Topcon 35-S, L and JL

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The Topcon 35-S, Topcon 35-L and Topcon 35-JL are compact 35mm rangefinder cameras with a fixed lens, manufactured between 1956 and late 1959 by Tōkyō Kōgaku and successors of the Topcon 35. They were the last rangefinder cameras to bare the name "Topcon".

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Topcon 35-L with square hood and

carry case. Picture courtesy of TBSM1984. (Image rights)

The 35-S was introduced in 1956 as a replacement for the 35-A and 35-B. It is equipped with a fixed leaf shutter-lens which combines a sharp Topcor 4.4cm f/2 (6 elements in 4 groups) and a Seikosha-MX leaf shutter with speeds from 1/500 to 1sec + B. It has a 1:1 viewfinder with frameline (Albada type), automatic parallax correction and a fully semi-silvered window. It has a double stroke shutter cocking and film advance mechanism like the early versions of the Leica M3. At the time of its release, it was priced at ¥33,200 ($109 in the U.S.A^[1].) which made it the company's flagship.

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The 35-L (Beseler Topcon-L in North America) was introduced in 1957 to replace the 35-S. It has the same specifications as its predecessor, however, the leaf shutter was upgraded for a Seikosha-MXL which feature the "new" Light-value system which link together the shutter speed ring and aperture ring. It was priced at ¥35,000 which included a selenium light meter attachment to pair with the Light-value system.

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The 35-JL was released almost simultaneously with the 35-L. It is identical to its sister camera but equipped with a Topcor 4.4cm f/2.8, thus was less expensive. Both cameras were manufactured until late 1959.

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Size 132 x 79 x 64mm

Weight 720g

Filter size 40.5mm

Push-On lens cap size 42mm

Notes & References

On the 35-L and 35-JL, the aperture ring click stops on full numbers when the shutter is set at B, 1sec, 1/2, 1/250 & 1/500 and click stops at half points between numbers when the shutter is set at 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50 & 1/100 for a better exposure. However, it is possible to set the aperture ring between click stops if needed. For more information concerning the light value scale and speed/aperture combination, read pages 22 to 25 of the manual.

Available accessories included a leather case, a square hood with leather carrying case, a push-on lens cap, filters (Y1, Y2, O2 & UV), Topcon magazines for bulk film loading and an amplifier for the Topcon-Meter.

Some 35-L and 35-JL have a modified Albada type viewfinder with the edges of the window 100% silvered and a clear center.

The Topcon-Meter was made by Sekonic.

The Topcon 35-S has 10 aperture blades.

Both 35-L & 35-JL have 5 aperture blades.

↑ Popular Photography - April 1957 - Vol. 40, No. 4 - Page 164

Bibliography

Antonetto, M. and Russo, C. Topcon Story. Lugano: Nassa Watch Gallery, 1997. ISBN 88-87161-00-3. P. 33.
Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 1368–70. (See also the picture on p. 485.)
Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), ISBN 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P. 94.
McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P. 925.
Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 3797–9.