The Konica C35

I felt that adding a little of Rodinal to my HC-110h developer added a little snap to sharpness and brightens highlights without blowing them. Definitely, not stand or semi-stand.
 
Allow me a futile and perhaps naif question...

Allow me a futile and perhaps naif question...

Hi,

Can you say what version (make etc) of this versatile RF you have, please?

Regards, David
 
I've had three: two standard first models, and now the 'Automatic.' When I came back to the US in 1972 my first one stopped working I opened it up and it was full of mold from too much Panama.' The second one I dropped and it still worked, but I bought the 'Automatic' just in case the second one gave out; which it did.
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

Can you say what version (make etc) of this versatile RF you have, please?

Regards, David
Click to expand...

David
My Konica C35 is the Automatic model, black and silver.
The ring I mentioned seems useless to me, but I am curious about its utility...
Regards
Joao
 
Joao said:
David
My Konica C35 is the Automatic model, black and silver.
The ring I mentioned seems useless to me, but I am curious about its utility...
Regards
Joao
Click to expand...


Would you believe that's the only one I've not used or seen? OTOH, I'm sure someone will come forward with the answer for you, so I'll wish you luck.

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Would you believe that's the only one I've not used or seen? OTOH, I'm sure someone will come forward with the answer for you, so I'll wish you luck.

Regards, David
Click to expand...

David
Thank you for your interest. As long as the camera keeps making good photos, I am not worried. It was just curiosity...
Best regards
Joao
 
Joao said:
Allow me a futile and perhaps naif question: I never understood quite well the utility of the ring between the camera body and the distance ring. It is supposed to have a mark for using in AUTO mode – and my camera does not have such a mark.

003-vi.jpg

002-vi.jpg

001-vi.jpg


I never use the camera in B mode, neither I use flash. I am quite happy with the photos I get without paying importance to the position of that first ring. I notice that the ring , in some positions, blocks the distance ring at its extreme positions, but that is all …
Is there a mark missing ?? What really is the utility of that ring ???
Thanks in advance for your advice and opinions
Joao
Click to expand...


It is a 'GN' (Guide Number) ring for setting the camera up for use with a manual flash. That is why it limits your focusing ring when engaged, the flash will only reach so far.

The GN when set on this ring will automatically adjust the aperture to the correct setting as you focus the lens. It is a mechanical version of auto flash control. The two sets of numbers are for feet and meters.
You can figure out your Guide Number (in feet) for the flash you are using by looking at the flash calculator dial or guide on your flash at the 10 ft. setting.

IE, lets say you are using 400 ISO film, and on you flash @ 400 ISO @ 10 feet it says use f8, then just multiply this by 10 and the setting on the GN dial should be 80.

Obviously the GN will vary depending on how powerful your flash is and what film speed you are using.

Clear as mud? I'm not a very good explainer.

PS; I've never owned a C35 so I don't know how to engage the GN feature, but you must know how because you said it limited focusing when you set it so probably yours is working.
The GN feature was on several compact RF cameras of that time period. My Olympus 35RC has a GN setting.
 
Primitive autoflash

Primitive autoflash

For flash aperture was coupled to distance on these and some other cameras.

The first electronic flash units were manual only, providing full-power flashes.
Remember this was before the advent of inexpensive automatic flash units.

Some cameras were even designed for small BC flashbulb units.

Chris
 
I used to have one of these but I wound up selling it when I did a gear purge a few years ago. Along with my Bessa R, I should not have sold that Konica. Tons of fun to shoot with and a killer lens, beautiful for black-and-white film.
 
I have a black C35 Automatic. Otherwise minty, but a bit of a nuisance that my film rewind stick is flapping freely, I tried changing magnets but it didn't work.

I really like that the minimum automatic shutter speed is 1/30, I'm actually surprised it's a rare feature in automatic cameras. I can always hassle-freerly shoot hand-held, no need to tinker with film speed. In practice, it's almost always only a few stops of speed you need, and you can later pull it back in the scan.

C35 Automatic, Tri-X 400
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Thank you Chris Platt and Zuiko 85.
Your information was clear. As I never use a flash, this feature is useless to me. As I said above, I get good photos with the C35 ignoring that ring.
I will keep doing so...
Best regards
Joao
 
Just to confuse the issue, on the original C35 RF the line on the edge of the lens turret had to be aligned with "AUTO" unless you were using flash. There was a button on the opposite side to the bit you gripped. When set up like that the ring with the ft and m on it rotated and everything else stayed still.

Regards, David

PS And I should have mentioned, in the OP, that I use a Wein cell with mine.
 
My original is like yours, but the flash numbers although its says 'ft' really are guide numbers for the 'flashmatic' setup. So you set the guide number for your flash on the lens mount and then use the RF to focus and the aperture is automatically changed to fit the flash power.

The 'Automatic' version was a little confusing as the automatic setting was within the guide numbers: so the green auto on the focus ring had to line up with the green line on the guide number ring. When you used flash you had to set auto green line to the correct guide number.

This Automatic Flash was a good idea and Nikon used it on a few lenses made during the same period. But flashes soon all had thyristors to regulate flash output so this Automatic Flash system must have died.

I have used both Wein cells and the hearing aid air cells on my C35 and both work.
 
I quite like mine, it's super fast and meters well. Great for street. Snappy.

There are always peculiar faces at the old market.

C35 Automatic, Portra 400
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New life for this thread......

Back in 2018 (above here) I mentioned needing to service the shutter on my C35. Having recently stumbled on it while rummaging my drawer of old cameras, I gave it a better look to find happily, was wrong. I ran a roll of Ektar this past week confirming that this camera is mostly operational. The "B" setting is not working, apparently a common ailment with these cameras.

It's fun to see your guys pictures here (above) and so I thought I'd add to the mix. It would also be great to see if some of you have any recent images to post.

David











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farlymac said:
A couple of snaps from a test roll I did after repairing Austintatious' camera:


The Railyard by P F McFarland, on Flickr


The Auto Gallery by P F McFarland, on Flickr

And a couple I took with my own camera:


00490030_2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr


00490031_2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF
Click to expand...

That camera is a beauty, I considered a vented hood for the camera I have, and may have one put away that will fit. Those pics all look great and nice seeing your B&W Farlymac.

David
 
The humble Konica C35 is a great travel camera that punches well above its weight.
I had a pretty black one that Greyhoundman never returned when he abruptly left RFF.
I recently purchased a C35v which is the zone focus version. It's got neat in-finder focus symbols.

Chris
 
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