NIKON NIKKOREX 35

The Nikon Nikkorex 35 is a budget 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera that Nikon introduced in 1960 as an entry-level alternative to its professional F-series SLRs. It has a fixed 48mm f/2.8 Color-Skopal Anastigmat lens and a leaf shutter with a built-in selenium light meter. The idea was to put an SLR in the hands of amateurs at a price they could afford.

Overview

The Nikkorex 35 came out in 1960, when the consumer SLR market was growing fast and 35mm photography was booming. Nikon already had a strong reputation among professionals with the Nikon F (introduced in 1959). The Nikkorex 35 went after budget-minded enthusiasts who wanted SLR features - through-the-lens viewing and interchangeable film backs - without the complexity and cost of a system camera. Mamiya built it under contract. It shares its core design with the Mamiya Sekor 35 and other rebadged variants, which was common practice at the time: take an existing platform and put a different brand on it.

The camera has a fixed lens and a leaf shutter, not the focal-plane shutters used in Nikon's flagship models. That simplified construction and cut manufacturing costs. It also limited maximum shutter speed and ruled out interchangeable lenses. The Nikkorex 35 did have a fully coupled selenium-cell exposure meter, visible in the viewfinder, which automatically adjusted aperture based on lighting conditions. That was a real convenience for novice users. In North America the camera was sold through Willoughby's, a New York-based retailer, which influenced the "Nikkorex" branding as a more consumer-friendly alternative to the technical "Nikon" name.

The Nikkorex 35 sat at the low end of Nikon's early SLR lineup, a long way from the modular, precision-engineered Nikon F. It had no interchangeable lenses, no flash synchronization beyond X-sync at 1/40 sec, and a simpler mechanical design. It still helped expand Nikon's market presence beyond professional circles. Production ended in 1962 after a short two-year run, likely due to limited consumer demand and the rapid advance of SLR technology, including aperture-priority and through-the-lens metering systems.

Specifications

Key Features

• Fixed 48mm f/2.8 Color-Skopal Anastigmat lens – A high-quality, multi-coated lens for its class, providing sharp imaging and smooth bokeh.
• Built-in selenium light meter – Fully coupled to the aperture mechanism, allowing real-time exposure feedback without batteries.
• Leaf shutter with speeds up to 1/500 sec – Unusual for an SLR of this era, enabling faster shutter speeds than many contemporary focal-plane shutters.
• Split-image focusing screen – Integrated into the ground-glass viewfinder for precise manual focusing.
• Compact SLR design – Smaller and lighter than modular system SLRs, making it more portable for casual use.

Historical Context

The Nikkorex 35 arrived right as SLRs were taking over. In the late 1950s and early 1960s they began displacing rangefinders as the preferred format for serious amateurs and professionals, thanks to through-the-lens composition and parallax-free framing. Nikon had just launched the Nikon F to critical acclaim and wanted to work the same trend across several market segments. The Nikkorex 35 was part of a broader strategy to offer Nikon-branded optics and build quality at lower prices, even if that meant outsourcing production and simplifying the design.

Competitors included the Zeiss Ikon Contaflex series, the Kodak Retina Reflex, and the Wirgin Edixa SLRs - all fixed-lens or limited-interchangeability models with leaf shutters. They offered similar functionality. The Nikkorex 35 stood apart with its high-quality Skopal lens and its link to the Nikon name, though that link came through a retail partnership. Even so, the camera got limited marketing and distribution, which contributed to its short production run. By 1962 the industry was moving toward more advanced metering systems and interchangeable lenses, and fixed-lens SLRs like the Nikkorex 35 were technologically obsolete within a few years.

Collectibility & Value

Today the Nikon Nikkorex 35 is a niche collectible, valued more for its historical significance and its odd position in Nikon's lineage than for practical use. Fewer than 20,000 units are believed to have been produced, so it is relatively rare compared to mass-market SLRs of the era. In excellent working condition, with a clear viewfinder, responsive shutter, and functional meter, it typically sells for $250 - $400 USD. Models with degraded selenium cells, cloudy prisms, or stiff focusing mechanisms may sell for significantly less.

Check the selenium meter for deterioration, which is common after six decades. The cell can corrode and leak, damaging the surrounding housing. The shutter mechanism may need cleaning or lubrication if the camera has been stored improperly. The lens coating is generally durable, but haze or fungus can occur if the front element has been exposed to moisture. The lens is not removable, so internal cleaning is difficult without disassembly. Well-preserved examples are still prized as curiosities - a rare non-F-series Nikon SLR from the brand's early push into consumer photography.

Similar Cameras

• Mamiya Sekor 35 – The original model upon which the Nikkorex 35 was based; nearly identical in design and function.
• Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B – A German-built fixed-lens SLR with a high-quality Tessar lens and leaf shutter.
• Kodak Retina Reflex III – Part of Kodak’s premium 35mm SLR line, featuring interchangeable lenses and a coupled meter.
• Wirgin Edixa-Matra – A budget German SLR with a similar leaf shutter and selenium meter setup.
• Fujica Six – Though a medium format camera, Fujica’s SLR design philosophy and retail branding approach paralleled the Nikkorex strategy.

Repair & Maintenance

The Nikkorex 35 needs no batteries, because its selenium light meter generates its own power from ambient light. Aged selenium cells often degrade, though, losing sensitivity or giving inaccurate readings. In severe cases the cell may delaminate or corrode, potentially damaging the meter coupling mechanism. Shutter maintenance is critical. The Copal-MK leaf shutter is precise but sensitive to dried lubricants, especially if the camera has sat for decades. Common issues include sticking blades at 1/500 sec or inconsistent flash sync at 1/40 sec. For non-functional units, cleaning and lubrication by a technician experienced with leaf shutters are recommended.

The focusing helicoid is generally sturdy but may get stiff from dried grease. Lens separation is not uncommon. Avoid fixing it unless necessary, because re-cementing requires optical alignment. The viewfinder prism may develop internal haze or fungus, though this is less common due to the sealed design. Regular use, dry storage, and periodic inspection are the best ways to preserve functionality. Because of its rarity and limited service parts, the Nikkorex 35 is best treated as a display or occasional-use camera rather than a daily shooter.

eBay Listings

Nikon Nikkorex 35II 35mm Film Camera & 50mm F2.5 Lens Vintag

$55.00

Nikon Nikkorex 35II 35mm Film Camera & 50mm F2.5 Lens Vintag

$59.00

Nikkorex 35 Leaf Shutter SLR Film Camera w/ Nikkor-Q 50mm f/

$130

AS-IS Nikon Nikkorex 35mm Film Manual Focus SLR Camera with

$130

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