Info on Aires 35-V Rangefinder

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I recently inherited an Aires 35-V Rangefinder with 45mm f/1.9 Coral lens that is at least 30 years old. It seems to be functioning well but I would appreciate any information anyone may have on this camera as there are a few knobs and buttons that are not intuitive to me. Thanks in advance. Wen-Wei

-- Wen-Wei Chiang (wwchiang@singnet.com.sg), December 13, 2000

Answers

Hi Wen-Wei,

I also have this camera. I only know a little bit about it from doing some reading on the web (can't verify any of this) but here goes: It was manufactured around 1958 in Tokyo by the Aires Camera Ind. of Tokyo. Three months after the introduction of the Leica M3, Aires tried to imitate the Leica with their own models. The 35-V comes with a set of three lenses wide angle 28 or 35? , 45mm, and a 100mm. The range finders' image tends to fade (at least mine is and othere on eBay note a light image); my built in light meter still registers light but I haven't really checked it out carefully yet.

There are filters available for this camera if you search the used market. My father got many good years of color slides from this camera and I have recently cleaned it and have had good results in my picture taking. The 100mm lense is heavy and mine pulled off (one of the three prong brackets on the lense broke). I had to replace the bracket by buying another used lense. So, be careful.

If you find out any history on the company Aires, please let me know. That is what I am searching right now. Apparently, they were short lived.

Check eBay and you will see a variety of Aires cameras surface: IIIC, IIL, II, V, Viscount. I think the company went out of business in the early to mid 60s - not sure.

John Duey John_Duey@Rescot.com

-- John Duey (john_duey@rescot.com), December 13, 2001.


My very first 35mm camera was an Aires Viscount with the same f/1.9 Coral lens. An 80mm accessory lens was also available, but I never acquired one. Within its limitations, it was an excellent camera. The lens was very sharp. The Kodachromes I shot with it circa 1960 still compare with the ones I shoot today using much more sophisticated Nikon equipment.

I still have the camera; however, it is no longer functioning. Reportedly, the shutter release and the film transport mechanisms were weak designs and failed. As you might expect, parts are no longer available, and the company has long been out of business. So, enjoy the camera while it lasts.

Jerry

-- Jerry Raines (Jerachrome@aol.com), May 31, 2002.


Hi, Just my two cents. I just got an Aires Viscount. It is in nice shape and I tested the lens (on a bench) and it seems to be fairly sharp for an inexpensive camera. The Red and Yellow finder frames were not correct and I fixed them in a few minutes.

Not a bad camera overall for an inexpensive camera.

Brian

-- Brian Wolfe (cameras@bpwltd.com), May 31, 2002.


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