This is another classic film camera that I owned and tested. This is a 35mm rangefinder that come with a  Color Yashinon DX 45mm 1:1.7-16 lens. Trust me this lens is sharp. When I collected the scanned CD and developed negatives from the shop, I examined the negatives under a loupe. Boy, the images were sharp!

This is bigger than the Olympus 35 EC and weighs about 700g and is solidly built. I love the feel of it in my hands. This cameras can be obtained cheaply from Ebay at around US$25 or less. As with all old cameras, you will need to check the working condition and the condition of the light seals before you bid for one.

This camera uses the old mercury batteries that could not be found these days. Just roll of 4 LR44 button cells batteries and add some aluminium foil to make the contact.

Some sample photos off the camera.

Shopfront at Haiji Lane, Singapore

Shadow on a HDB block , Singapore

Olympus 35 EC

Well I can said that this Olympus 35 EC camera, when compared to the plastic compact cameras, it is solidly built. I have the silver chrome one with cool black leatherette covering. There are a few unique features regarding this camera. Firstly, the film advance function. Instead of a lever, there is a thumbwheel which you roll it to advance the film. One hand operation is possible. The file is also loaded at the right hand side of the camera back. So you will wind the film from righ to left.

Secondly, there is a lever that resembles a self-timer, but it is a shutter lock. To shoot you will have to slide it down otherwise it will lock the shutter. It has a orange light on top to indicate exposure, which is the same light seen in the viewfinder. Orange light means battery is OK when you do a slight press of the shutter. If it remains on when you press the shutter further, it means the shutter speed is slow ..1/30 or more. Simple right?

There is another thumbwheel for adjusting the ASA (now known as ISO). It goes from 25 to 800. Well it hard to find ISO100 film not to mention 25. This camera has the Olympus E. Zuiko 42mm f2.8 lens.

This is a zone-focus camera and has no manual controls - shutter speed and aperture are set automatically. This means, of course, that the batteries must be installed and the meter must be functioning. The battery compartmen is also unique. It has 2 battery chambers designed to take 2 mercury batteries that are impossible to find these days. I just stack 2 LR44 batteries into one chamber and stuff the other one with a wad of aluminium foil. Viola ! It works!

Sample photo