mgchan
Back To Film
Minolta-35 Model II w/Super Rokkor f/2.8 45mm lens and Minolta-35 Model C w/Industar-26m f/2.8 52mm lens:
Georgeboosh
Member
Nice looking gear. Have they been restored? Unusual to find a post about Minolta 35s on this forum. I have a couple in a state of disrepair: a model II and a model B; one day I'll get around to fixing them.
Do you still shoot with them? What's your opinion of their performance?
Do you still shoot with them? What's your opinion of their performance?
mgchan
Back To Film
I'd picked these up last year and have been alternately using them on and off.
When I'd received the Model C, it was disassembled in pieces, with stuck rock hard curtains on the rollers. New shutter curtains was included with it. It took about two weeks of my spare time to clean, remove and replace the shutter curtains, repair the broken timer spring assembly, reassemble and get it working. Surprisingly, there were no parts left over!
The coverings on both camera were pretty shot, so I recovered them with leather from CameraLeather.com.
I'm not sure how accurate the speeds are on both cameras. Using the Sunny 16 rule and a VC II meter, photos seems to be coming out correctly exposed.
These are my first RFs that I've shot with and what got me back into film, so I don't have anything to compare against. They're wonderful cameras and heavy like a brick!
Get your 35s repaired and go out shooting!
When I'd received the Model C, it was disassembled in pieces, with stuck rock hard curtains on the rollers. New shutter curtains was included with it. It took about two weeks of my spare time to clean, remove and replace the shutter curtains, repair the broken timer spring assembly, reassemble and get it working. Surprisingly, there were no parts left over!
The coverings on both camera were pretty shot, so I recovered them with leather from CameraLeather.com.
I'm not sure how accurate the speeds are on both cameras. Using the Sunny 16 rule and a VC II meter, photos seems to be coming out correctly exposed.
These are my first RFs that I've shot with and what got me back into film, so I don't have anything to compare against. They're wonderful cameras and heavy like a brick!
Get your 35s repaired and go out shooting!
Last edited:
Georgeboosh
Member
Heavy is the right word!
Looks like you did a good job.
If you're interested in making your own shutter speed tester there are 2 links worth looking at:
http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/0044cW
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/004/0044cW-10288684.pdf
I made one myself following the advice in these links that seems to work well with a free software called Audacity that I downloaded.
Looks like you did a good job.
If you're interested in making your own shutter speed tester there are 2 links worth looking at:
http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/0044cW
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/004/0044cW-10288684.pdf
I made one myself following the advice in these links that seems to work well with a free software called Audacity that I downloaded.
je2a3
je
Beautiful Minolta 35s mgchan!
I have a late 40s early 24 x 32 frame version and tried to replace the missing curtains unsuccessfully. The 4 post system is quite different from a Leica shutter. AFAIK, this unit require curtains of similar size with the ribbon cut from the same cloth.
I'd appreciate any tips!
WRT shutter tester, Rick Oleson's TV/CRT tester has been quite reliable for my purpose.
I have a late 40s early 24 x 32 frame version and tried to replace the missing curtains unsuccessfully. The 4 post system is quite different from a Leica shutter. AFAIK, this unit require curtains of similar size with the ribbon cut from the same cloth.
I'd appreciate any tips!
WRT shutter tester, Rick Oleson's TV/CRT tester has been quite reliable for my purpose.
paulfish4570
Veteran
two beauties you have there ...
mgchan
Back To Film
Thanks for the feedback all!
I appreciate the shutter tester links and will look into building one.
Since it was my first time installing the shutter curtains, the only advice I can give is... do a lot of reading, research and do as much testing as possible before committing to cutting and gluing the curtains and ribbons to the rollers.
I'd used the blue painter's masking tape to temporarily hold the ribbons and curtains to the rollers and tested the shutter to make sure it was working correctly.
With the shutter un-cocked, I worked on the right side, untensioning one roller at a time, cutting and gluing the ribbons and curtain in place. I'd used masking tape to hold the rollers in place when they're untensioned. Make sure to overlap the ribbons and curtains a bit. This will make for a more secure curtain. Let the glue dry. To be on the safe side, I'd waited 24 hours. Cock the shutter, then repeat the process on the left side.
It's too bad I didn't think of photographing the process of replacing the curtains. :bang:
I appreciate the shutter tester links and will look into building one.
Since it was my first time installing the shutter curtains, the only advice I can give is... do a lot of reading, research and do as much testing as possible before committing to cutting and gluing the curtains and ribbons to the rollers.
I'd used the blue painter's masking tape to temporarily hold the ribbons and curtains to the rollers and tested the shutter to make sure it was working correctly.
With the shutter un-cocked, I worked on the right side, untensioning one roller at a time, cutting and gluing the ribbons and curtain in place. I'd used masking tape to hold the rollers in place when they're untensioned. Make sure to overlap the ribbons and curtains a bit. This will make for a more secure curtain. Let the glue dry. To be on the safe side, I'd waited 24 hours. Cock the shutter, then repeat the process on the left side.
It's too bad I didn't think of photographing the process of replacing the curtains. :bang:
je2a3
je
@ mgchan - the masking tape idea for trial is great.
I've done curtain replacement on a few Feds and Zorkis and restored a Leica II. When I acquired my Minolta 35, the shutter was totally gone (seems like there was a prior but failed attempt to fix it) so I could not reverse engineer...
Based on Rick O's CD-Rom the curtain/ribbon length is equal on both sides but in my attempt the rollers were jamming. Can you confirm that the shutter curtain/ribbon length is indeed equal on both sides?
Thanks again!
I've done curtain replacement on a few Feds and Zorkis and restored a Leica II. When I acquired my Minolta 35, the shutter was totally gone (seems like there was a prior but failed attempt to fix it) so I could not reverse engineer...
Based on Rick O's CD-Rom the curtain/ribbon length is equal on both sides but in my attempt the rollers were jamming. Can you confirm that the shutter curtain/ribbon length is indeed equal on both sides?
Thanks again!
mgchan
Back To Film
Sorry, I didn't measure the ribbons nor the length of the curtains. So I don't know if they're equal lengths or not. Maybe some other member might know the answer.
If I get an opportunity, I'll open up the camera and take some photos so that you can see how the curtains go in place.
If I get an opportunity, I'll open up the camera and take some photos so that you can see how the curtains go in place.
je2a3
je
Thanks for all the info, I truly appreciate it!
L David Tomei
Well-known
After reading this thread, I think it's time to take my old Minolta 35 off the display shelf and load it. It should be cleaned and adjusted, though, and that's a bit of a problem.
L David Tomei
Well-known
Don't why the link isn't working. This #0778 with lens #2109. Apparently there were a few problems with the chrome plating in the first days of production.
mgchan
Back To Film
That's a great shot of your camera!
L David Tomei
Well-known
thank you. Here's the lens. Sorry about the "cat's eye" but I haven't figured out how to shoot the lens head on.
je2a3
je
That's a fine lens! Just a bit of vignetting at the far corners in my sample.
mgchan
Back To Film
It looks like yours is a very early model A, which dates back to around 1947.
je2a3
je
Similar to David's...with the aperture window at the lens front.
L David Tomei
Well-known
Similar to David's...with the aperture window at the lens front.
What's the body serial number on your camera? From the numbers, I saw that numbers in the 500's came with lenses in the 3000's. I still intend to shoot a roll in mine but procrastination being what it is, you know.
je2a3
je
Got to get the shutter in this unit sorted out....enjoy shooting with yours!
David Murphy
Veteran
I've owned a few of these. Almost all of them found on the used market need repairs. If you are patient and can have one repaired with good curtains, they are a pleasure to use and they look wonderful (IMO).