Aires 35-IIIc rangefinder

[ped]

Hi everyone

It's been a while since I was active here. I shot a to of film through my braun paxette collection (I think I have nearly every lens they made) but scanning the film was always what put me off. Well, recently I took a punt on a scanner that can do a whole roll at once and it's put me right back into the game.

Having sold my Leica M4 years ago, I have continued using my R-D1 and still completely love it. However film has lawyers been that extra bit special, and with my new Rondinax tank and scanner (Primefilm 3600pro) I am armed and ready to shoot film again.

Naturally I started looking at cameras, and found this Aires 35-IIIc which sounded great on paper. I love reading up and learning about new camera systems, particularly vintage manufacturers with their quirks and potted histories formed from blogs, old catalogs and bits of information scattered across the internet. The Aires proved no different; soon I was down the rabbit hole researching different models, and then this one came along from Japan.

First of all, it feels great in the hand. Very weighty, but reassuringly so. Fit and finish seems excellent. I was initially confused about not seeing the aperture blades when stopped down as I'm used to on my R-D1 and Paxettes, until I realised that they're behind the leaf shutter mechanism - a mechanism that's so quiet that I wasn't sure it was working!

I have just shot a test roll which I'll develop this eve (I dug out my Rodinal) so fingers crossed it's ok.

Side point - this is the first camera I've used with the LVS system, implemented here quite well in that the light value and aperture turn freely together or independently. As such, I'm looking for a light meter that'll read EV at different ISO - most of the meters I can see give the exposure wheel for aperture and shutter, but I can do that on the camera using the LVS. It seems like Polaroid had a meter that read only LVS which look like what I'm after - but is the only modern option a meter that gives EV as well as everything else? Ideally I want something shoe mounted. I can see though, if I get used to using LVS I should be better at judging the value by eye.

Anyway - here it is.

 

[hilltime]

I have one LNIB, and have always loved it's smooth handling and very nice H.Coral 4.5/F1.9 lens. It's been said it was designed to resemble a Leica M body. I have a few more Aires, the upscale interchangeable lens, 35-V which is awesome, the unique Radar Eye with top shutter speed of 1/1000 sec, and a more pedestrian Viscount model. This company made some great cameras in the mid to late 50's after building a lot of TLR's earlier. Unfortunately, like many companies in the 1960 economy and the rapid transition to SLR preference, away they went...

 

[ped]

‘Smooth’ is a great way to describe it. It’s a very tactile camera.

 

[oldhaven]

I have several of these Aires rangefinders and some accessories. I have enjoyed using them immensely. They do seem to suffer from oil on the shutter and aperture blades and I have had to deal with that to get shutter speeds in correct ranges. Luckily there are good videos around to help with this and other chores. I would enjoy seeing your photos and if you wish you could add them to this thread I started, but in any case enjoy your Aires.

Thread 'Aires 35 Rangefinder lenses and photos'

Apr 24, 2025

In the " What Have You Bought" thread RFF member Bernardl asked me to post some photos from the test roll of the Aires 35IIIL that I recently acquired and had to do quite a bit of work to get functional. I thought it would be a good opportunity to start a thread on the Aires 35 Rangefinders to show what the various models and lenses are capable of. I hope others feel free to post their own results from this short lived Japanese maker. I will be adding some photos from a couple of other models I own. Here are a few from the 35IIIL test roll. any flaws probably the fault of the...

• oldhaven
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Fixed Lens 35mm RF

• 

 

[ped]

Hi there, yes I saw your thread when I was researching the camera. Certainly, I'll add some pictures. I have just scanned my test roll - here's a preview (I'll add proper res tomorrow)

 

[ped]

Do eithe rof you happen to know the size of the filter required for the inner ring around the lens (black part)? I know the outer ring (silver) is 43mm, and the external size for a clamp on lens hood is 45mm... but there's a thread on the black part too which looks quite a bit smaller.

 

[oldhaven]

I have some Aires filters and hoods and they only fit the outer silver nose.

 

[ped]

I have some Aires filters and hoods and they only fit the outer silver nose.

Yes I noticed the Aires filters were 43mm. Hm. Perhaps using the smaller thread would lead to vignetting.

 

[ped]

Well, I like the camera so much that I have bought another. I spoke to Japan Camera Hunter about finding a mint example but I found a copy which has had a full CLA which is about as good as they'll get - probably better to find one that's been used but serviced than one that's never been used/seized up.

When that arrives I will attempt to take my original one apart and service it myself, which looks fairly easy thanks to a great Youtube video where the whole process is shown. Cleaning the RF patch in particular looks straightforward (famous last words) - you can see it here:

 

[oldhaven]

I don’t know if the IIIC is the same as the III, IIIL models, but be very careful not to dislodge the small cardboard square cemented to one of the glass pieces in the rangefinder. After all these years the cement’s grip is tenuous. I knocked a couple of them off and had to reposition them. A finicky job.

 

[ped]

I don’t know if the IIIC is the same as the III, IIIL models, but be very careful not to dislodge the small cardboard square cemented to one of the glass pieces in the rangefinder. After all these years the cement’s grip is tenuous. I knocked a couple of them off and had to reposition them. A finicky job.

I don’t think there’s anything like that on the iiic judging by the video

 

[ped]

Any tips on appropriate glue to use if required? I have some e6000 that I’ve used for some things which looks similar to what he’s using in the video.

 

[oldhaven]

I used Devcon clear all purpose adhesive, but found it a bit too viscous and fast drying for such fine work. It was what I had, but perhaps something else would be better.

 

[ped]

I know to avoid superglue because it goes brittle and discolours over time, including the area around the fix to some degree.

 

[rick oleson]

I know to avoid superglue because it goes brittle and discolours over time, including the area around the fix to some degree.

I like contact cement - weldwood, pliobond etc. This isn’t what it’s made for, but you can apply a drop with a toothpick, it holds things in position while it slowly dries, and being rubber based it doesn’t get brittle later on.

 

[ped]

Well my second Aires arrived today fresh from Japan. With duty and postage (which together made up half the price!) it was around £220. I’ve translated parts of the CLA report with some success and it seems as though it’s had a thorough going over. The viewfinder is crystal clear and the RF patch is much brighter and clearer than my other camera.

Additionally the whole thing feels a bit ‘tighter’ - no film door creak, focus tab is more dampened, aperture stops are more defined. It’s made an already comfortable feeling camera even better.

So now I’ll try servicing my other one myself. Perhaps a bit risky but I’d love to be able to do this myself and I’ll only learn by doing. And possibly never doing again 🤣

 

[ped]

 

[rick oleson]

Well my second Aires arrived today fresh from Japan. With duty and postage (which together made up half the price!) it was around £220. I’ve translated parts of the CLA report with some success and it seems as though it’s had a thorough going over. The viewfinder is crystal clear and the RF patch is much brighter and clearer than my other camera.

Additionally the whole thing feels a bit ‘tighter’ - no film door creak, focus tab is more dampened, aperture stops are more defined. It’s made an already comfortable feeling camera even better.

So now I’ll try servicing my other one myself. Perhaps a bit risky but I’d love to be able to do this myself and I’ll only learn by doing. And possibly never doing again 🤣

I have a few notes on it, not a whole lot:

 

[ped]

Tricky to show but the rangefinder patch is much improved, it’s a cleaner sharper rectangle which paired with the clean viewfinder makes focusing really easy even in lower light

 

[ped]

I have a few notes on it, not a whole lot:

Thanks Rick, I can’t see that or request access on my phone because the button is hidden - will try on my desktop later on.