scorpius73
Well-known
i have a canonet gIII ql17. the shutter is pretty quiet. i have the rangefinder bug. i have been thinking of picking up an olympus 35sp. how quiet is the shutter? i hear the lens is pretty sharp as well. thanks.
Shadesofgrey
Happiness, is a darkroom
Hi. I had 2, sold one a year ago as not really used and had a good offer. Both were quiet though one slightly better than the other (that’s the one I kept of course) though both, IMO, slightly quieter than my Canon Coronet which is real quiet (samples of all cameras vary of course). Lens was great, and viewfinder the bees knees, the canon is good in this department but I think the Oly viewfinder is better (IMO). In use, no complaints, though the physical size is something you should think about, my SP is nothing like my R2 and or my GR1v out on the street and so I tend to take the R2/GR1v combination out more unless I’m feeling nostalgic and then I’ll take the Oly or the Canon, really enjoy using them both though. One thing to take note of on the SP is, light traps. Check them out really well as there’s one in the lens assembly/barrel and it’s a pig, and will quite happily shower your lovely Zuko with nasty sticky bits 
The second Oly I bought did exactly that and I learned the hard way just what a- P.I.T.A- that light trap is to get at. :bang: Those more experienced and better equipped for such sortie’s will no doubt offer a different view, but, well, you have been warned :angel: Funny: Never did get on with the metering system though; still, use a spot most of the time anyway. If you can buy one from an RFf member all the better (not mine) as for ebay, get a real good set of pics and ask loads of questions. As to dealers: don’t pay over the top, they’re not rare or in fashion; I paid £35.00 for my first one in, A1 unmarked, excellent condition (the one I still have) and £25.00 for the one that needed a little TLC. Prices may have risen since I bought mine (2003) but not by much I shouldn’t think; and anyway: If it’s sitting there all nice and shiny and crying out to you, you’ll pay: I did
All the best.
B.
The second Oly I bought did exactly that and I learned the hard way just what a- P.I.T.A- that light trap is to get at. :bang: Those more experienced and better equipped for such sortie’s will no doubt offer a different view, but, well, you have been warned :angel: Funny: Never did get on with the metering system though; still, use a spot most of the time anyway. If you can buy one from an RFf member all the better (not mine) as for ebay, get a real good set of pics and ask loads of questions. As to dealers: don’t pay over the top, they’re not rare or in fashion; I paid £35.00 for my first one in, A1 unmarked, excellent condition (the one I still have) and £25.00 for the one that needed a little TLC. Prices may have risen since I bought mine (2003) but not by much I shouldn’t think; and anyway: If it’s sitting there all nice and shiny and crying out to you, you’ll pay: I did All the best.
B.
Bill58
Native Texan
You wrote: "One thing to take note of on the SP is, light traps." Where is/ are it/ they? Can you describe or provide link/ pic? Maybe that's my problem. I have a light leak I think in the center of my images that looks like moon glowing.
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Shadesofgrey
Happiness, is a darkroom
Hi Bill. Do you have little black specs on the rear glass? If so. the light trap in the lens assembly is breaking down/falling to bits. Might have a pic of the one I took apart, have to search as I've changed lap tops and didn't transfer all the junk files. Get back to you when I get home tonight, if I've still got them I'll email you.
All the best.
B.
All the best.
B.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Having had 3 Oly SPs and now owning two, I would say I like them better than the Canonet, though I have very limited experience with the Canon.
For me, the spot meter is the best feature of the SP after the quality of the lens. Once I got used to the EV metering system, I grew to really like it, and could happyily live with that system in any camera.
I would say the shutter is about the same level as the Canonet (GIII QL), but it is different. The Oly has a somewhat sharp "finish"; i.e. there are harmonics/ringing and the shutter noise lasts a bit longer. Like shadesofgrey, my two SPs differ slightly in sound. The Oly 35LC has a quieter, more "compact" shutter; I wish its shutter sound was in the SP.
As to size, yes the SP is slightly larger, but it's not a huge difference. I prefer the SP as it is somewhat longer and feels more comfortable to me. I don't know the actual weights, but the Canon feels heavier despite being physically smaller, and the weight difference is enough to annoy me. The SP just feels better balanced.
The Canon I have needs a CLA so I can't really compare the viewfinders. The framelines in the Canon move for parallax whereas the Olympus simply has marks for close focusing. This is the one viewfinder feature I'd like to see in the Oly, other than that I prefer the Oly.
I have never heard of the light trap material in the lens mount issue; perhaps this is a rare occurance. I've had both of my SPs CLAed and I don't regret spending the money on them.
At some point I'll be looking for a black SP, an SPn and a UC. I don't think I could ever have "too many" SPs.
For me, the spot meter is the best feature of the SP after the quality of the lens. Once I got used to the EV metering system, I grew to really like it, and could happyily live with that system in any camera.
I would say the shutter is about the same level as the Canonet (GIII QL), but it is different. The Oly has a somewhat sharp "finish"; i.e. there are harmonics/ringing and the shutter noise lasts a bit longer. Like shadesofgrey, my two SPs differ slightly in sound. The Oly 35LC has a quieter, more "compact" shutter; I wish its shutter sound was in the SP.
As to size, yes the SP is slightly larger, but it's not a huge difference. I prefer the SP as it is somewhat longer and feels more comfortable to me. I don't know the actual weights, but the Canon feels heavier despite being physically smaller, and the weight difference is enough to annoy me. The SP just feels better balanced.
The Canon I have needs a CLA so I can't really compare the viewfinders. The framelines in the Canon move for parallax whereas the Olympus simply has marks for close focusing. This is the one viewfinder feature I'd like to see in the Oly, other than that I prefer the Oly.
I have never heard of the light trap material in the lens mount issue; perhaps this is a rare occurance. I've had both of my SPs CLAed and I don't regret spending the money on them.
At some point I'll be looking for a black SP, an SPn and a UC. I don't think I could ever have "too many" SPs.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Update: The Olympus LC does have moving framelines for parallax compensation. I just noted this today. Gawd, how could I have missed that??? Am I allowed to keep my RFF account?