Hiyoca 35RF by Colin Clarke

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5 March 2009	© Colin J Clarke

Hiyoca 35RF

With the help of the great PBase camera sleuth, André Bessot, I have
tracked down the Hiyoca 35, from which I (we) believe the Hanimex C35
was cloned (branded) for the Australian market in the late 1950s. This
is definitely the camera design I remember as my first rangefinder
35mm (1959), and you will see the 'identical twin sibling' features in the C35.
Both made by The Royal Camera Co. in Japan.

This Hiyoca is in great condition, by the way, and I look forward to shooting a roll of film in it soon.

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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All Images © Copyright Colin J. Clarke 2015. Please do not copy, reproduce, distribute or display without written permission.

Colin Clarke		02-Jun-2011 13:24
Thanks, Rob. Another Hiyoca I have is #22473. I haven't been able to discover where the numbers started. On one forum, I read they started at 22000 for Hiyoca bodies, which is possible because the identical Hanimex bodies started at 18000.

Rob Holz		02-Jun-2011 01:01
I just shot off a roll of film with a Hiyoca that is just a bit older than your camera. Serial number 24440.

Guest		17-Jul-2010 05:29
No problem. I actually held a paper copy of that manual in my hands tonight, as well as a Hiyoca 35 camera that looked almost as clean as the one in your photos. Was I disappointed when the shutter wouldn't fire at all! The rangefinder was perfect but the shutter speed ring was very stiff and nothing at all happened when I pressed the shutter button. Any suggestions? I don't know much about restoration, but I'd love to go back and buy it from the fellow ($40 Canadian, at most). By the way, I love your site!

Colin Clarke		15-Jul-2010 18:52
Thank you, Gary. Yes, I saw the manual there as you suggested. Much appreciated.

Gary Frank		15-Jul-2010 18:39
Hello. A Frenchman named, Sylvain Halgand, has a fantastic website with dozens of old manuals. The site is in French but many of the manuals --including the Hiyoca 35-- are in English. And they are available "gratuit". I'm logged on as a guest, so I can't post the link, but if you Google his name and "Hiyoca", it will be at the top of the list.

André Bessot		10-Mar-2009 06:40
I like the new way you are using to present your camera. It is a very good idea Colin. On this camera, I like how the engineers place the ASA dial, very clever... Cheers. André

123		08-Mar-2009 00:52
A total beauty. V

Guest		07-Mar-2009 12:22
Nice job reproducing the shot of the Hanimex. This looks like a nice little range finder. Great first camera. How old were you then? So your from down under then originally? It must be exciting to hold in your hand a camera like the one that started it all.

Paco López		07-Mar-2009 07:23
Ohhh... Beautiful!!!!!!! V!!!!

Barry S Moore		07-Mar-2009 06:44
A very fine portrait of an old lady.

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