web Site.
- minolta rangefinders at Minman.
- Early Minolta 35 Model 1a [1].
