My First 35mm (Olympus 35 RC content)

[the.ronin]

The medium format purchase was supposed to be a diversion into film from DSLR but got too curious about 35mm. So I spotted a too-good-pass deal on fleabay for a $60 Olympus 35 RC so I got it. And the thing is mint! Didn’t even really have to give it much of a clean down. Replaced the batteries with alkaline A625 1.5v and the meter works (sorta - we’ll get into that later). Anyway here it is …

Fixed 42mm f2.8 Zuiko lens …

It passed lol …

Was able to shoot off a couple B&W iso 100 rolls since I got it in the mail just yesterday. Generally pretty happy with the results. When I had the focus correct, the images were very crisp.

So I’d read about using 1.5v in place of the 1.3v mercury battery and I think it’s affecting the meter reading on automatic. I hope I don’t have this reversed (bear with me, I’m a beginner) but in either case, shooting with iso 100 film at iso 100 setting on the camera yielded slightly over exposed shots based on its meter. When I adjusted the camera setting to 200 iso, the meter resulted in darker, higher contrast shots. Is that the higher voltage?

These first two were very washed out which I darkened quite a bit …

Ok here’s my stab at some street photography lol. 😀 But in all seriousness, I’d set the meter on this shot to iso 200 with iso 100 film and thought it exposed pretty well (no editing) …

I am left to estimate or use a light meter with my GSW690 since it doesn’t have a light meter but was just wanting to see if the meter on the 35 RC was working. (Although I don’t mind using its auto mode either since I suck at estimating exposure settings.)

Have some accessories coming in for this 35 RC including original lens cap, strap, and Hi-Matic F case which is supposed to fit it perfect.

Looking forward to learning color film development so I can get into some color with these cameras. Also found a Canon TLb at a thrift store over the weekend lol. 😀

 

[zuikologist]

Nice looking rig - really good condition and the results look good.

The voltage issue should work the other way: higher voltage with asa set to film speed will yield under exposure as the meter receives higher voltage and will therefore "meter" more light than actually received. So using 100asa film, the camera should be set 2/3 to 1 stop more, ie around 60 or 50asa. It sound like your meter may need to be recalibrated.

One way around this is perhaps to fix on one or two film speeds, say 100 and 200 or 200 and 400 and know what the correct asa setting is on the camera by experimentation. Note that the metering error with higher voltageis not linear and changes somewhat with light levels. Negative film has enough latitude to cover this.

Finally, comgratulations on your purchase. Enjoy in manual with sunny 16 for ultimate freedom and enjoyment!

 

[wallace]

Just use wine cell batteries, they have the correct voltage.

 

[Rodchenko]

Neat. I like the RC & RD. Compact, but good quality. And it seems, from this forum and elsewhere, very usable every day.

 

[farlymac]

Now you have three fine cameras to keep you busy. Congrats!

PF

 

[the.ronin]

Now you have three fine cameras to keep you busy. Congrats!

PF

Thanks PF ... but actually it's four lol. 😀 Drunk fleabay purchase of a Petri Color 35E is in the mail. (I had 3 minutes to decide on a $5 auction and I googled Petri Color "35" instead of "35E" ... kinda different lol.)

 

[farlymac]

Thanks PF ... but actually it's four lol. 😀 Drunk fleabay purchase of a Petri Color 35E is in the mail. (I had 3 minutes to decide on a $5 auction and I googled Petri Color "35" instead of "35E" ... kinda different lol.)

Hey, the more the merrier!
PF

 

[the.ronin]

Quick question particularly if the answer is camera specific.

You can change ISO *setting* mid-roll right? For example, I had changed the ISO setting from 200 to 100 mid-roll in the above pictures. It is 100 ISO film but wanted to see if my battery was over- or under-exposing on the light meter. (It turns out I had it reversed, I should have gone to 50 ISO but that's a separate discussion.)

I always figured that changing the ISO setting simply changes the metering on your camera. Put another way, the same picture taken with the same shutter and aperture settings but set at different ISO settings would yield the same negative. Of course, the light meter reading would change but it's on you to make shutter and aperture adjustments based on that new reading and only then would the actual outcome change. Am I mistaken?

 

[68degrees]

In manual mode yes. Doesnt that camera have aperture priority too though? If so, I would expect the ISO changes to affect the shutter speed the camera chooses.

Quick question particularly if the answer is camera specific.

You can change ISO *setting* mid-roll right? For example, I had changed the ISO setting from 200 to 100 mid-roll in the above pictures. It is 100 ISO film but wanted to see if my battery was over- or under-exposing on the light meter. (It turns out I had it reversed, I should have gone to 50 ISO but that's a separate discussion.)

I always figured that changing the ISO setting simply changes the metering on your camera. Put another way, the same picture taken with the same shutter and aperture settings but set at different ISO settings would yield the same negative. Of course, the light meter reading would change but it's on you to make shutter and aperture adjustments based on that new reading and only then would the actual outcome change. Am I mistaken?

 

[Bingley]

In manual mode yes. Doesnt that camera have aperture priority too though? If so, I would expect the ISO changes to affect the shutter speed the camera chooses.

The Olympus RC has shutter priority: you set the shutter and the camera will determine aperture. Regardless, I don't see why you couldn't change USO settings mid- roll.

 

[ZeissFan]

Regarding the battery, a zinc-air Type 675 hearing aid battery is closer in voltage to the original mercury cell. However, you will need to wrap it with a No. 7 "O" ring that you can pick up in the plumbing section of your local hardware store.

The downside is that these batteries last only about six months.

However, their voltage curve is closer to what you want. They will deliver the rated voltage for nearly their entire life before dropping off sharply (and quickly) when they're exhausted.

An alkaline battery will display a steady decline in voltage from the moment it is first used.

That's an excellent camera that you have.

 

[the.ronin]

Thanks 68degrees and Bingley.

Actually I meant in priority mode. Specifically, to see any effect of higher voltage, I would take a shot at a given shutter and ISO. Then I'd change the ISO and take the same shot at the same shutter. I would expect to see the aperture adjusted accordingly. The theory was that I would get a "better" exposed shot under the "wrong" aperture setting if the higher than recommended battery voltage was affecting metering.

Thank you for confirming the mid-roll ISO changing question. Logically, it didn't sound right that you could not change ISO mid-roll since that is just correcting the meter reading not actually changing the exposure - you have to do that.

Thanks, ZeissFan. I know they have adapters out there too but just don't feel like having to change batteries across cameras and definitely do not feel like paying nearly as much for the battery than the camera lol. I'll check out the hearing aid batteries for sure.

 

[MRohlfing]

Thank you for confirming the mid-roll ISO changing question. Logically, it didn't sound right that you could not change ISO mid-roll since that is just correcting the meter reading not actually changing the exposure - you have to do that.

Well, if you set the camera to 'A', it WILL change exposure! If you set an f-stop manually, it will not.

If you change the ISO on a digital camera, of course, it will change the ISO of the 'film' 😀

Thanks, ZeissFan. I know they have adapters out there too but just don't feel like having to change batteries across cameras and definitely do not feel like paying nearly as much for the battery than the camera lol. I'll check out the hearing aid batteries for sure.

I do use an adapter and a SR43w battery. The adapter was more expensive than the 35 RC (I ordered it from America, though I live in Vienna), but the exposure is spot-on (with slide film). I use the adapter for 3 cameras, 35 RC, 35 SP and OM-1, and the battery seems to last for years.

 

[the.ronin]

I'm really starting to appreciate this camera. Been reading up on street photography techniques and really like how these photos at a local Cambodian festival turned out. All taken on the 35 RC's automatic mode wanted to test the light meter which looks to be working good ...

Next, will see what this little guy can do in color. 😀