Oly, Oly, Oly

Rich Silfver · 01-20-2004

As small and insignificant as my Olympus 60's - 70's collection may be I love these cameras and I love using them - and isn't that all one can really ask for? :-)

I now have an even 10. Still lurking for 4 more models... ;-)

1 - Olympus 35 RC
Funnily enough I've never really 'fallen in love' with this camera. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot...
The one I got I got for free when buying my SP. It looks and works great apart from the selftimer lever missing the bolt in the middle.

To be replaced with a better looking one.

2 - Olympus QuickMatic EEM
Fun viewfinder in perfect condition. Love looking throught it. Still only halfway through the roll that it came with.. There were three shots already taken when I got the camera...will be fun to see what is on them.....

3 - Olympus 35LC
Biggest and potentially the most beautiful of all the Olympus rangefinders from this area. It's a beast but with a great lens and handling.

4 - Olympus 35SP
The king. Love it. Ease of handling, size, the lens. Love it. I carry it with me a LOT.

5 - Olympus 35LC
Eh..yeah...so I got one more...well...it was only 20-something dollars...

6 - Olympus 35ECR
This one came with a dent on the top that the seller 'forgot' to mention. Works and looks great apart from that but will be 'upgraded' to a better looking one once one comes around. Fairly hard to spot these days.
Once a replacement has been found this will become the 'glove compartement camera'.

7 - Olympus 35EC2
Great condition, works well. Nice. Have yet to put a roll through it but all seems to work fine.

8 - Olympus 35EC
One of the best condition cameras I have. Looks brand new.

9 - Olympus 35ED
The latest acquisition. Great looking camera and with quite a few design changes from the EC-range of cameras.

10 - Olympus XA2
Well..that one shouldn't really be here...but I needed it to make it.. 10 :-)

bmattock · 01-20-2004

It sure looks sweet! But where is your RD? I can't see that anywhere? (grin). No, seriously, nice, very very nice!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

taffer · 01-21-2004

Really nice collection Richard. Now you can start looking for another 10

Just to begin, the 35 DC !!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...EBWA%3AIT&rd=1

Always tempting

Oscar

Rich Silfver · 01-21-2004

Hehe Oscar - the 35 DC is indeed one of the models I am looking for - this one looks like too much work though :-)

Good ones unfortunately nowadays go for 70-100 dollars...

rover · 01-21-2004

I am giving in and saying for sure that I have a collection now. And what is missing, an Oly. I will have to see what I come up with.

oftheherd · 01-21-2004

Many years ago, I bought an Oly 35 rangefinder because it had been recommended in one of the photo magazines. They hyped it pretty good, and I decided that would make a good backup to my Yashica TL Super. I went looking at the PX, and there was the Oly. I don't remember the model number. I did enjoy using it, and carried it sometimes when I was pretty sure I didn't want the bulk of the SLR, two lenses, and other accessories. Even after I got a Fujica ST901 I still used the Oly on occassion. Unfortunately, some low life stole it from my parked car. I still miss that little thing from time to time.

To satisfy my need for a small 35mm, I recently purchased a Welta Welti folding 35mm camera from ebay. I also used to have one of those I inherited from my father. Not a rangefinder, but sure a nice and pocketable camera.

Congrats on your collection of Oly's.

wierdcollector · 01-21-2004

Great looking collection of Oly's there Richard. I still have only my poor little 35 ECR. (and an OM10, OMG and a couple lenses) Olympus cameras are like hen's teeth around here. Maybe I'll have to try the E word again, yours sure look sweet.

Doug · 01-21-2004

Nice collection! Olympus did a fine job in that compact 35 niche...

Rich Silfver · 01-21-2004

Thanks for the comments. They're a fun bunch of cameras... used one just a few hours ago at dinner (the new 35ED) at some Japanese place - and snapped half a roll :-)

Rich Silfver · 01-23-2004

And..the family just grew by one today... :-)

rover · 01-24-2004

Did you buy that RD recently CLA'd on Ebay?

SolaresLarrave · 01-24-2004

Time to kick myself in the rear... I would have been the proud owner of an Olympus 35 SP (like your #4) since Dec. 2002... I asked some question to an eBay seller about something, and, as it turns out, he was about to auction a SP but offered to sell it to me for $80 when I told him I was contemplating to get one.

And then I rear-ended the garage door...

That was a mo$t painful, frustrating year, let me tell you...

But I'm happy for you!

Neat assembly you got there!

bmattock · 01-24-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by SolaresLarrave
Time to kick myself in the rear... I would have been the proud owner of an Olympus 35 SP (like your #4) since Dec. 2002... I asked some question to an eBay seller about something, and, as it turns out, he was about to auction a SP but offered to sell it to me for $80 when I told him I was contemplating to get one.

And then I rear-ended the garage door...

That was a mo$t painful, frustrating year, let me tell you...

But I'm happy for you! Neat assembly you got there!

I'm sorry to hear about your garage door costing you a camera! Hope all is well, and you get your SP soon...

Meanwhile, here's a taste of my next camera review...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Rich Silfver · 01-24-2004

Bill, whenever you want to sell that SP..let me know....really...I mean it...really..... :-)

bmattock · 01-24-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by rsilfverberg
Bill, whenever you want to sell that SP..let me know....really...I mean it...really..... :-)

You might not want it! I paid too much (dang it, I got carried away and placed way too high an opening bid), and although it cleaned up well, in bright light I can now see a tiny scratch on the front element. I shot a roll of fim with it yesterday, we'll see how it turns out. And it needs to be refoamed really badly. And I don't know how to turn off the meter!

In the meantime...I just noticed this - and since I already have one myself...

Yashica Electro CC

Rich Silfver · 01-24-2004

Sorry to hear about the scratch..ouch...
The foam is not a biggie ofcourse.

And the meter..turning it off.. you can't :-)

There is a design-flaw with the SP/SPn and UC cameras - the meter is outside of the lens. Normally - if the meter is inside the diameter of the lens you can use a lens-cap to simply 'de-activate' the meter. The SP/SPn and UC requires you to use the camera case to block out the meter and hence preserve the battery.

I've actually never had a problem with that as I use the ever-ready case a lot and my Wein-cell batteries seems to last 6 months+ that way.

I have seen a home-made 'patch' that someone constructed that lets a little 'lid' slide over the meter - hence achieving the same thing but without having to use the camera case. Actually looked kinda nice as well. Haven't seen anything like that for sale though and nowadays there wouldn't really be a market :-)

I love it for it's lens and excellent spot meter.

Mine is going in for a rangefinder calibration soon as it seems a to be a little bit off - apart from that it works like a charm.

The Electro CC looks nice. That film-pouch-thing is not original is it? Also to the right and above the lens pouch there is a large grey circular..thing.. is that the way it's supposed to look or is something missing?

bmattock · 01-24-2004

The film pouch *is* original - at least mine has one, too. Why it is not *clear* plastic, I have no idea. The circular thing - the battery covery. Bad design, but there it is.

Gotto go, I have a plane to Atlanta first thing tomorrow...I'll check in again when I can!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Rich Silfver · 01-28-2004

Bill, with 20 hours left on that CC it's already up to 88 dollars.
Yikes.

bmattock · 01-29-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by rsilfverberg
Bill, with 20 hours left on that CC it's already up to 88 dollars.
Yikes.

Over $100 now. You're right, yikes. I guess I got a good deal on mine - makes me feel somewhat better after what I paid for my SP.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks