Olympus-Auto Electro-Set

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Piecat

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I recently acquired this beautiful RF. Why is it that practically no information about this specific model is available on the Internet. It is very solidly made (1008 gram - 2 lb 4 oz). and is in a fully workable condition. Is it rare, desirable or not worth much? I will be happy if anybody can provide me with more information, or advise me of a source for a user manual.

Thanks - Pierre

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Pierre: I don't have an answer to your question, but I have one as well, though I have yet to shoot it. It is taken apart, as it was not functioning properly. That was a LONG time ago, I couldn't figure it out and have not yet got back to working with it. Your post prompts me to try again. And if you would please post photos made with it, that would be lovely.
 
Nice, thanks for sharing, I've never came across this one even in my collecting days. It looks like a variation of the Auto series produced in the late 50's early 60's according to the Olympus Camera History site.

Hey, if it's working, I second Earl's request for some photos from it. That E.Zuiko can't be bad.
 
hello guys. I just joined over a week ago and i have a olympus auto electro-set, the one with the cover over the selenium meter. The meter still works! As far as i can tell it gives fairly accurate readings. I'll be posting some pics soon. I hope you still have these cameras so that we can discuss working with it. Cheers!

dingdong😀
 
Hi,
This cameras are dificult to find, i'm after the previus model at some time

[FONT=&quot]Olympus Auto B electro - set[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (1959 - 1960)[/FONT]

1959

followed [FONT=&quot]the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Olympus Auto electro-set from 1958-1959[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Olympus Auto B electro - set[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

The missing cover over the cell of the light meter and the less fast
E. Zuiko 1:2,8 f = 4,2 cm,
are the only differences to the Olympus Auto. All other technical features stayed unchanged.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Specifications Type: Olympus - Auto[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Engraving: Olympus - Auto
also: Olympus - Auto electro set
Release date: September 1959
Body color: chrome
Leather color: black
Shutter: Seikosha - SLV
Shutter-Speeds: B, 1 to 1/500 sec.
Flash syncronisation: M and X
Finder: Bright frame, distance meter mix picture
Rangefinder: coupled
Film-Advance: Film advance lever
Exposure meter: Selenium
ASA: 10 to 800
Battery: none
Extras: Selftimer
Lens: E. Zuiko 1:2.8 f = 4.2 cm
F-Stop range: 2.8 to 16
Focusing: 2.5 ft to infinite
Elements: 7
Groups: 5
Size: 142 x 88 x 68 mm
Weight: 750 g
Price at release:[/FONT] 22.800 Yen



Now, the first one:



[FONT=&quot]Olympus Auto electro-set [/FONT][FONT=&quot](1958 - 1959)[/FONT]

1958 was the appearance year of theOlympus Auto electro-setOlympus wrote in the manual:
This camera is the result of the gained experience.That means, this camera is very special.
Based on the ACE body an amazing camera was developed by engineers with no limits.
Again supplied with a fixed lens (E. Zuiko 1:1,8 f = 4,2 cm) the camera had got a coupled Selenium light meter with a hinged cover over the meter cell.
A buster-cell could be connected for better measurements. The plug was on the front right under the meter cell. The round ASA scale window was on the back, the ASA setting was done by pressing a lever and rotating the aperture ring. For exact exposure, the shutter speed must preset and the aperture ring, according to the meter reading, turned.
Multi exposure was possible by pushing a small lever at the back.
If the camera was loaded, the film transport could be watched in a small window next to the viewfinder.
Rewind knob and camera back safety was placed at the base plate and luxuriously constructed.
The large viewfinder window with bright frame, combined with the coupled distance meter results in best possible picture sharpness. A lever at the distance ring made focusing easier.
There was a special connection for fixing the carrying belt.

[FONT=&quot]Specifications Type: Olympus - Auto[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Engraving: Olympus - Auto
also: Olympus - Auto electro set [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Release date: Dezember 1958
Body color: chrome
Leather color: black
Shutter: Seikosha - SLV
Shutter-Speeds: B, 1 to 1/500 sec.
Flash syncronisation: M and X
Finder: Bright frame, distance meter mix picture
Rangefinder: coupled
Film-Advance: Film advance lever
Exposure meter: Selenium
ASA: 10 to 800
Battery: none
Extras: Selftimer
Lens: G. Zuiko 1:1.8 f = 4.2 cm
F-Stop range: 1.8 to 16
Focusing: 2.5 ft to infinite
Elements: 7
Groups: 5
Size: 142 x 88 x 68 mm
Weight: 780 g
Price at release:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 34.800 Yen[/FONT]
 
Hi Dingdongblake, thanks for your tip, it is a nice pdf.
If someone want more historical facts of this camera and other Olympus until the seventies,send me a message with your email and I'll send a pdf book about Olympus cameras & Zuiko history.

Did you know that in 1958 the Olympus Auto was then the only camera in the world with coupled exposure meter that when the shutter speed dial was rotated, the aperture was also changed to maintain the same light value, but when the aperture dial was rotated, only the aperture setting was changed.
At that time Olympus made history many times, and this one was the only with this kind of versatility.
 
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Echoing the above post.
Thank you for the link to the document from Mr. Marin.

It's nice to see that the interest in Olympus rich history hasn't gone by the wayside.
 
some pics from auto electro-set

some pics from auto electro-set

guys hello! happy new year.
I think I know the basic controls of the cam but i still have some questions though. I'll post my questions with clear pictures of the cam next time (I don't have a decent digicam, i have to borrow). Here are some pics taken with the auto-set. Post-scan pics seemed washy, prints look better. anyway it is still a pretty good camera considering its age (52 years old) and the meter works fine too! some of my problems are its weight and its strap lugs (il post pics soon).
thanks for all the replies guys! i'm very much enjoying film rangefinder photography. i now have an mg-1 and a canonet 28. i know they are not full manual but im still learning, and the ql17 and oly sp are hard to find here and a bit expensive too!
greetings from the philippines!
dingdong 😀
p.s i cant post pics,prompt says i exceeded quota. sorry.:bang:
here they are in image shack:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/214/jarop.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/210/jaro2.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/808/10593090.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/29026499.jpg/
 
Thanks for posting, they are not to bad.
I have mine on the way now, hope it arrives ok, but I will have to fix it before take pictures with it.
 
Those picture looks sharp and detailed.
Subject and composition is not bad either.
My favorite is the second and the last one.

Most scans are washed out without some post-processing, just increase the contrast a bit, it should look as good as the print.
 
Hi, I couldn't find a free manual either (you can buy one on the internet for for 13 quid, though). I found the following, messing about with the camera: setting ASA is done by flipping the right-arrowed button to the right and turning the aperture ring until the preferred ASA number is aligned with the red mark (at least on my camera the meter reads fine then; black mark is probably for use with the booster).
Horizontal rf alignment is behind the black screw between the film guide rails.
Vertical alignment can be done by removing the screw and lid of the acc.shoe. The copper screw at 45 degrees near the top deck is the one to use.
I am on my second roll with this machine, because it turned out lens-infinity was way out of wack (lens reached infinity at 3.5 m). If you have to get inside this camera, beware of the grub srews: they are made of very soft copper.
I hope this is useful information for you.
Cheers, Jan
 
Hi, after having bent the inside aperture mechanism back into the right shape, I found the black marker to be the one to be used for metering!
Cheers, Jan.
 
some pics

some pics

hello guys sorry for the late reply. I was so busy for the past months. Here are some pics attached. The button with the right arrow pointing down is for double exposures i think. You should push down and cock the shutter. The button with the arrow pointing right is for ASA adjustments just like Jajong said. I hope your auto-sets have functioning meters. I bet they have because the meter has a cover, unlike most other built-in selen meters.

for metering:
1. when it is sunny i close the meter cover and use the black dial as match needle with the left dial.
2. If there is less light i open the cover and use the yellow dial as match needle.
3. I haven't tried the orange one but i think it is for flash(????)

i hope this helps. My meter works fine!
i will post more pics soon.*
thanks everybody!

cheers

dingdong
 

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some results

some results

Hi all, my Auto B is shaping up ( a bit). Here are some pics taken last week. Dull weather 250 and f5.6 or f8 (200 ASA). The first one is before lens collimation. The camera is in such an excellent condition, that I think it has not been used very much: the lens must have been out of whack already when it left the factory! The other two are after collimation.
Cheers, Jan.

www.flickr.com/photos/jajongnl
 

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The last two photos look very nice.
Thanks for all the answer, but still there are some questions to be answered.

Lets hope someone knows someone adds something more or gives a link to the original instructions book. I will try one source.
 
I've sold mine about 1 & 1/2 month ago because I could not fix it, but luckily I've found another that seems in top condition, still in the original paper box & with the instruction manual 🙂
When I receive it I will give news, and make an instructions pdf to anyone that needs.
Regards,
Denny
 
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