dxq.canada
Well-known
Many opinions on this camera ?
I am thinking of buying one.
Anyone experience this rangefinder ?
... and how bad is the shutter (lots of warnings about deterioration) ?
... film loading ?
I am thinking of buying one.
Anyone experience this rangefinder ?
... and how bad is the shutter (lots of warnings about deterioration) ?
... film loading ?
L David Tomei
Well-known
I have one of the very early Minolta 35's and it is a great little camera to use. The shutter works well at all speeds though I haven't used the slow speeds. The lenses produced for these cameras are of very high quality IMO and I haven't read any bad reviews of their performance. The camera was changed a bit by the time of the II. The II is, I believe, the 24x36 format, though my early model was 24x32. The chrome on the early ones was pretty bad and improved by the II arrived.
Forgive the errors on this page but it's still readable. The new site will have these problems fixed. See: https://sites.google.com/site/ldtomei/tobedone.
David
Forgive the errors on this page but it's still readable. The new site will have these problems fixed. See: https://sites.google.com/site/ldtomei/tobedone.
David
dxq.canada
Well-known
Nice write up on the Minolta.
I never discovered this link via Google search.
I have noticed some very high pricing for the Minolta-35's ... not sure if sellers are trying to bump pricing.
I like the concept of back loading ... and was reading over the manual ... I would assume the Minolta film cassette is optional ?
I never discovered this link via Google search.
I have noticed some very high pricing for the Minolta-35's ... not sure if sellers are trying to bump pricing.
I like the concept of back loading ... and was reading over the manual ... I would assume the Minolta film cassette is optional ?
L David Tomei
Well-known
Thanks, dxq.Canada. That link is to the old site no longer listed on Google. New one will be up soon.
The Minolta 35's have gone up. I collect, fix, save old cameras but the climbing prices causes me to shift in what I buy now. Like historically important Instamatics.
The Minolta 35's have gone up. I collect, fix, save old cameras but the climbing prices causes me to shift in what I buy now. Like historically important Instamatics.
dxq.canada
Well-known
Is the Minolta-35 fairly tall ?
Images I have seen appear to indicate that it is as tall as a Canon P ... doesn't look as short as a Leica rangefinder.
Images I have seen appear to indicate that it is as tall as a Canon P ... doesn't look as short as a Leica rangefinder.
dxq.canada
Well-known
David (or anyone else), you ever replace the shutter curtains on one of these ?
I have already looked over this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106774 which is very helpful,
but was interested if anyone had more details into this ... size of curtains, material, attaching to rollers ... etc.
So far in my googling I have not found any good dissasembly resources for this camera.
Reason I am asking ... I picked up a Minolta-35 Model II (ver b) for cheap with a bad curtain.
I have already looked over this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106774 which is very helpful,
but was interested if anyone had more details into this ... size of curtains, material, attaching to rollers ... etc.
So far in my googling I have not found any good dissasembly resources for this camera.
Reason I am asking ... I picked up a Minolta-35 Model II (ver b) for cheap with a bad curtain.
L David Tomei
Well-known
I haven't had to replace the curtains yet. I guess I'll be watching to see what you turn up and I'll try some new searching too. Nothing except what was posted 4 years ago so far. David
dxq.canada
Well-known
Ok, got the first one ... Minolta-35 model II (ver b).
This is a nice camera. Feels great in the hand. Feels smaller than my Canon P, even though it is almost the same max dimensions.
View/Rangefinder is pretty good to look through, even though they made it smaller.
On this one the shutter is intact and working ... though a little slow (which I expected). The Super Rokkor 50mm f/2 that came with it is a nice looking lens. I think my wife is going to steal it away from me.
The second Minolta (with the bad shutter) is on its way still ... though without a Minolta lens.
This is a nice camera. Feels great in the hand. Feels smaller than my Canon P, even though it is almost the same max dimensions.
View/Rangefinder is pretty good to look through, even though they made it smaller.
On this one the shutter is intact and working ... though a little slow (which I expected). The Super Rokkor 50mm f/2 that came with it is a nice looking lens. I think my wife is going to steal it away from me.
The second Minolta (with the bad shutter) is on its way still ... though without a Minolta lens.
dxq.canada
Well-known
Followup:
I did a shutter curtain replacement. I did a lot of research reading up on FSU cameras and some info from Rick Oleson's CD.
Got single sided material sheet from eBay seller nobbysparrow (and the straps).
Replacing a curtain not an easy thing as access to the rollers is restricted after pulling out the insides ... due to this it makes it difficult to glue them on (without cursing). Getting the alignment was the hardest part, and I had to remove and adjust a couple of times.
Sadly, due to GAS, my problem has reoccurred and I am going through this again with a different camera. This time I will make better notes.
BTW, anyone have a Model II ver.a for parts ?
I did a shutter curtain replacement. I did a lot of research reading up on FSU cameras and some info from Rick Oleson's CD.
Got single sided material sheet from eBay seller nobbysparrow (and the straps).
Replacing a curtain not an easy thing as access to the rollers is restricted after pulling out the insides ... due to this it makes it difficult to glue them on (without cursing). Getting the alignment was the hardest part, and I had to remove and adjust a couple of times.
Sadly, due to GAS, my problem has reoccurred and I am going through this again with a different camera. This time I will make better notes.
BTW, anyone have a Model II ver.a for parts ?
isoterica
Established
I have 2 Minolta 35 Model II's. The first was purchased by my father while he was stationed in Korea during the war. The second I got on ebay as a backup. Good to hear that you got the curtains aligned. That seems to be the only thing that really goes wrong with them, their curtains didn't last. Unfortunately I don't have any parts to offer, or rather thankfully as both of mine are currently working. Good luck parts sourcing.