Olympus 35 RD

When attempting to sort out which of the classic 35mm compact rangefinders I would consider to be my all time favourite, I began by considering which camera I would want to take with me if I had to spend a year alone on a desert island: which one camera would most likely satisfy all my demands as a photographer. Of course, no one has ever made such a camera, and I seriously doubt they ever will be able to, but within the constraints of the desert island scenario, I would have to say that the Olympus 35 RD would more than likely be my first choice.

Like the Canon GIII QL-17 reviewed elsewhere on this site, the Olympus 35 RD was part of a small, elite group of higher end cameras that shared beautiful finish and quality construction, an extended feature set, a superb lens and a reputation that made them the envy of other camera manufacturers of the time. Although it is slightly larger than the Olympus 35 RC that preceded it, it is cosmetically styled heavily after its predecessor, and could almost be considered what Olympus produced when thinking about what an RC would be like if all the "the extras" were thrown in.

The lens being the heart of any camera, it is a good place to start, especially as it is essentially the command centre for this particular camera: 90% of the operating controls for this camera are located there. The lens on the 35 RD is a slightly wide, 40mm, and fast, F/1.7 Zuiko lens consisting of 6 elements in 4 groups, focusing from 2.8 feet to Infinity, and making tack sharp and contrasty photographs. The aperture range is from F/1.7 down to a standard F/16, each position clicked stopped (although intermediate selections can be set). The shutter is an extremely quiet Seiko leaf shutter, offering a speed range of 1/2 of a second all the way up to 1/500^th of a second, plus B for Bulb time exposures, and synchronizing with electronic flash across the entire range of speeds (excepting for B, of course). An interesting feature of the shutter is that the shutter release button can not be tripped when the battery is dead or inserted incorrectly; this is while the camera is set in the A(utomatic) exposure mode - in manual exposure mode, the camera can be operated completely without a battery. The CdS photocell is located at the 12 o'clock position within the lens barrel, allowing for automatic exposure compensation with 49mm screw thread filtres in place. Lacking an "Off" switch for the exposure system, as many of these cameras do, the lens cap serves to effectively conserve the life of the PX-625 or equivalent battery when it is in place.

Starting from the outer rim of the lens barrel and working in, you'll find the shutter speed selection ring, the nicely ribbed focusing ring and the aperture ring. The faster lenses on these higher end cameras were physically larger than on some of the compact 35mm rangefinder cameras with slower lenses, resulting in rings that are easier to find by feel, as well as easier to manipulate with the camera at your eye. The shutter speed ring is click stopped, with speeds clearly marked in white numbers; B(ulb) is marked in red and the 1/30^th (flash bulb synch speed) is marked in blue. The shutter speed ring also has the ISO film speed selection lever on it, in a section marked with the old ASA (but no DIN equivalents) film speed ratings (which are identical to the modern ISO ratings). To operate it, simply press down on the notched lever with a fingernail and slide it either left or right until it click stops into place next to the film speed rating you wish to set (do not set the lever between click stops) and then release. The ISO selection range is a generous 25 - 800, making this camera an excellent low light shooter.

One of the things I really like about the focusing ring on the 35 RD is the lack of a protruding, "quick focus" lever such as the Canon GIII QL-17 (reviewed elsewhere on this site) has: for my particular style of shooting, the lever actually becomes an impediment, as I am a graduate of the traditional, SLR focus style, i.e., tending to cradle the camera in my left hand, with the focusing ring gently pinched between thumb and forefinger, or thumb and middle finger of that hand. This has become a much faster, and surer method of focus for me so the 35 RD is a real pleasure to use in this regard. The focusing ring also has the guide number selection lever located here, for the automatic, "flashmatic" exposure system. As with the ISO film speed selection lever, simply push in with a fingernail on the notched guide number selection lever and slide it to the click stopped position by the guide number desired. Guide numbers are clearly marked both in feet and in metres; they are 45, 65, and 90 in feet, or 14, 20 and 28 in metres.

The innermost metal, ribbed aperture ring serves as a function ring, in that it has the click stopped positions for the full range of apertures, plus the "A" and flash settings. In the A(utomatic) mode, the camera's exposure system operates as a shutter preferred one (you select the shutter speed, the camera will automatically select the appropriate F/stop). Incidentally, lightly pressing and holding the shutter button down locks in the exposure reading, allowing you to meter on one area of your subject, lock in the reading, and recompose - simply press the rest of the way down on the shutter release button to take the photograph (this feature, a very nice one at that, is common to most cameras of this type). Note that in A(utomatic) exposure mode, you can not get a proper exposure reading and setting when the shutter speed is set in the B(ulb) position. Complete manual control over exposure is achieved simply by selecting both the shutter speed and the aperture; as on most cameras of this type, the exposure meter is uncoupled in the manual mode. Setting the aperture ring to the lightning flash (bent arrow) symbol also disengages the exposure meter and instead couples the aperture to the focusing for automatic exposure with an electronic flash unit (the flashmatic system): as you focus, the apertures change.

The viewfinder is large, bright and clear, with the double image rangefinder focusing patch clearly visible. The bright frame lines do not automatically move to compensate for parallax error when focusing, however, 3 small index marks placed inside the frame lines allow you to compose close focused subjects within them for accurate framing. An aperture scale readout runs along the bottom of the viewfinder, with a needle indicating the selected aperture when the shutter button is lightly pressed. The far left and right ends of the scale are marked in red, indicating under- and over-exposure warnings respectively; in A(utomatic) exposure mode, the shutter will lock when the needle enters one of these zones, preventing poorly exposed photographs. Sadly, there is no shutter speed indicator in the viewfinder, not uncommon in cameras from this time period.

The front face of the camera has the same mechanical self-timer lever that the earlier 35 RC camera did, operating in the same manner: push it down approximately 90 degrees, and, when the shutter release button is pressed, it will time an approximately 9 or 10 second delay before the shutter is actually tripped. The self-timer can not be canceled once it begins timing.

On the top deck of the 35 RD is the film advance lever. A single throw, non-ratcheting type, it operates smoothly through a 135 degree wind. Next to it is the same shutter release button as the predecessor 35 RD, only done in a contrasting black colour; with no play or slop in it, it releases crisply at the bottom of its release stroke and is also threaded for a universal cable release. Next to it is a non-magnifying frame counter with a highly visible orange index mark indicating the frame numbers; the flash hot shoe in the centre of the top deck is standard. The rewind crank/knob is also standard; however, unlike a lot of cameras in this class, pulling up on it does not open the camera back for film loading: pressing a back release latch at the bottom of the left side of the camera does that. At the top of the left side of the camera is the PC synch cord connection socket, an almost standard feature of the time. The bottom deck has the standard rewind button (press to disengage the film transport clutch prior to rewinding the film into its cassette; it pops back out again when the film advance lever is wound again). Next to that is the circular, screw in battery cover with the traditional milled slot for a coin to be used to unscrew it during battery changes. The bottom deck is finished off with a tripod mounted in the centre, and an unusual aspect of the camera back: like the 35 RC before it, the floor of the film cassette chamber is actually a part of the swing out door, meaning that you can enjoy true "drop in" film loading, unlike other cameras that require you to angle the cassette into place.

I love using the 35 RD: all of its controls operate with silky smoothness, and the entire camera possesses a quality of precision fit and finish that bespeaks a superior camera. Controls are clearly and logically laid out, easy to find and get used to. I can operate this camera very quickly, with hardly any thought at all, which is the way it ought to be with any good camera. I've never been disappointed with the sensitive, fast, centre weighted exposure meter's judgement, and the photographs generated by the Zuiko lens are nothing short of superb, in my mind. Flexible, not intruding in the photographic process, extremely quiet and light, the Olympus 35 RD is as close to perfect as a compact 35mm shooter can be for me. Bring on that desert island!

Note: a special note of appreciation to the unknown eBay seller who recently listed an Olympus 35 RD for sale; the photographs they used in their auction description have been reproduced here to illustrate this page.

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© May, 2002 by D. Scott Young