Newbie hello - Olympus 35 RD

[duncanmartin]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd say a quick hello. I'm now a RF owner after rescuing a 35 RD from a box where it had been stored for about 20 years or so.

So far only shot one roll of film as a test, but the camera seems to be working (after a service) so have plans to do some more.

I've written more on my blog, if you're interested:
http://www.duncanmartin.com/blog/2013/07/hello-to-the-olympus-35-rd/

Duncan

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

nice blog, especially the doggie pix. the RD is certainly the most desirable 🙂

 

[zuikologist]

Nice one! Welcome. Good blog entry and cool strap.

The RD lens is sharp, even wide open. I would suggest the RFmay be out if you have soft photos, or it may just be camera shake. The digi might be better for gig photography, especially colour. The RD is excellent for low light environmental portraits (ie slightyl less extreme conditions), outdoor daylight and street photography.

 

[zuikologist]

BTW the park by the Thames Barrier is one of my favourites.

 

[lam]

Some great shots! I love the Olympus 35 RD.. They are fantastic cameras, I think their optics rivals some of the most expensive competitors for sure! Enjoy it definitely.

 

[duncanmartin]

Ta for the comments all.

The RD lens is sharp, even wide open. I would suggest the RFmay be out

I'm not sure how precise the RF is supposed to be. I did notice at infinity focus, infinitity subjects don't line up perfectly, they're a hair's width off. But everything else in the indoor shots was a challenge as well so I don't want to point the finger anywhere too strongly. I should have made the effort and got a flash out.

Outdoors there was far too much light to get anywhere close to F1.7. The next colour film I shoot will probably be Ektar 100 which should make it more possible.

The digi might be better for gig photography, especially colour.

I expect the OMD to be significantly better in absolute terms, what I'm hoping is to get some B&W shots with a particular character to them.

 

[zuikologist]

Understood - the RD would be a god choic then.

Ta for the comments all.



I'm not sure how precise the RF is supposed to be. I did notice at infinity focus, infinitity subjects don't line up perfectly, they're a hair's width off. But everything else in the indoor shots was a challenge as well so I don't want to point the finger anywhere too strongly. I should have made the effort and got a flash out.

Outdoors there was far too much light to get anywhere close to F1.7. The next colour film I shoot will probably be Ektar 100 which should make it more possible.



I expect the OMD to be significantly better in absolute terms, what I'm hoping is to get some B&W shots with a particular character to them.

 

[Rodchenko]

RD's a cracking little camera. Nothing to touch it for the size.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to the forums! Looking forward to more input and photos from you.

You mentioned the RF being a little off, and mentioned a service. If you got a professional CLA, you might want to communicate with the person who did it. That should have been checked and corrected.

If you like to work on things, you might check the repair forum to see how you might be able to correct that yourself.

 

[Skulls Road]

Commenting here so I don't start a new thread. Since zuiko.com does not service the RD, RC, and SP, who are people sending theirs to? I'm looking into buying an RD and want to know before hand if I can send it in for the inevitable gunked up blades.

 

[julio1fer]

Great rescue of a beautiful classic. I recently got a 35RD, had forgotten about it.