bcostin
Well-known
This Olympus 35 EC was purchased for $5 on the auction site, listed in unknown but probably working condition.
The battery contacts were a bit corroded (as mentioned in the listing) but they cleaned up nicely. With two 875 hearing aide batteries and some aluminum foil spacers it came to life and worked (almost) perfectly.
My first test roll came out a little dark. I'm not sure why. I cleaned the contacts and made sure the batteries were well seated. The second roll (fresh film) was perfectly exposed, but there were a few blank frames here and there, as though the shutter wasn't opening at all. Sure enough, testing without film showed the shutter plunger was occasionally sticking. After exercising it a bit the problem seemed to go away. We'll see.
I hope the issue can be resolved because it's really a fun little camera to use. Compact but very solid in that early-70's style. The viewfinder is especially nice; big and bright, and easy to use with glasses. Here are some early springtime shots from the first two rolls:
The battery contacts were a bit corroded (as mentioned in the listing) but they cleaned up nicely. With two 875 hearing aide batteries and some aluminum foil spacers it came to life and worked (almost) perfectly.
My first test roll came out a little dark. I'm not sure why. I cleaned the contacts and made sure the batteries were well seated. The second roll (fresh film) was perfectly exposed, but there were a few blank frames here and there, as though the shutter wasn't opening at all. Sure enough, testing without film showed the shutter plunger was occasionally sticking. After exercising it a bit the problem seemed to go away. We'll see.
I hope the issue can be resolved because it's really a fun little camera to use. Compact but very solid in that early-70's style. The viewfinder is especially nice; big and bright, and easy to use with glasses. Here are some early springtime shots from the first two rolls:
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Other than slight vignetting -- visible most clearly in the third picture -- your results are fine. Good luck with your bargain find.