Olympus 35 EC - Simplicity, compactness and bright optics in a metal body 📷🎞️
Launched in 1969, the Olympus 35 EC is a compact 35mm film camera with a sleek design and intuitive operation. Fully automatic, it features a Zuiko 42mm f/2.8 lens renowned for its sharpness, a programmed exposure metering system, and zone focusing.
Designed for street photography enthusiasts and those who capture everyday moments, it combines simplicity, optical quality, and ease of use. There's no rangefinder here: focusing is done by eye or using pictograms, making it particularly well-suited for spontaneous shots.
Key features 📸
- 🔍 Camera type : Compact film camera with automatic exposure
- 🎞️ Film format : 35 mm (24x36 mm)
- 🔭 Lens : E. Zuiko 42mm f/2.8, 5 elements in 4 groups
- 🔦 Aperture : f/2.8 to f/13
- 🎯 Focus : Focus area, from 0.9 m to infinity
- ⚙️ Exposure : Automatic, from 4 s to 1/800 s via CdS cell
- 🔋 Power supply : 2 LR44 batteries with adapter (in place of the original mercury battery)
- 🔁 Film advance : Manual, via rear dial
- ⏪ Rewinding : Manual, by hand crank
- 📸 Film loading : Easy Loading (EL) system
- ⚡ Flash : Hot shoe + sync socket, activation indicated in the viewfinder
- 💡 Indicator lights : Yellow for battery/low speed, blue for flash ready
- 🪟 Viewfinder : Bright with parallax correction marks, 0.7x magnification
- 📐 ISO Sensitivity : From 25 to 800 ASA
- 📏 Dimensions : 111 x 67 x 59 mm
- ⚖️ Weight : 410 g
- 🏭 Origin : Olympus Japan, 1969
A compact and bright film camera
With its bright f/2.8 Zuiko lens, the Olympus 35 EC is an excellent choice for shooting in natural light or low light. The automatic exposure system adapts to the scene to select the correct shutter speed and aperture, and it features a highly reliable Seiko electronic shutter.
Focusing is done by zones: simply select a distance (or a pictogram) on the lens ring. It takes a little practice at first, but allows for very quick focusing once you get the hang of it. The bright viewfinder offers good framing, with parallax correction for close-up shots.
Why choose the Olympus 35 EC? ✔️
- 🔹 Zuiko 42mm f/2.8 lens : bright and sharp optics
- 🔹 Reliable automatic exposure : ease of use
- 🔹 Quick focus zone : ideal for street photography
- 🔹 Compact and all-metal design : robust and elegant
- 🔹 Easy Loading System : simplified movie loading
- 🔹 Compatibility with external flashes : sync socket + hot shoe
- 🔹 Indicators in the viewfinder : for battery, flash, and low speeds
Ideal for...
- 🎞️ Street photography and natural light enthusiasts
- 📸 For those who want a simple yet high-quality vintage compact camera
- 🧳 Photographers looking for a lightweight and reliable camera for outings
- 🪁 Users comfortable with zone-based focus
In summary
The Olympus 35 EC is a fully automatic film compact camera that emphasizes simplicity, ease of use, and optical quality. Its bright lens, simplified operation, and all-metal design make it an excellent choice for those who want to shoot without distractions, focusing on composition and capturing the moment.
A wonderful entry point into the world of film photography — simple, but far from basic. 🎞️📷
