The Mighty Minolta 35 Model II

    The goddess of vintage cameras must have been perched on my shoulder when I scored this Minolta 35. That's because although these otherwise sturdy cameras are noted for having shutters that have become unreliable over time, the shutter on this gem still functions perfectly. What's more, the fact that Chiyoka-Kogaku Osaka produced just 3,000-4,000 units makes this one quite rare.
     Depending on the requirements of the photographer, the self timer lever below the low speed shutter dial can be set at three different speeds. The Minolta 35 has a longer rangefinder base than that of its cousin, as well as a diopter adjustment built into the viewfinder. I think the little screw at the bottom of the viewfinder window allows for adjustment of the rangefinder, but I'm not sure.The slow speed dial is marked for I, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/25 second. Top shutter speed is 1/500.

    A clone of the Leica III, the Minolta 35 Model II features interchangeable screw mount  lenses that are compatible with those of the Leica, but for lenses other than the normal Chiyoko Super Rokkor 2.8/45mm lens you would need an accessory viewfinder.
    Seen from the side, the beautifully finished normal lens is extremely efficient and compact. The blue dot marks the diaphragm adjusting ring, which is not click stopped. Green marks the focusing knob, and red denotes the depth of field scale. What could be simpler?
     The film advance knob at the right on the top plate in the photo below perches above the film counter. The shutter release is to its left next to the high speed shutter setting dial. The accessory shoe follows, with the PC connector just below it. At the left in the photo are the eyepiece with its diopter adjusting ring and the rewind knob, which can be pulled up for ease of use. The Minolta-35 has a back that swings open for ease of film loading. This is an improvement over the early Leicas, which had to be loaded by removing the bottom plate.

    Leicaphiles tend to disregard cameras that don't bear the Leica logo. That said, I've found that several other cameras--and especially this one--are as well made, aesthetically pleasing, and capable of producing excellent images as are those the master craftsmen created for Ernst Leitz Wetzlar during the fifties.
   After all, when push comes to shove, it's the final image that counts, isn't it?

COMING SOON: The Minolta Super A