Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5

The Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 is a LTM / M39-mount lens for Leica rangefinder cameras. Leica price index ↗

Reference maintained by Thomas Boots

Model number(s): Acall 35mm f/3.5, Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5, W-Acall 35mm f/3.5, W.Acall 35mm f/3.5

Focal Length: 35mm

Aperture: 𝑓/3.5

Mount: LTM / M39

Material Weight: Metal, 0g

Colors: Black Chrome

Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 LTM

The Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 LTM is a rare Japanese wide-angle lens documented in Leica screw-mount form. It belongs to the small group of postwar third-party Japanese LTM lenses made for Leica, Canon, Nicca, Leotax and other 39mm screw-mount rangefinder cameras. KEH lists the lens as “W.Acall 35mm F/3.5 Kyoei Lens For Leica Screw Mount,” confirming the Leica screw-mount version and noting Series 6 filter use in the hood [1].

Camera-wiki lists the “35/3.5 W-Acall” among 39mm screw lenses, describing it as black and chrome and visually similar to Komura and Telesar lenses [2]. This is important because Kyoei, Acall, Komura, Telesar and other smaller Japanese lens names can be confused in seller listings. The front-ring engraving, mount and rangefinder coupling should therefore be checked carefully on each copy.

This entry covers the Leica L39 / LTM / M39 rangefinder version of the Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5. It should be kept separate from Kyoei Super-Acall 105mm f/3.5, Kyoei Super-Acall 135mm f/3.5, W-Komura 35mm f/3.5, Kuribayashi 35mm f/3.5 and any SLR or non-rangefinder versions unless the exact mount and coupling are confirmed.

Optical qualities

Rendering

The W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 is a compact vintage Japanese wide-angle with classic 1950s rendering. Modern testing is limited, but user reports describe it as a small, pleasant daily-use lens with good character and practical rangefinder handling. Uncanny Bingo reviewed a Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 in M39 Leica thread mount and described it as a charming compact walkaround lens on APS-C digital use [3].

Sharpness

No reliable formal bench test was found. User reports are generally positive for practical shooting, but sharpness should be treated as sample-dependent. Many surviving examples are old and may show haze, cleaning marks, coating wear or mechanical play. A clean and accurately coupled copy is likely more important than small theoretical differences between similar Japanese third-party 35mm lenses.

Contrast and color

Contrast depends heavily on coating condition and flare control. Since the lens is a small vintage wide-angle, a hood is useful. KEH notes Series 6 filter use in the hood, which suggests that the hood is part of the practical accessory setup for at least some examples [1]. Strong claims about modern contrast or flare resistance should be avoided.

Distortion and vignetting

No reliable measured distortion or vignetting data was found. As a compact 35mm f/3.5 rangefinder wide-angle, it should be described conservatively. Visual performance may vary between film, digital Leica M bodies and adapted mirrorless cameras.

Bokeh and transitions

As a 35mm f/3.5 lens, it is not primarily a shallow-depth-of-field lens. Its appeal is more about compact size, vintage rendering, LTM compatibility and collector rarity than dramatic background blur.

Digital use

The lens can be used on Leica M bodies with an L39-to-M adapter and on mirrorless cameras with suitable adapters. Rangefinder coupling, infinity focus and adapter accuracy should be checked on the exact camera. On digital bodies, edge performance, color shift and flare may be more visible than on film.

History

Development and Launch

Public documentation for the W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 is limited. It appears to belong to the 1950s Japanese third-party Leica screw-mount period, when smaller makers supplied affordable alternatives to Leica, Canon and Nikon lenses. Camera-wiki lists W-Acall under 39mm screw lenses, while KEH documents the Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 in Leica screw mount [1] [2].

Production Evolution

No confirmed production years, production totals or official model-number sequence were found. The lens is documented in black and chrome finish and appears in Leica screw mount. Savazzi’s notes on Kyoei and related 35mm f/3.5 lenses mention several similar Kyoei-type lenses and state that Kyoei marketed a type 2 lens in M39 / L39 Leica rangefinder mount, supporting the need to identify each copy by physical mount and barrel style [4].

Special Editions/Variants

No commemorative factory special edition is documented. Collector-relevant variants are mainly engraving and mount differences: W.Acall, W-Acall or Acall naming, Leica screw mount, possible related Komura-style or Telesar-style barrels, black/chrome finish, hood and finder accessories. Similar-looking lenses should not be merged unless the engraving and mount match.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify the Kyoei / W.Acall engraving, 35mm f/3.5 marking, Leica L39 / M39 screw mount, rangefinder coupling, infinity focus, serial number, hood, filter arrangement and optical condition. Important condition checks include haze, fungus, cleaning marks, coating wear, aperture function, stiff focusing and damaged screw threads. Because seller titles may mix Kyoei, Acall, W-Acall, Komura and Telesar names, the front-ring engraving should be used as the primary identification point.

Special editions

No confirmed factory commemorative special edition is currently documented.

Known collector-relevant variants and related versions include:

Kyoei W.Acall 35mm f/3.5 LTM, Leica screw-mount version, this entry.
W-Acall 35mm f/3.5 black and chrome examples, same likely lens family when Leica screw mount and rangefinder coupling are confirmed.
Acall 35mm f/3.5 examples, should be matched only when engraving and mount confirm the same lens family.
Examples with original hood using Series 6 filter arrangement, collector-relevant when complete.
W-Komura 35mm f/3.5 LTM, similar Japanese third-party lens but separate maker/branding unless proven identical.
Telesar 35mm f/3.5 LTM, visually related in some references but should be treated as separate unless the exact lens confirms otherwise.
Kyoei Super-Acall 105mm f/3.5 and 135mm f/3.5 LTM lenses, related maker family but separate focal lengths.