Konica Konilette 35 (1959)
The Konilette 35 is a simple 35mm viewfinder camera. Konishiroku introduced it in 1959 for the budget end of the market. The company already had the more complex Konica III series, and the Konilette was the cheaper alternative. A Flickr post says it plainly: the Konica III M added considerable complexity over earlier models, while the Konilette 35 cost about $105 less.
It's a straightforward, largely mechanical camera. The lens is a Konitor 45mm f/3.5, focus is scale only, and the quiet two-blade shutter runs 1/25 to 1/200 plus bulb. That's a limited range. You focus by estimating distance and setting it on the lens, since there's no rangefinder. The body is bakelite, but it's surprisingly heavy for the material at 520g. One owner notes the weight actually helps reduce camera shake. Film advance is a two-stroke lever wind, and the rear door opens with a Retina-style clasp. Aperture is set with a tab on the bottom of the camera, and the selected value shows in a small window on top. Build quality is generally described as medium - simple but well made, with some unusual features.
One loose end. The camera was made by Taisei Koki for Konishiroku. The 1959 date is consistent across several sources, but a price guide lists a base "Konilette" (without the "35") as early as 1953. That may be a different, earlier model, and the record doesn't clarify the relationship.
Surviving documentation is thin. No original retail price, production quantities or serial number ranges have surfaced. What exists is a handful of collector listings and observations from owners. One Craigslist seller in Wisconsin offered a clean example with its original leather case for $50, calling it "a really cool looking vintage camera." Another listing noted a chip in the plastic lens front ring and a slightly sticky shutter button, which hints that the shutter button may be a common annoyance on this model.
Known specifications:
- Lens: Konitor 45mm f/3.5, three elements, front-cell focusing
- Shutter: two-blade, 1/25–1/200 sec plus B
- Focus: scale focus only
- Film advance: two-stroke lever wind
- Construction: bakelite body
- Weight: 520g
- No battery required
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