Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5

Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 LTM

The Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 LTM is a rare Japanese short telephoto lens documented in Leica screw-mount form. It belongs to the small group of postwar Kyoei / Acall lenses made for Leica L39 / LTM / M39 rangefinder cameras and related Japanese screw-mount bodies. DutchThrift lists the lens as “Kyoei Optical Acall 80mm f/3.5 LTM L39 Leica Screw Mount Lens,” confirming the LTM / L39 Leica screw-mount version [1].

The 80mm focal length is uncommon among Leica screw-mount lenses, sitting between the more familiar 50mm normal lenses and 90mm portrait lenses. DutchThrift describes the lens as a compact 80mm f/3.5 Leica screw-mount lens with vintage rendering, while Japanese dealer listings also document Acall 80mm f/3.5 examples sold with an external finder [1] [2]. Because public technical documentation is limited, most physical specifications should remain Unknown unless measured from the exact lens.

This entry covers the Leica L39 / LTM / M39 rangefinder version of the Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5. It should be kept separate from Kyoei Super-Acall 105mm f/3.5, Kyoei Super-Acall 135mm f/3.5, Sankyo Kohki Komura 80mm lenses, and any SLR or non-rangefinder Acall lenses unless Leica screw mount and coupling are clearly confirmed.

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Optical qualities

Rendering

The Acall 80mm f/3.5 is valued as a characterful vintage short telephoto rather than a modern high-correction lens. DutchThrift describes it as having gentle contrast, smooth transitions and a nostalgic rendering style [1]. These are useful collector notes, but they should be treated as user-level observations rather than formal optical testing.

Sharpness

No reliable bench test was found. A clean copy may be capable of good practical sharpness, but performance should be treated as copy-dependent. Age-related haze, coating marks, mechanical adjustment and rangefinder calibration can have a major effect on results.

Contrast and color

Contrast is likely moderate and condition-dependent. DutchThrift notes gentle contrast as part of the lens’s character [1]. Strong claims about modern contrast, flare resistance or color neutrality should be avoided unless supported by controlled testing of the exact copy.

Bokeh and transitions

The 80mm focal length and f/3.5 aperture can give moderate subject separation, especially for portraits and detail work. It should not be described as a fast portrait lens, but its longer-than-normal focal length gives it more separation potential than a 50mm f/3.5 lens.

Handling

The lens is a compact short telephoto for Leica screw-mount use. Some examples are sold with an external finder, which is useful because Leica screw-mount bodies do not provide built-in 80mm framelines [2]. If used on Leica M bodies, an L39-to-M adapter is required.

Digital use

The lens can be used on Leica M bodies with an L39-to-M adapter and on mirrorless bodies with suitable adapters. Because it is an 80mm lens, rangefinder calibration should be checked carefully. If a copy is not rangefinder-coupled or has been adapted from another mount, it should be documented as a conversion rather than a standard LTM rangefinder lens.

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History

Development and Launch

Public documentation for the Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 is sparse. The lens appears to belong to the 1950s Japanese third-party Leica screw-mount period, when smaller manufacturers supplied lenses for Leica, Canon, Nicca, Leotax and other rangefinder cameras. DutchThrift frames it as part of Kyoei Optical’s smaller-scale postwar Japanese lens production [1].

Production Evolution

No confirmed production years, serial ranges or production totals were found. Surviving examples appear in Leica L39 / LTM / M39 screw mount and may be seen with external finder accessories. Rangefinderforum discussion also mentions Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 as an LTM lens, supporting its presence in the Leica screw-mount ecosystem [3].

Special Editions/Variants

No commemorative factory special edition is documented. Collector-relevant differences include chrome versus black/chrome finishes, finder inclusion, caps, serial numbers and whether the copy is confirmed as Leica screw mount and rangefinder-coupled.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify the Kyoei / Acall engraving, 80mm f/3.5 marking, Leica L39 / M39 screw mount, rangefinder coupling, infinity focus, serial number, external finder if included and optical condition. Important condition checks include haze, fungus, cleaning marks, coating wear, aperture function, focusing smoothness and damaged screw threads.

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Special editions

No confirmed factory commemorative special edition is currently documented.

Known collector-relevant variants and related versions include:

• Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 LTM, Leica screw-mount version, this entry.
• Acall 80mm f/3.5 examples sold with external finder, collector-relevant when complete.
• Chrome or black/chrome examples, finish details should be recorded from the exact copy.
• Kyoei Super-Acall 105mm f/3.5 LTM, related maker family but separate focal length.
• Kyoei Super-Acall 135mm f/3.5 LTM, related maker family but separate focal length.
• Sankyo Kohki / Komura 80mm lenses, similar Japanese third-party rangefinder lenses but separate maker entries unless proven identical.

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Sources

• [1] DutchThrift. Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 LTM Review & Vintage Buying Guide. https://dutchthrift.com/blogs/gear/kyoei-acall-80mm-f-3-5-ltm-review-vintage-buying-guide
• [2] on and on shop. Kyoei Optical Acall 80mm/F3.5 + finder set. https://on-and-on.ocnk.net/product/6775
• [3] Rangefinderforum. Fantasy lens eclectica, Kyoei Acall 80mm f/3.5 LTM mention. https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/fantasy-lens-eclectica.154438/
• [4] Camera-wiki. 39mm screw lenses. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/39mm_screw_lenses
• [5] Manuellfokus. Objektiv index, Acall 80mm f/3.5. https://www.manuellfokus.no/objektivfatninger/objektiv-index/