Canon Dial 35-2

The Canon Dial 35-2 is a half-frame camera launched by Canon. It was created in a Japanese production facility and appears as the successor to the Canon Dial 35, although there are some differences.

These deviations from its predecessor include a higher ISO sensitivity of the light meter, a hot shoe, an alternative battery type, and a more powerful spring motor.

The camera’s unique design makes it stand out and has made it a sought-after collector’s item. The portrait format as the preferred posture of the camera is already exceptional. This is joined by the positioning of the controls around the lens, which is reminiscent of the dial on an old telephone.

Compared to other camera models, this camera does not offer an interchangeable lens. The name of the integrated lens is “Canon Lens SE”. According to technical specifications, the maximum aperture reaches f/2.8 at a focal length of 28 mm.

Manual focus adjustment is required with this model, as it does not have an autofocus function. The distance to the subject must be estimated. A minimum distance of 80 cm to the subject should be maintained to avoid blurring. The focus is adjusted in different focus areas, which are visually displayed in the viewfinder and marked with symbols.

The camera’s built-in exposure meter allows accurate determination of exposure parameters. The exposure meter supports film with ISO values from 8 to 1000.

Photographers set the desired shutter speed and the camera then adjusts the appropriate aperture in the range of f/2.8 to f/22. The shutter offers several values to choose from, namely 1/30 second, 1/60 second, 1/125 second and 1/250 second. If the flash is to be used, users can determine both the aperture and the shutter speed themselves.

An external flash can be connected to the Canon Dial 35-2 via the PC flash port. A flash can also be attached to the hot shoe. The maximum sync speed for the flash varies depending on the flash unit used. With an exposure time of 1/30 second, you are on the safe side, since all flashes can be used.

A thread for mounting a tripod is embedded in the camera’s housing. Furthermore, there is a connection for a cable release. A self-timer was available as an accessory, as this model does not have an integrated self-timer function.

The camera weight is 410 grams and the dimensions are 9.9 x 7.55 x 4.35 cm. The camera uses a mercury battery like the National M-1D, Toshiba TH-MC, Mallory RM 625 N or Eveready E 625 R, but these are no longer in production.

Films for the Canon Dial 35-2

What film is required for the Canon Dial 35-2? It works with 35mm films. 35mm films are still produced and can be easily developed in most photo labs.

Two recommended films for this Japanese camera are the Kodak Portra 400* and the Kodak T-Max 100*. Both types of film can be used to create stunning color and black-and-white images. Other notable film manufacturers include Lomography, Rollei, Adox, and Foma.

The 35mm camera negatives measure 24 mm x 18 mm, which is half of a standard 35mm camera image.

A special feature, especially at the time, was the film transport mechanism. This is a mechanical motor that must be tensioned before use. After each shot, the motor moves the film along and readies the shutter for the next shot.