Film Cameras

35mm Lens-Shutter Half-frame Camera

Dial 35

Dial 35

Dial 35

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed November 1963
Original Price 13,800 yen, 1,000 yen (case),
300 yen (wrist strap)

Automatic film advance and rewind were driven by a spring motor. The “Dial” designation comes from the ring of CdS photocells looking like a telephone dial. The spring motor winder also served as a camera grip which enabled one-handed shooting.

Shutter speed-priority EE was used for exposure control. The camera was focused with a needle matching the near, middle, or far icon in the viewfinder. This camera was the first to feature automatic film advance to frame 1 after film loading.

Type 35mm Lens Shutter zone-focusing half-frame camera with automatic film advance (continuous shooting enabled) via spring motor grip
Picture Size 24 x 18 mm
Lens Canon SE28mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 3 groups)
Shutter Seiko-sha with behind-the-lens metering. B and 1/30 to 1/250 sec. X-sync flash.
Viewfinder Reversed Galilean viewfinder with projected frames. 0.42x magnification, 90% coverage. Toward the left within the viewing area are match-needle pictographs for near, medium, and far focusing distances. Viewfinder bottom has exposure meter match needle and correct exposure window. The left and right are overexposure and underexposure warning zones.
Focusing Lens focusing lever for matching zone focusing marks from 0.8 m to 15 m (infinity).
EE CdS element for shutter speed-priority EE. Metering range from EV 8 (f/2.8 & 1/30 sec.) to 17 (f/22 & 1/250 sec.) at ISO 100. Metering limit is EV 21. Film speed range of ISO 8 – 500. The aperture can also be set manually by pulling out and turning the aperture knob.
Film Loading &
Advance		 After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances automatically to frame 1 with spring motor. Fully-wound spring motor powers film advance for about 20 consecutive exposures. Continuous shooting speed at 2 frames per sec.
Frame Counter Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. Counter counts down during film rewind.
Film Rewind Automatic rewind with fully-wound spring motor (rewind R button set) and shutter button.
Power Source 1.3 V H-P mercury battery
Dimensions &
Weight		 99 x 76 x 44 mm, 430 g