emraphoto
Veteran
oftheherd
Veteran
Don't know anything about it personally, but a quick google turned up several hits, including these three, the last of which is a manual for sale.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-18541.html
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Royal_35M
http://www.craigcamera.com/ib_qr.htm
Cheers.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-18541.html
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Royal_35M
http://www.craigcamera.com/ib_qr.htm
Cheers.
Ming The Merciless
Established
I purchased one many many years ago from a Russian Mom & Pop store on the Upper East Side of NYC. To tell you the truth I didn't know what I had and ended up selling it at a camera trade fair. I think I spent about $49.00 for it at the time. I was using the Contax RTS at that time and felt I didn't need the Royal.
emraphoto
Veteran
oftheherd said:
well thanx for the efforts but that was the "thin" bit of info i had also stumbled across... curious as to whether anyone has hands on experience with one.
colyn
ישו משיח
emraphoto said:
I currently have this same camera in my collection. As for history you probably know what I know.
I have shot 1 roll of film through it with good (not outstanding) results and can say the lens is of pretty good quality. Mine is the 45mm f/1.9 Tominor lens.
emraphoto
Veteran
i've got the 40mm f2.8... like i said the info on it is thin at best but i've read some great comments about it. a fella on flickr actually has a gallery he shot on one. real variable on the value with a few "wow, really. that much" comments. i'd love to have mine serviced and use it... any hints on who i might talk to?
colyn
ישו משיח
You might try Essex. Other than them I don't know anybody else who might be able to fix it..
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
Sweet camera. I got the regular version today (not deluxe), meaning its got the f 2.8lens, not the f1.9. It seems to be in very good nick, and the selenium meter works too.
Royal 35-M by Eirik0304, on Flickr
Royal 35-M by Eirik0304, on Flickr
JasonH
Newbie
Royal 35-M servicing
Royal 35-M servicing
It's a real basic simple camera: if you took it to a repairman he'd probably just look it funny. So if you want to DIY...
The bezel holding the front lens elements on both the 1.9 and 2.8 simply screws off with your hand. The rear element you'll need a small blade spanner for, and it's holder unscrews from the film chamber.
No need to disassemble the Copal shutter: it will come back to life with careful cleaning.
There's an eccentric that adjusts the rangefinder with the top cover off. That screw on top of the camera is a meter-zeroing screw (it does not unscrew and does not come off). Rangefinder glass cleans with top cover off (don't touch the silvering).
The top cover comes off easily. Only things holding the top cover on are the advance lever (black center button needs a small needle spanner), rewind button (unscrews from shaft) and 2 screws at cover ends. There is a wire between the meter and booster cell contact screw inside cover, don't break this (small nut holds the contact together, but its a pain to reassemble).
The helical is accessible without removing the lens from the top and bottom with the covers off. Can clean most of old gunk this way. Do lightly lube brass gears. Basic and well built camera, easy to CLA.
Using my Royals can say they've been reliable, and most of their Tomioka lenses crisp (only had one that was foggy/off). For metering, match the red pointer with cover closed, green pointer with cover up. Black pointer is for when the booster cell is attached (& cover closed).
One thing though: be careful about the chrome, it's very thin & corrodes easily. Manual suggests wiping off after use. Don't store camera in case if anything (even the weather) is damp (lining will eat the chrome).
Royal 35-M servicing
It's a real basic simple camera: if you took it to a repairman he'd probably just look it funny. So if you want to DIY...
The bezel holding the front lens elements on both the 1.9 and 2.8 simply screws off with your hand. The rear element you'll need a small blade spanner for, and it's holder unscrews from the film chamber.
No need to disassemble the Copal shutter: it will come back to life with careful cleaning.
There's an eccentric that adjusts the rangefinder with the top cover off. That screw on top of the camera is a meter-zeroing screw (it does not unscrew and does not come off). Rangefinder glass cleans with top cover off (don't touch the silvering).
The top cover comes off easily. Only things holding the top cover on are the advance lever (black center button needs a small needle spanner), rewind button (unscrews from shaft) and 2 screws at cover ends. There is a wire between the meter and booster cell contact screw inside cover, don't break this (small nut holds the contact together, but its a pain to reassemble).
The helical is accessible without removing the lens from the top and bottom with the covers off. Can clean most of old gunk this way. Do lightly lube brass gears. Basic and well built camera, easy to CLA.
Using my Royals can say they've been reliable, and most of their Tomioka lenses crisp (only had one that was foggy/off). For metering, match the red pointer with cover closed, green pointer with cover up. Black pointer is for when the booster cell is attached (& cover closed).
One thing though: be careful about the chrome, it's very thin & corrodes easily. Manual suggests wiping off after use. Don't store camera in case if anything (even the weather) is damp (lining will eat the chrome).
JasonH
Newbie
Wanted to add something about Royals' values. In it's 5 year lifespan Royal only produced three models. The later model was the 35-M's, 35LE and 35P, all variants based on the same chassis (so I called them one model with variants). This model was also the basis for all the export models like the Ogikon's, Wirgin 19E, Mansfield Skylark V and E, Hiyoca, Hanimex's and so on (only Colin Clarke has chased down most of the rebadges). So are these valuable? Only because some survive (believe most got tossed when the chrome went bad, LOL) and because no one had heard of them (helped fix this with my Camerapedia histories).
For what it's worth, the first Royal model was more interesting and led to a second version 35-S that really WAS the peak of their production. This the one I'm hunting.
For what it's worth, the first Royal model was more interesting and led to a second version 35-S that really WAS the peak of their production. This the one I'm hunting.
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
Mine had a little hickup with the advance jamming. I got it working again. Evidently there's a screw loose under the top cover that if unlucky embeds itself in the advance winder mechanism. Will need attention sooner or later. But the camera is in all other respects a nice little thing. The meter works and is intuitive and easy to use. The finder is quite good, the focus patch not all bad, the lens performs well. and I get 27 frames out of a 24 frame roll of film. I am lucky enough to have both the hood and a yellow filter.
I've noticed Colin Clarke's collection. It must be fun chasing down these fairly rare cameras.
My first test roll: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezzie0304/sets/72157626946667327/
I've noticed Colin Clarke's collection. It must be fun chasing down these fairly rare cameras.
My first test roll: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezzie0304/sets/72157626946667327/