Olympus 35EC Camera Instructions
Name of Parts
- ASA film speed indication window
- Shutter release button
- Film exposure counter
- Shoulder strap ring
- Focus ring with distance scale
- Shutter lock lever
- Accessory shoe (with built-in cordless contact)
- Yellow light (battery test/slow shutter speed warning)
- Flash terminal
- CdS sensing cell
- Viewfinder
- Guide number ring
- Viewfinder eyepiece
- Film take-up spool
- Rear cover
- Film pressure plate
- Film guide rail
- Film advance sprocket
- Film speed setting knob
- Film advance knob
- Film compartment
- Rear cover lock
- Film rewind shaft
- Film rewind lever
- Mercury battery compartment
- Tripod socket
Specifications
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Format | 24 x 36mm full frame (35mm roll film) |
| Lens | E. Zuiko F2.8 f=42mm (5 elements in 4 groups) |
| Shutter | Seiko ESF electronic shutter |
| Exposure control | Automatic. Fully programmed system automatically selects correct lens aperture and shutter speed from 4 sec. to 1/800 sec. EV1 (4 sec. F2.8) to EV17 (1/800 sec. F13) at ASA 100. |
| Flash | Auto flash fires only when necessary and is bypassed when not. Flashmatic system selects correct aperture and sets correct shutter speed automatically according to subject distance. Synchronization speed 1/20 sec. X synchro of cordless and PC contact. Guide number range 7-56 for meters (23-180 for feet). |
| Sensing cell | Ultra-sensitive Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) type |
| Power source | 1.4V mercury battery HM-N type, 2 pcs (e.g., Mallory RM-640) |
| Film speed scale | ASA 25-800 / DIN 15-30 |
| Viewfinder | Bright frame viewfinder (0.7X) with parallax correction marks and zone focus marks |
| Signal light | Yellow light for battery test and slow shutter speed warning; Blue light indicating activation of auto flash system |
| Focusing | Zone focus, eye-measurement type of rotating helicoid system. Focusing range 0.9m (3 ft.) to infinity. Click stops at 1m (3.3 ft.), 1.5m (5 ft.), 3m (10 ft.) and infinity. |
| Film loading | EL system (Easy Loading procedure) |
| Film advance | Thumb wheel film advance at camera rear. Automatic shutter locking to prevent double advance and double exposure. |
| Film rewinding | Rapid rewind crank, film rewind button setting type. |
| Film exposure counter | Exposure counting type, automatic-resetting to "s" (start). |
| Shutter release | Push button with locking control. |
| Rear cover operation | Hinge type. |
| Accessory shoe | Cordless flash contact. |
| Filter size | 43.5mm, screw-in type. |
| Size & weight | 111mm x 67mm x 49mm, 410g (4%" x 2%" x 1%", 14% oz.) |
Condensed Operating Instructions
- Load the camera with film.
- Set the proper ASA film speed.
- Advance the film and release the shutter until the film exposure counter shows the number 1.
- Set the distance for focusing.
- Compose your picture.
- Release the shutter gently.
- After film is completely exposed, rewind the film into the cassette and remove.
How to Handle Each Part
Inserting Batteries
Mercury batteries (2 x RM640 or equivalent) must be properly inserted into the compartment at the bottom of the camera. Use a coin to unscrew the compartment door. Insert batteries observing correct polarity. Replace the lid and tighten. To test batteries, depress the shutter release button slightly. The yellow light [?] will illuminate if batteries are properly inserted, fresh, and of the correct voltage, indicating the electronic shutter operates properly. If the yellow light does not illuminate, check battery polarity or try fresh batteries. Batteries should be replaced annually.
Opening the Rear Cover
Pull down the rear cover lock [lever] with your fingernail; the rear cover will open automatically. The film counter resets to 'S' (start). To close, press the cover until it clicks securely.
Setting the ASA Film Speed
Rotate the ASA film speed selector wheel on the top of the camera to match the ASA rating of the film being used. The selected ASA must be visible in the ASA window.
Shutter Lock Lever
Push the shutter lock lever [➡️] on the front left side down until it clicks to lock the shutter release button. This prevents accidental exposure and battery drain.
Operating the Film Advance Knob
Rotate the film advance knob [➡️] until it stops to advance the film one frame and charge the shutter. Squeeze the shutter release button gently to take the picture and advance the film.
Film Counter
The film counter indicates the number of exposures made, resetting to 'S' when the rear cover is opened. Do not open the rear cover while film is loaded.
Film Rewind Button and Lever
To rewind film, depress the rewind button [⬇️] at the bottom of the camera. Then, raise the rewind lever [⬆️] and turn it in the direction of the arrow [➡️] to rewind the film into the cassette. The lever turns freely when the film is fully rewound.
Loading the Camera
Use standard 35mm roll film (12, 20, or 36 exposures).
- Release the shutter lock lever [➡️].
- Open the rear cover by pulling down the rear cover lock.
- Pull out the film rewind knob to extend the rewind shaft. Insert the film cassette into the film compartment and push the rewind knob back in. Adjust slightly if needed.
- Hold the camera firmly and lead out the film leader to the take-up spool. Insert the leader into one of the six slots on the spool.
- Advance the film, ensuring the gear teeth on the sprocket spool engage the film perforations. Wind the film onto the take-up spool.
- Close the rear cover. Raise the rewind lever and turn it slightly to tighten the film.
- Advance the film and release the shutter button two or three times until the film counter shows '1'. Ensure the film advance knob is rotated fully each time. The rewind shaft should turn, indicating proper film advancement.
Electronic Shutter and Signal Lights
The Olympus 35EC features a fully automated electronic system that selects the proper lens aperture and shutter speed. The CdS cell measures brightness, allowing automatic photography from 4 seconds to 1/800 second. Simply set the ASA film speed and push the shutter button.
- Yellow Light [?]: When pressed, the yellow light indicates the electronic shutter is actuating properly and batteries are working. If it does not appear, check battery installation or replace batteries. If the yellow light remains illuminated when the shutter release is pressed, it signals a slow shutter speed (1/30 sec. or slower). Use a tripod or flash unit in this case. For slow shutter speeds, push the shutter button fully until the light goes out.
- Blue Light [?]: Indicates the auto flash system is activated when using a flash unit.
EE Working Range: The camera automatically adjusts aperture and shutter speed based on subject brightness and film speed.
Modifications of Exposure
Intentional over- or under-exposure can be achieved by adjusting the ASA setting:
- Against the light: To overexpose by one stop (for backlit subjects), set the ASA to half the film's rated value.
- Against brightness from dark places: To underexpose by one stop (for subjects in dark places against bright backgrounds), set the ASA to double the film's rated value. Remember to reset the ASA to its original value afterwards.
Focusing
Estimate the distance to the subject and set it on the focus ring, aligning with the center index mark. The ring has click stops at 1m (3.3 ft), 1.5m (5 ft), 3m (10 ft), and infinity [∞]. Setting focus to 3m makes the camera a fixed-focus camera for general snapshots. The viewfinder displays zone focus marks and a distance indicator needle geared to the focus ring.
Composing the Picture
The viewfinder shows a bright frame representing the area exposed on the film. Compose your picture so the subject fills this frame. For close-ups within 1m (3.3 ft), use the three small indices (parallax correction marks) within the frame. The yellow light [?] indicates shutter readiness. The blue light [?] appears when the flashmatic photography system is engaged upon depressing the shutter release button fully.
Holding the Camera Properly
Hold the camera steady to prevent unsharp pictures. Squeeze the shutter release button with the ball of your finger. Ensure your fingers do not obstruct the lens or the CdS sensing cell. Keep elbows close to your body for stability, whether holding the camera horizontally or vertically.
Rewinding the Film
When the entire roll has been exposed (indicated by the film counter showing 12, 20, or 36), push the rewind button [⬇️]. Lift the rewind lever [⬆️] and turn it in the direction of the arrow [➡️] to rewind the film into the cassette. The lever will turn freely once the film is fully rewound. Rewind the film in a place free from direct sunlight. If the advance knob meets resistance, the film is used up; push the rewind button to complete the winding stroke to avoid damaging the camera or film.
How to Use Flash
Use flash bulbs or electronic flash units in dark conditions. The compact Pen Flash CL attaches directly via the accessory shoe's cordless contact. Other flash units connect via the accessory shoe and the synchro socket. The auto flash system activates the flash only when light is insufficient. A blue light [?] in the viewfinder indicates the flash will fire. If the blue light does not appear, there is enough ambient light, and the flash will not fire.
- Attach the flash gun to the camera's accessory shoe or synchro socket.
- Set the guide number for the flash unit on the guide number ring, aligning it with the center index mark.
- Focus accurately on the subject. Accurate focusing is crucial for the flashmatic system to set the correct shutter speed and aperture.
- When flash is required (indicated by the blue light replacing the yellow light upon pressing the release button), the flashmatic system synchronizes at a constant shutter speed of 1/20 sec.
How to Use Self-Timer
An attachable self-timer can be used, provided its shutter release shaft has a stroke of 6.5mm or more. If the shutter speed is 1/30 sec. or slower (yellow light remains illuminated), switch to flash photography.
Camera Care
- Store the camera in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from dust and moisture.
- Never touch the lens with your fingers. Clean the lens with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Clean fingerprints immediately to prevent permanent stains.
- After using the camera on the beach, wipe its surface with a soft cloth to remove salt or corrosive substances.
- Avoid storing the camera near strong magnetic sources like radios or TVs for extended periods.
- When storing the camera for a long time, remove the mercury batteries. Clean and replace batteries before using the camera again.
- For service, contact your dealer, who is an OLYMPUS service agent.
Handy Accessories
Filters
Use Olympus 43.5mm screw-in type filters. When using a Y2 or ND4 filter, adjust the ASA setting to 1/2 or 1/4 of the original ASA value, respectively (e.g., set ASA to 50 or 25 instead of 100). Filter types include UV (lens protection, eliminates UV rays), Y2 (enhances contrast for black-and-white), 81C (skylight, prevents bluish tone for color, lens protection), and 82C (for cloudy weather, prevents bluish tone for color).
Lens Hood
This accessory eliminates undesirable glare from light sources. It can be reversed for storage when the camera is in a case.
Pen Flash CL
This cordless contact microflash unit is extremely compact and uses standard AG-1 type bulbs (AG-1B for color photography).
Attachment Lens (Close-up Lens)
A 43.5mm screw-in lens that allows close-up photography down to 29.6cm (11% inches). The photographed area is 17.3 x 26cm (6%" x 10%" ). When using this lens, set the distance scale to infinity [∞].
Slide Projector
The Olympus slide projector features a fast F2.8 lens and a self-cooling fan for continuous operation. It accepts any 5 x 5cm (2 x 2") slide mount (full frame, half frame, 26 x 26 mm) made of paper, metal, or plastic.
