I really like the SP

taldinar · 05-16-2009

This is only my second posting here on RFF.
A couple of months ago I bought a 35sp after using digital for the most of my photographic "career". Now I have exposed some rolls of T-max and I must say that it is a completely different experience from my d300. I like the suspence of having to wait for results, not chimping and the excitement of seeing if developing it was successfull. Developing was much easier than i expected and I am very happy with the results. Digital bw conversions cannot compare.
Here are a couple of samples:

Audun

35mmdelux · 05-16-2009

Very nice. For those of us unfamiliar w/ the 35SP, please provide more info. THKS

taldinar · 05-16-2009

Thank you.
The olympus 35sp is a fixed lense rangefinder made in the 70's. It's about the same size as a leica M and has a wonderful 42mm f1.7 lense. It is acceptably sharp at 1,7 and pics up to very good around f2.8 and above. Construction is almost all metal and it has centre wighted and spot metering, although I never use it.
Here is a link: http://www.cameraquest.com/olysp.htm

Audun

35mmdelux · 05-16-2009

Interesting. Takk.

zuikologist · 05-16-2009

If I had to keep only one film camera, it would be my Oly 35SP. It is just nice to use, has a great lens and delivers more than I have a right to expect from anything 40 years old.

Trius · 05-16-2009

Eventually everyone falls in love with the 35SP.

Currently I have one of mine set on auto exposure. I've made a few AE exposures in the past, but I decided to shoot most of a roll on AE. I think it's a pretty accurate system, and I use spot metering a lot.

Darkhorse · 05-16-2009

Dammit I'm jealous! My SP is still out for repair

Larky · 05-16-2009

I adore my SP, considering taking it to my wedding gig along with the Nikon.

cweg · 05-16-2009

Nice shots Audun. I love my SP too. In the beginning I didn't like the lightmetering by abstract numbers, but now, with a little training its easy to use like each other camera.

here are some of my Sp pics:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=72905

here's a link to a very interessting Olympus RF Group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/76025786@N00/

Trius · 05-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larky

I adore my SP, considering taking it to my wedding gig along with the Nikon.

I will be taking mine to a family wedding at the end of the month, along with an OM-1n + 50/1.4 and maybe 28/2.8. I might take the 5050 digi too, I dunno. Film will be TMY-2 and Neopan 1600.

Audun, your shots are great.

taldinar · 05-16-2009

Actually I find it easy to use the digisix wich operates with the same numbers. I just find it hard to trust the build in since it differs up to 2ev steps from the insident metering I get with the digisix. It may be that neither is absolutely correct and I would have gotten equally good/bad exposures with the build in meter given the latitude of t-max. It may also be that it is not calibrated to the voltage of the battery (it came with an adapter and new type battery). I haven't explored it too much since I have the external one and find it easy and accurate to use.
Do you guys use the build in spot meter in low light? Do you find it accurate.

zuikologist · 05-16-2009

Newer alkaline batteries can be a problem. Zinc air 1.4v hearing aid batteries with some sort of spacer are probably better.

Trius · 05-16-2009

One of my SPs has been circuit-modified to silver 357 type batteries , the other two not. For the latter I use zinc-air with a #9 o-ring, which works perfectly. NEVER use an alkaline battery in an SP or OM-1.

julio1fer · 05-20-2009

I had my 35SP adjusted for alkaline batteries and have used it successfully for several years. Current drain is so low that the voltage drop does not really matter, it is enough to change the battery once a year.

If you use a new alkaline in a SP adjusted for mercury batteries, just up ISO by 2 stops.

John Hermanson · 05-20-2009

Nice pictures! Can't miss with children and pets, but I really like the dog pose. John

shadowfox · 05-20-2009

How can I not comment on a thread talking about the SP?

Lovely pictures!

taldinar · 05-20-2009

Thanks to will, and everybody else who commented on the pics. You're right John, about kids and pets. They are good, and readily available subjects, but they have a tendency to cloud my judgement. I am never really sure if I like the shot because of the shot itself or my emotional attachement to the subject.

kenspix · 05-23-2009

Just got a new 35sp... wow what a cool lens. nice camera.. can't wait to use her.What is the zinc air battery i need with an o ring?..thanks

Beemermark · 05-28-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by taldinar

A couple of months ago I bought a 35sp after using digital for the most of my photographic "career". I like the suspence of having to wait for results, not chimping and the excitement of seeing if developing it was successfull.
Audun

My family makes fun of me but I also love the suspense of waiting to get the film developed. I just developed some B&W that I probably shot about a decade ago. It was like opening a time capsule. I shoot a lot of B&W and frequently forget to develop rolls for years. It's great developing them, brings back the memories like it was yesterday. I hate the immediate results of digital, there is no fun to it.