Oly 35RC + B&W = perfect match?

[OlyMan]

Looking on Flickr and elsewhere generally, there seem to be a lot of happy 35RC users who mainly use the camera to shoot B&W rather than color. I include myself in the list: in three years of ownership, I have never had any other film-type through it 😱 (usually it's permanently loaded with something slow- or medium-speed from Ilford).

I think it has to do with the high-contrast 42mm E-Zuiko which seems to really lend itself to B&W work. I've even taken decent family portraits with it, though I do find the 42mm lens means you have to invade someone's personal space a little too much to get a tight, frame-filling composition, which is uncomfortable at times.

I have recently bought and fitted a 43.5mm yellow filter to it, part way through the current roll of Ilford Delta 100. It will be interesting to see what effect, if any, this has on the eventual machine-printed prints.

Anyone else on here use an 'RC mainly for B&W?

 

[wintoid]

I have an RC which sees some use, but is rather eclipsed by the SP. I'm exclusively BW, so it's not so much a decision related to the camera. Sometimes I am really blown away by what comes out of the little beauty.

 

[charjohncarter]

I have an Oly 35RC which I ran a number of rolls of Superia Xtra 400 though to see how it would work, now it is mostly B&W. There are a lot of things I don't like about the camera, but I keep using it because of it's good points. One, that Beeno turned me on to, is it is great for flash photography as it is synched to 500 with independent f stop.

Carmel Mission ala 35RC:

 

[OlyMan]

There are a lot of things I don't like about the camera

Yeah one of which, for me, is the shutter-priority. I never thought I'd mind either way but it has to be said with my less-than-perfect vision I'd prefer to set a small aperture (=maximum DOF for when my focussing is not bob-on) and let it choose the shutter-speed.

Good shot btw!

 

[charjohncarter]

I also don't enjoy having the focus change when I have to turn the meter on.

 

[rgeorge911]

Agreed - best for B&W

Agreed - best for B&W

I tried my RC with color after I got it, and didn't use it again for some time (not bad results, just not great). Then, I shot some B&W in it, and was amazed. I really love it for B&W.

I've never put a battery in mine, and use a handheld meter. However, I do agree that the f-stop and focus rings are too close together.

Reed

 

[Kent]

Yep, b&w is more fun than colour with the 35RC, IMHO.

 

[Sim_Design]

After reading this thread I got some HP5 and stuck it in my RC, and I've got to say I'm really pleased with the results. I think I'll be keeping it in b&w mode from now on. It also means I can justify another camera for colour!