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
Hi Wen-Wei, <p> 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. <p> 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. <p> 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. <p> 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. <p> John Duey John_Duey@Rescot.com
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. <p> 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. <p> Jerry
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. <p> Not a bad camera overall for an inexpensive camera. <p> Brian
As far as the Aires Camera Company goes the company folded early in the 1960s and this is a shame, because they produced some of the nicest cameras for the money that have ever been produced. My first real camera was an Aires Viscount with 1:2.8 lens. I purchased it while my Dad was stationed in Japan in 1960. Over the next 10 years I took some of the best photos I've ever taken...even when compared to the best of the SLRs, which I was also very fortunate to own. The camera was stolen from me in Vietnam while I was on assignment there. I recently obtained another (1.9 lens) and have taken some fabulous photos with it.
Aires Optical Co. went bankrupt in 1962, largely due to its American Distributor KALIMAR of St. Louis, Mo. Kalimar wanted their brand name on their imports, Aires wanted their name to be; there name on their cameras. Poor advertising in magazines on the part of Kalimar doomed the firm. Vast R&D was put into the model 35-V and it did not sell well due to it being 1959 and the Nikon F SLR revolution in photography was all the rage! Rangefinders were being passed by in record sales numbers; in favor of SLR's. Aires tried with a SLR leaf shutter design called the Penta 35, but; it failed! Aires closed its doors in 1962 and the unsold stock was sold by minifilm in NYC in early 1964. Thats when i bought my Aires viscount with its fabulous F:1.9 ultra sharp lens! Its a heart break as Aires made a great camera!
What's wrong with that? Isn't such information somewhat timeless? I'm still looking for and collecting Aires cameras--especially the Showa Koki lenses. Never understood this old post shaming.
Yawn! I'm sure anyone that's interested could dig up all the info about the company from an extended Googling session, or a search of business registers. How about some pictures taken with the actual camera, to show just how sharp the lens was? Or a mini-review of its handling, reliability, rangefinder accuracy, viewfinder visibility, etc, etc. Or will that be coming up in another 15 years?
Always check Butkus ( AIRES 35-V instruction manual, user manual, free aires pdf manuals ). I you use it, send him the $3.
Yawn yourself! So what if the original posters are not around! Does that change the validity of the information of opinions? Seems like there's a jerk or two lurking. Why not troll on FB where all the others are? Shaming someone for posting in an "old" thread? Send us to the gallows!
It seems exceeding clear if you read the posts above. Do you think trying to brow-beat those who make honest posts or comments--however old the thread is--anything but being a jerk?
So making an honest post about the status of a thread is agressive? You could have just started a new thread, you know. It's odd, too, that you posted about this over a year after my original post....it's almost as though you're looking for conflict.
I don't know about aggressive but I objectively see someone posting unfriendly stuff--almost bullying. I'm just responding to that instead of being a doormat. And, why should I start a new post? I did a general internet search about this camera and this came up. It makes total sense to comment in context, regardless the age--as I keep pointing out. If that is the unwritten rule in this group, then maybe y'all should set up some automatic system for deleting a thread after a certain interval, right? Again, WHAT'S ODD about posting a comment even 10 years later? Delete your post if you don't want comments later than you somehow think appropriate! Me looking for conflict? No! Just looking for information and a reasonable discussion without running into trolls who constantly comment about old threads. The thread speaks for itself. Just re-read it. Perhaps you're part of the jerk clique looking for trouble yourself?
