CameraWorth.com

Minolta 35 Model II

The Minolta 35 Model II is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced by Minolta in the early 1950s, using the Leica screw (M39) lens mount. When new it was positioned as a Japanese alternative to the German screw-mount Leicas, aimed at serious amateurs and photojournalists.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Minolta 35 Model II have ranged from about £63 to £250, with a median around £100 — these are saleroom wholesale results, not dealer retail. In 2025 clean bodies have tended to sell for under £90, so what a 35 Model II is worth today is noticeably less than the £240–£250 figures seen a few years ago. Condition and the presence of a matched collapsible Rokkor lens materially affect the price a camera of this vintage sells for.

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Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Prices updated: October 2025

Date Price Source
Oct 2025 £63 Chiswick Auctions
Oct 2025 £63 Chiswick Auctions
Apr 2025 £88 Flints Auctions
Apr 2021 £248 Flints Auctions
Nov 2020 £248 Flints Auctions
Nov 2016 EUR 260 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 100 Leitz Auction
Nov 2005 EUR 240 Leitz Auction
Sep 2005 £216 Christie's
May 2004 EUR 180 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 EUR 443 Leitz Auction
Nov 2002 EUR 150 Leitz Auction
Nov 1999 £161 Christie's
May 1999 £241 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Minolta 35 Model II worth today?

UK auction hammer prices have recently fallen in the £63–£250 range, with a median value near £100 for a working body; exceptional examples with original lenses can sell for more.

How much does a Minolta 35 Model II sell for at UK auction?

Recent 2025 saleroom results have clustered between £63 and £88, while stronger examples have reached about £240–£250 in earlier years.

Does the Minolta 35 Model II take Leica lenses?

Yes — it uses the 39mm Leica screw mount, so most LTM lenses will fit, though rangefinder coupling accuracy should be verified with each lens.

Is the Minolta 35 Model II a good user camera?

It can be, provided the shutter and rangefinder have been serviced; the price a clean, working example sells for today makes it one of the more affordable Japanese LTM rangefinders.

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