Konica C35 V (1971)

Konica C35 V (1971)

#416

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

The Konica C35 of 1968 is a 35mm camera and first of a series of four cameras from Konishiroku that are dealt with in this article, the others being the C35V (C35E&L), C35 Automatic (C35 Flashmatic), and Auto S3 (C35FD). The Konica C35 EF is dealt with in another article.

The Konica C35 was the first of a number of compact cameras that swept the marketplace in the early seventies. Cameras from other Japanese companies after 1970 (see photo at end) show its importance and influence. Its appeal to the general public was obvious from the start: it was a compact, light and simple to use camera with an excellent lens that was distinctly wider than average for the time and that took good photographs because it could be focused accurately. It was an outstanding sales success throughout the world.

Konishiroku may at first seem a mere follower of fashion, updating the design theme of the compact Minolta Minoltina S and Olympus Trip 35, or even its own Konica Eye of 1964. However, the C35 was much more than an update: it brought together a number of other desirable design strands into one camera, not simply light weight and compact size, but a CdS meter in the lens mount (eliminating worries about filter correction factors), a rangefinder and most importantly of all, the simple operation of "auto only" exposure.

There are three versions of the modestly-priced C35:
Konica C35 (1968 - Silver 1969 - black)
The non-rangefinder Konica C35V (1971 - silver), known in Japan as the Konica C35E&L
The Konica C35 Automatic with a more advanced flash control (1971 - silver), known in Japan as the Konica C35 Flashmatic

Source: camerapedia

Specifications

Available only in silver
38mm f2.8 four-element Hexanon lens - 46mm filter thread
Zone adjustment by four click stops (with pictogram's)
CdS meter (19-27 DIN, 25-400ASA)
No self timer
Closest focus - 1m, 3.3ft
2 blade programmed shutter
Combined aperture/shutter blades
Speeds 1/30 to 1/650
Lever wind, double-exposure prevention, resetting frame counter
Bright line finder
Needle indication of shutter speed and aperture visible on right hand side of viewfinder
Window lower right to few focus positions on lens
Width 112mm (actual 120mm with strap lugs) Height - claimed 70mm (actual 75mm) - Depth 52mm
Weight 340g (12 oz)
Price in Britain £41.48 (April 1974)

Konica X-14 matching flashgun available
Set to 1/25 automatically for flash

Source: camerapedia


Model

Mine is the "V" version (1971). Serial number 387917.


Reference sites

camerapedia


Manual

English C35 manual


Batteries

1.35V Mallory PX-675 or Eveready EPX675


Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos