Tanaka Kogaku Tanack 35C
The Tanaka Kogaku Tanack 35C is a LTM-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1953. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- LTM
- Release Year
- 1953
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- 35C, covering IIC and IIIC outfit designations
- Serial Range
- Observed non-contiguous ranges 27819 to 29252 and 54042 to 54988, not factory-confirmed allocations
Dimensions
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Framelines
- None, separate optical viewfinder and coupled rangefinder
- Shutter Speeds
- B, 1/20 s, 1/30 s, 1/40 s, 1/60 s, 1/100 s, 1/200 s and 1/500 s
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- Unknown, FP flashbulb contact only
Tanack 35C
The Tanack 35C is the generic LeicaLensList title for Tanaka Kogaku's early IIC and IIIC LTM rangefinders. The two sales names used the same camera body. IIC denoted an outfit with a collapsible Tanar 50 mm f/3.5, while IIIC denoted the Tanar 50 mm f/2.8 package [1][2].
The body has a cloth focal-plane shutter without a slow-speed dial, separate but closely spaced viewfinder and coupled rangefinder eyepieces, FP flashbulb synchronization and a hinged rear door for easier film loading [1].
History
Development and Launch
Tanaka Kogaku developed its first Tanack body in 1952 and commercially introduced the IIC and IIIC versions in 1953. Contemporary advertising also used the broader Tanack 35 name [1][3].
Production Evolution
Collector research records 35C bodies in the non-contiguous ranges 27819 to 29252 and 54042 to 54988. Early bodies have a stepped finder housing, while later examples use a rounded form. These observations are not surviving factory allocations [1].
Special Variants
IIC and IIIC are lens-outfit designations for the same Standard model body, not separate camera editions. The 35C database title prevents the supplied 50 mm lens from creating duplicate body profiles [1].
Collector Notes
The body itself is generally engraved only Tanack. Confirm the absence of a front slow-speed dial, the single FP contact, closely positioned rear eyepieces and hinged back. Re-engraved Soviet copies have been documented [1][4].
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