Talk:Minolta 35

Frame size:
The Minolta-35 frame size of 24×32 mm occupies seven perforations on the 35mm filmstrip as opposed to eight perforations for the standard 36 mm frame length. Measuring the actual film gate at the back of the camera will produce smaller numbers since the film is not directly in contact with the metal plate masking it. This causes considerable confusion. The gate on the early Minolta-35 models measure about 23.5×31.5 mm, which presumably corresponds to the 24×32 mm frame size.

Serial numbers:
Serial number ranges for specific models are as always approximate when factory ledgers are missing. There are several reasons for this: The information presented here are based on observations on actual cameras and presented in the excellent book on Leica copies by HPR.
 * The production of cameras might not use parts in numerical sequence.
 * Cameras may have been returned to the factory for upgrading.
 * The rest stock of numbered parts may have been used later for service or repair.
 * Someone may have changed parts between cameras at any time after leaving the factory.

Camera and lens detail variations:
Obviously, changes are introduced at various stages in the normal production run, and some may not necessarily occur exactly at the change to a new model. Note that the latch at the slow speed dial disappeared very early. The serial number on the accompanying lens on early models seems to be quite a bit higher than the camera serial number.

-- 20:33, 30 March 2010 (UTC)