|
|
|
||||||||
Minolta-35 Rangefinder Cameras 1947-1958
Styled after Leica's popular screwmount rangefinder series of cameras, the Minolta-35 is a somewhat obscure, yet enjoyable camera. This series brought about the first self-timer on a focal plane shutter camera. This was also Minolta's very first 35mm camera. These cameras were fairly simple in their construction and are commonly found with badly worn shutter curtains and/or very slow shutter speeds ( usually due to the poor construction of the shutter and its curtain design ). The early Model "A" and "D" cameras are scarce. Any Minolta-35 with a serial # below 0900 is considered rare. The very last version of the series - the Model IIB, version II with lever wind is also an extremely rare item. "Model II" cameras are the most common in the series. Finding any Minolta-35 in complete, and excellent working condition is not an easy task. To date, the published data regarding these cameras and their serial #'s and versions is not well known. I am attempting to verify the different versions along with their manufacturing variations. *Please note the sale price data shown below is from 2002. Since that time, prices have dropped significantly. |
Photo couretesy of Ron Tincher |
Model |
Verified Body Serial # |
Estimated Serial # Range of Model |
Lens |
Lens Serial # |
Markings |
Notes and Comments |
2002 Sale Price/Condition/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A |
0490 |
0101-0900 ? |
45mm 2.8 |
2749 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Osaka |
Shutter Speeds include 1/5 and 1/10. Slow speed dial lock. 1947. 24x32mm format. |
Shown in HPR Leica Copies Book |
A (Ver.II) |
0955 |
0900-1000 ? |
45mm 2.8 |
3459 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Osaka |
Shutter speeds now 1/4 and 1/8. No slow speed dial lock. |
$ 1,000, v. good Ebay |
B |
1556 |
1000 ? - 4xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
|
CKS / MIOJ |
August 1948. 24X33mm Rewind knob area Viewfinder Frame Mirror-like finish Rewind Lever position Flash Shoe |
$509 Camera Dealer |
B |
1649 |
1000 ? - 4xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
2458 |
CKS / MIOJ |
|
$360, slow shttr, good. Ebay |
B |
1743 |
1000 ? - 4xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
3455 |
CKS / MIOJ |
|
|
B |
2583 |
1000 ? - 4xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
CKS / MIOJ |
|||
B |
4371 |
4xxx ? - 9000 ? |
45mm 2.8 |
|
CKS / MIOJ |
Feb. 1949. 24X34mm. Slow speeds read from FRONT of camera |
Shown in HPR Leica Copies Book |
C |
5225 |
4xxx ? - 9000 ? |
45mm 2.8 |
CKS / MIOJ |
Slow speeds read upside down from FRONT of camera |
$395, poor Camera Dealer |
|
C |
6XXX |
4xxx ? - 9000 ? |
45mm 2.8 |
|
CKS / MIOJ |
|
$395, shttr prblm Camera Dealer |
C |
7977 |
4xxx ? - 9000 ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1xxxx |
CKS / MIOJ |
||
D |
9001-10000 ? |
Aug. 1949. First Body w/strap lugs Cut out for Focusing tab on lens |
|||||
E |
10216 |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
90574 |
CKS / MIOJ |
. Feb. 1951. "Model E" engraved. 24x33mm. Diopter Adjustment addded. Sync added Flash shoe changed |
www.leicatime.com verify this is an "E" |
E |
11039 |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
14771 |
CKS / MIOJ |
||
D or E |
11XXX |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
9811 |
CKS / MIOJ |
This camera actually appears to be a Model "D" camera although in the Model "E" sequence of serial numbers. Has no "E" marking and has old flash shoe style. |
$295, poor |
E |
12255 |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
14971 |
CKS / MIOJ |
||
E |
15311 |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
17879 |
CKS / MIOJ |
$ 392, Exc+ cond. Ebay |
|
E |
15313 |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
117693 |
CKS / MIOJ |
$173, ok. Ebay |
|
E |
16756 |
10000-17xxx |
|
|
CKS / MIOJ |
2 sequential bodies (below) |
Didnt meet resvr Ebay |
E |
16757 |
10000-17xxx |
|
|
CKS / MIOJ |
2 sequential bodies (above) |
Didnt meet resvr Ebay |
E |
17127 |
10000-17xxx |
45mm 2.8 |
19977 |
CKS / MIOJ |
|
$200-400, est. @ auction, ok |
F |
21996 |
20000-25xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
135206 |
CKS / MIJ |
Feb. 1952. 24X33mm."Model F" engraved. None of these models were exported from Japan. Self Timer area has 1-2-3 markings. |
Shttr Curt bad |
F |
22101 |
20000-25xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
134917 |
CKS / MIJ |
|
$360 Camera Dealer |
F |
22514 |
20000-25xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
135515 |
CKS / MIJ |
||
F |
23675 |
20000-25xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1406507 |
CKS / MIJ |
|
$450, Exc |
F |
24129 |
20000-25xxx ? |
|
Shttr Curtain gone |
|||
F |
25356 |
20000-25xxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
CKS / MIJ |
|||
II (Ver. I) |
35947 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
139639 |
CKS / MIJ |
1953-55. No screw in slow speed dial Film Door Latch Changed Viewfinder Frame now has matte
finish, also smaller |
$499, mint- Dealer |
II (Ver. I) |
38XXX |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1400825 |
CKS / MIJ |
|
$395, bad shttr |
II (Ver. I) |
40209 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
CKS / MIJ |
$ 97, poor. Ebay |
|||
II (Ver. I) |
40927 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
|
CKS / MIJ |
|
$214, poor. Ebay |
II (Ver. I) |
41829 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
|
|
CKS / MIJ |
|
$83, parts cam. Ebay |
II (Ver. I) |
42014 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
|
CKS / MIJ |
|
|
II (Ver. I) |
46603 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1405800 |
CKS / MIJ |
||
II (Ver. I) |
50576 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1412935 |
CKS / MIJ |
|
|
II (Ver. I) |
57927 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
|
|
CKS / MIJ |
|
$103, shttr prblm. Ebay |
II (Ver. I) |
58022 |
35000-7xxxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
18511 |
CKS / MIJ |
Up to this point, leather looked like |
|
II (Ver. II) |
70570 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1414172 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan. |
1955-57 Leather changed to Rewind knob area changed Film gate marking added |
|
II (Ver.II) |
72906 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
45mm 2.8 |
1417147 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan. |
$ 100, good |
|
II (Ver.II) |
72317 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
5cm 2.8 |
15xxxxx |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
$ 205, ok. Shttr slow, hazy lens |
|
II (Ver.II) |
73857 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
||||
II (Ver.II) |
73987 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
5cm 2.8 |
1501126 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
$ 153, ok |
|
II (Ver.II) |
74164 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
50mm 2.8 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
35mm lens sold at this auction is very scarce |
$370, w/35mm + 50mm lenses, exc. Ebay |
|
II (Ver.II) |
75607 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
$ 199, Good |
|||
II (Ver.II) |
80892 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
$ 224, v. good |
|||
II (Ver.II) |
81489 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
50mm 2.8 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
$ 175, good, shttr poor |
||
II (Ver.II) |
93259 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
50mm 2.8 |
1511385 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
Post Manufacturing - Gold Plated |
|
II (Ver.II) |
95516 |
7xxxx-9xxxx ? |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
|
|||
II B (Ver. I) |
10xxxx-112xxx ? |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
1958. Change to 24x36 format. Unsure if this model ever had knob wind or went right to lever wind as below |
||||
II B (Ver. II ?) |
106915 |
10xxxx-112xxx ? |
50mm 1.8 |
X203617 | Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
Lever Wind Replaced Knob Winding Marked "IIB" on face of camera. Many chrome knobs now black. Self Timer lever changed. Font on body changed. Camera begins to look like the Minolta Super A camera that arrives in 1957 |
Shown in HPR Leica Copies Book. RARE. Email me if you want to sell one !! |
II B (Ver. II ?) |
112405 |
10xxxx-112xxx ? |
50mm 2.8 |
Chiyoda-Kogaku Japan |
The 50/2.8 was not the original lens for this version. |
Shutter Speed Area curved
Flush Front around lens
Slow Speed Dial
Back Film Door Release
New positioned rewind lever
Sync Post Changed
Shutter Speed area angular now
GET A MINOLTA-35 ON EBAY
MINOLTA-35 STANDARD LENS INFORMATION
Standard "Super Rokkor" 45mm F2.8. The standard lens for the Minolta-35 Camera until about 1955.
The Super Rokkor is a 5 element, Heliar designed lens that was considered excellent in its day.
Changes noted on this lens from 1947-55:
4 Digit Serial # Lenses likely only fitted to Models A,B,C. There is a circular "window" on the face of the lens which displays the lens aperture selected. In addition, the letter "o" has an accent mark.
5 Digit Serial # Lenses likely only fitted to Models D & early E models. "Window" remains; the accent mark is gone and slight font change. Lens scale in meters. Focusing Lever added.
6 Digit Serial # Lenses likely fitted to late Models E's, all Model F's & early Model II's. "Window" gone, font reduced. Filters can be screwed into black front lens retaining ring ( 21.5mm size filters ) in addition to outer lens threads.
7 Digit Serial # Lenses likely fitted to late Model II's and early Model IIb's. Font reduced or altered. Lens scale in feet. Can no longer use filter on lens retaining ring - only outer lens threads
|
