My now working Olympus 35 ECR rangefinder!

wontolla

wontolla

Misery Guts Monica
Suspended / Banned
Messages
8,501
Name
I'm not a Misery Guts and Monica is not my Moniker
Edit My Images
Yes
My latest bargain from FeeBay! A (now) fully working Olly 35ECR! Pulled off the wrapping, a quick check over, bunged in a couple of batteries, cocked the shutter, and, nothing! Poo I thought, but a quick clean of the contacts and a shot of contact cleaner, batteries back in and working perfectly! It is almost as easy to use as the Trip, being fully auto, but has the rangefinder to get focus. The shutter and aperture being electronically coupled, the wind on and shutter release is very quiet, (the shutter is actually cocked by the shutter release). It also came with a minty leatherette case!
I will renew the seals this weekend and clean it up some then put a roll in to try it out. It will fit well with all my other collection of compact vintage cameras! Chuffed!


1

Olympus 35 ECR Close up of Front by wontolla1, on Flickr


2

Olympus 35 ECR Back & Strap by wontolla1, on Flickr


3

Front of Olympus 35 ECR by wontolla1, on Flickr



Tech bits.
1972 Olympus-35 ECR 35mm Film Rangefinder Compact.
Lens is a 42mm f/2.8 E. Zuiko lens, 5 element, 4 groups, with an aperture range of f/3.5 to f/13 and a minimum focus distance of 0.9m/3 ft. The lens has a 43mm filer thread. Shutter is a Seiko ESF leaf shutter, with shutter speeds of 4s – 1/800s.
Exposure and aperture settings are fully automatic, no manual control.
ASA setting 25-800. With the CdS cell on front of lens, metering will be through any filters.


It has one or two little foibles that make it more interesting, the film is put in upside down and winds from right to left, so when processed it is upside down also! There is no B setting, but I can live without that, as it is so compact I doubt it will ever see a tripod!
 
That must have the longest throw shutter release I have ever seen! Good work though. Is focussing via a protruding lever (like the QL17 and XA) or the lens barrel?
 
It's on the lens barrel Chris, The relase is not too bad actually, and quite smooth.
I have heard reports that the release can be very stiff, but not so in this case.
Mabe just lucky with this one?
 
Last edited:
Lovely ooking little machine.
 
alfbranch said:
Lovely ooking little machine.
Click to expand...

Cheers Alf, there's something about them!

Cezar said:
Just like the SP, such a classic, I've been trying to fish one out at a carboot or something.
Click to expand...

Good luck with finding one, the odd one I have seen wasn't even fit for spares.
Still, keep looking! :thumbs:
 
Adow2 said:
Nice camera Baz! I'm always tempted when I see one on eBay! Might get one soon to add to my collection of Olly's!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Alan. Covering is pefect on this one, so no pimping!
Thre's one or two on the bay now, go for it, you know you want too!
 
I have one of these, and the rangefinder needs alignment. I was hoping you could tell me how to do this.
 
Hi Guillermo, welcome.
Sorry, I cannot tell you the exact method, but I do know it is a small screw or knurled nut under the top plate, but I have never had this problem, must be lucky!
Perhaps someone else on the Forum may have done it?
If not, try asking on the Rangefinder Forum.
 
I am looking at the open camera now, top plate removed. There is a little recessed screw all the way in the front, below the rangefinder window. That did the trick... But it took a bit of time! A word of caution to anyone who attempts this: the rangefinder mirror is not attached very well. It came off very easily when I tried to clean it with a qtip.
 
Glad you got it sorted, now get out and take some pics, then post them on here! :thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top