Olympus 35 RC vs 35 RD

[Lucadomi]

I own an Olympus 35 RC in very good conditions, very clean.
I now have the opportunity to buy a 35 RD (they ask $200 !).
What do I get more by getting also the 35 RD? I like the idea of the adiitional shutter speeds and the faster lens (better bokeh?), but is it really worthed?
Maybe I should just stay with my RC.
Please let me know your opinions.
Thanks.

 

[Mablo]

You get much MUCH better lens. RD's lens is really one of the best if not the best of the classic fixed lens rangefinder cameras. The RD is also a bit rare these days. Its shutter has a tendency to gum up so I assume many RDs are playing dead in the drawers.

 

[Ljós]

As Mablo says the RD is known for having oil migrating inside the lens/shutter assembly, rendering the camera inoperable. John Hermanson (camtech) has written about this here on RFF, also saying that ALL RD get this syndrome at some point. Once it is fixed professionally, the problem is not likely to occur again. It would be good to find out whether your seller has the expertise to do this right, and whether the camera has bean serviced. Otherwise I would say that 200 USD is too high a price.

All the best, Ljós

 

[Jack Conrad]

What about the more common QL17 GIII?

 

[Lucadomi]

Thanks for the quick responses.
Yea, I like the idea of the better lens, but realiablility is an issue. The seller only says that everything seems to be working fine. I have to meet him today to vision the camera. I probably will offer a litlle less because 200 is really too much for a camera that might need repairs.
Please let me kow you additional comments.
Thanks.

 

[kuzano]

It Always Fascinates Me....

It Always Fascinates Me....

I am always surprised how many RFF'rs don't appear to know about the bartenders web site.... www.cameraquest.com....

Here is the page devoted to the Olympus RD:

http://www.cameraquest.com/olyrd.htm

There is also a page on the RC, allowing you to compare points.

I guess it's a testament to Steve's ability to keep his business separate from this Forum. I've been using his site for years on all manner of classic camera. I like the way he lays out his pros and cons.

Looking at completed listings on eBay. RD's have been selling well under $200, and more of them than I might have suspected over the last 60 days. (you must be logged into eBay to see "completed listings".)

It would have to be a superb and possibly recent CLA for me at $200.

Good camera however, when in fine condition. Great lens.

 

[kuzano]

It Always Fascinates Me....

It Always Fascinates Me....

I am always surprised how many RFF'rs don't appear to know about the bartenders web site.... www.cameraquest.com....

Here is the page devoted to the Olympus RD:

http://www.cameraquest.com/olyrd.htm

There is also a page on the RC, allowing you to compare points.

I guess it's a testament to Steve's ability to keep his business separate from this Forum. I've been using his site for years on all manner of classic camera. I like the way he lays out his pros and cons.

Looking at completed listings on eBay. RD's have been selling well under $200, and more of them than I might have suspected over the last 60 days. (you must be logged into eBay to see "completed listings".) HINT: hard to find maybe....rare, I think not.

Two auctions currently active on eBay right now.

It would have to be a superb and possibly recent CLA for me at $200.

Good camera however, when in fine condition. Great lens.

 

[btgc]

Sell your RC for extraorbitant amount of money thanks to Ken Rockwell (ummmh, isn't it a bit too late now?) and get RD instead. That is, if sub-f/2.8 apertures and additional speeds are important to you. Otherwise smaller RC is better for daily use because...it's smaller and lighter.

 

[Lucadomi]

I did not pay much for the RC and I want to have fun with it a little more.
I will make my offer for the RD, according to the conditions of the camera. I don' t want overpay or have to deal with expensive repairs. Is the rainfander better than the RC?
Thanks everyone.

 

[petronius]

The feeling of the RC is better; the shutter sounds better, focusing is easier, the finder info is better and setting the aperture is way easier at the RC. The shutter in my RD is mostly working correct, but the camera is much less used than the RC.
All this in my personal opinion!

 

[shadowfox]

Another food for thought on the RD, written by me: http://zuikography.com/?p=17

 

[btgc]

I did not pay much for the RC and I want to have fun with it a little more.
I will make my offer for the RD, according to the conditions of the camera. I don' t want overpay or have to deal with expensive repairs.

Don't want to kill potential Olympus collector, but let's see what do we have here. You had RC for a cheap and have good user camera. Buy RD for close to 200 (or even $100) and you'll have camera which most probably needs to be serviced (another $100). After this one of cameras will get used less than it deserves, you will have fun of owning two cameras but cost of frame will jump on. I see choice between taking pictures or collecting cameras.

 

[anjoca76]

Don't want to kill potential Olympus collector, but let's see what do we have here. You had RC for a cheap and have good user camera. Buy RD for close to 200 (or even $100) and you'll have camera which most probably needs to be serviced (another $100). After this one of cameras will get used less than it deserves, you will have fun of owning two cameras but cost of frame will jump on. I see choice between taking pictures or collecting cameras.

I think it's safe to say that many (most?) of us here on RFF, at least to some degree, collect cameras, whether we want to admit it or not.

 

[Lucadomi]

To me is more about finding the right camera for me. Anyway, I am going to pass on the RD.
I don't want to deal with the shutter problems.

 

[Frontman]

Between the two (and I have both), I do prefer the RD. Beside having a faster lens, the RD is simply a beautiful camera. The best option would actually be neither the RD or thr RC, but the SP, which has an even better lens, and a superior light meter. The SP is bigger than the RC or RD, but not by much. You can easily find a nice SP for less than $200, and it will not have the shutter issue common with the RD.

 

[Brian Legge]

The RD continues to be the camera that frustrates me the most. After using a 35DC, I was totally sold on the optics. Loved them, loved the size of the camera, throw in the manual control of the RD and I was convinced it would be my perfect camera.

I managed to find one for virtually nothing and had it serviced by John Hermanson due to the sticky shutter issue.

I unfortunately neglected to see how the ergonomics worked for me before having it serviced. I almost always shoot in manual and change the aperture all the time. The aperture on the 35RD is flush thin and at the base of the lens mount; for me it is difficult to change. Throw a lens hood on it and I have a really hard time with the aperture ring.

After shooting two rolls, I set it aside and haven't touched it in a while. I'm holding on to it in the hopes that I figure out how to improve the ergonomics as I really love everything else about the camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/5022306150/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/5014466987

Love the images from the lens though. Its great wide open and stopped down.

I also have a 35SP and have been using it even more. The lens has a slightly different look to it but I love it as well. Here are a few examples from it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/5389687508

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/5743975130

In all honesty, its hard to go wrong with any of these cameras.

 

[charjohncarter]

You get much MUCH better lens. RD's lens is really one of the best if not the best of the classic fixed lens rangefinder cameras. The RD is also a bit rare these days. Its shutter has a tendency to gum up so I assume many RDs are playing dead in the drawers.

Mablo, if you have a site that has a comparison of the RC and the RD lenses would you please post it. I would very much like to read it.

 

[charjohncarter]

Check around here:

http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/misc/rangfndr.html

I have the 35RC which I'm not as crazy about as others, but it has so many features that most sub-compacts from this era don't have. It has manual selection of both shutter and f/stop, Flash-o-matic which you may not think is so great but it is way better than a flash with a sensor, of course, auto-exposure, a bright viewfinder, and a very good lenses which is maybe better than most of these sub-compacts.

What I like about the 35RC is: manual and auto exposure, synch to 1/500 (this is very important to me), Flash-o-matic, and a pretty good meter.

If I were choosing between the two I would pick the RC but that is totally personal as I want a camera like this that is small, and I have plenty that are large that I don't take because of their size. I think the lenses is as good as any of the ten or so cameras I've had of the flimsily built Japanese models from the late 60s and the 70s. My 35RC was $12.00 and I have used it a lot, but just out of realism I sent it to John Hermanson, his charge was $114.00+ for a CLA including shipping.

35RC:

 

[btgc]

I think it's safe to say that many (most?) of us here on RFF, at least to some degree, collect cameras, whether we want to admit it or not.

Well, just hoped I can save a soul 🙂

But most of people just have to go through cycles to come to their own conclusions. That's how it works. Some people prefer small cameras and some don't mind carrying large (heavy) cameras. One's taste may differ from other's.

 

[Lucadomi]

Brian,
really like your pics. The SP is very nice.
It is nice to have both, a more portable one (I keep the XA in my bag) and a larger one with more control, when you have more time. The RC is something in between.