Learn the Olympus 35RC by operating it
Every step here comes from the original instruction booklet. Tap a green dot to see what a control does, then work through the chapters in order.
Fit the battery
- Loosen the lidPut a coin in the slot of the battery lid on the base. Turn it counterclockwise until it is completely loose.
- Lift the lid offThe battery compartment is underneath.
- Drop the cell in, + side outWipe the cell clean first. The + end faces outward and matches the + engraved inside the lid.
- Screw the lid backTurn it clockwise until it is seated.
- Test itLens cap off, ring on A, point at something bright and press the release. If the shutter fires, the battery is in correctly. If not, check the polarity or try a fresh cell.
Which cell to buy today
The booklet asks for a 1.3V mercury PX625. Mercury cells held about 1.35V for almost their whole life, which is why meters were built around them, and they have since been withdrawn from sale. None of the options below comes from Olympus.
| Option | Voltage | What the sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wein zinc-air 625 replacement | 1.35V | The correct voltage. The 35mmc author calls it probably the best option if you accept the price. | 35mmc |
| 675 zinc-air hearing-aid cell with a spacer | 1.4V | Cheap. The 35mmc author reports his 35RC appears to meter perfectly with it. Pack the gap with a ring of putty or an O-ring, keeping the flat + face clear. A seller puts its life at usually 2 to 3 months. | 35mmc, Connealy, Ausgeknipst |
| 1.5V alkaline button cell | 1.5V | Avoid for automatic exposure. Both sources say the higher voltage throws the meter off. | 35mmc, Ausgeknipst |
| Silver oxide cell | 1.55V | Very flat discharge, but the meter must be recalibrated, or the cell used in an adapter with a voltage-dropping diode. | Wikipedia |
Manual p. 5 for the original cell. Voltage behaviour of mercury cells: Wikipedia. Whichever you fit, compare the meter with a known-good one before trusting a roll to it.
No battery, no problem
On manual settings the 35RC works without a battery. Only automatic exposure needs it.
Manual p. 19
Save the cell
Turn the f/stop ring to OFF when the camera is not in use. That cuts the battery circuit and locks the shutter.
Manual pp. 6, 18
Yearly change
The booklet says to replace the battery once a year. That was written for the mercury cell.
Manual p. 6
Load the film
- Turn the ring to ⚡On A the release can lock in dim light and block loading. Load out of direct sunlight.
- Open the backPull the rear cover lock down. The back swings open on its hinge.Make sure the camera is empty first. If a film is inside, rewind it before you open the back (chapter 6, Rewind and unload).
- Fit the cassetteSlide the film cassette onto the rewind shaft in the left chamber.
- Catch the leaderPush the film leader into one of the slits on the take-up spool.
- Seat the filmAdvance until the film lies between the guide pins. Check that the sprocket teeth sit in the perforations.
- Close and take up slackShut the back until it clicks. Lift the rewind crank and turn it gently in the direction of its arrow until you feel slight resistance.
- Wind on to 1Wind the lever and press the release in turn until 1 shows in the counter window.
Set the film speed
Press the ring on the front of the lens in slightly and turn it until your film's speed shows in the window. It must click into a stop.
The window shows each speed twice: ASA, and DIN, the older European scale. Same film, different numbers.
- ASA 40 film: set the ring to 32.
- Subject against the light: halve the ASA to give one stop more exposure.
- Bright subject from a dark place: double the ASA to give one stop less.
- Y2 or ND4 filter fitted: set half or a quarter of the film's ASA.
Manual pp. 16, 21, 33. Reset the ring afterwards.
Take a picture
This is a working model of the booklet's rules. Set a speed, leave the ring on A, focus until the two images meet, wind, then press.
On the camera, the f/stop pointer appears when you half-press the release; here it is always shown. Close-ups within 1 m: compose inside the three small marks.
Manual pp. 15, 17 to 20, 23 to 26
Starting speeds for beginners
| Film speed (ASA) | 25 to 40 | 64 to 125 | 200 to 400 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine weather | 1/125 | 1/250 | 1/500 |
| Cloudy weather | 1/60 | 1/125 | 1/250 |
| Indoors | 1/15 | 1/30 | 1/60 |
Manual p. 17
Hold it steady
- Dashed areas: keep fingers and the case off the lens and the CdS meter cell.
- Release: press slowly with the ball of your finger, not the tip.
- Lens cap: take it off before you shoot.
Manual p. 27
Flash and self-timer
Flashmatic
Set the ring to ⚡ and the guide number on the lens barrel. The camera then picks the f/stop from your focus distance.
- Flash bulbs: set 1/30, the red number on the dial.
- Electronic flash: any speed up to 1/500.
- Guide number: f/stop times distance. Reset it when you change film or flash.
Manual pp. 18, 29, 30 and guide number table
Self-timer
Turn the lever 90 degrees down until the two red dots line up, wind the film, then press the release. The shutter fires about 10 seconds later.
- Works at every speed except B.
- It will not fire if the film is not wound, or if the pointer is in the red zone.
Manual p. 31
Fill flash in daylight
For a subject in shadow on a bright day. The booklet's method borrows the flashmatic f/stop, then matches it on automatic.
- Set the guide numberUse an electronic flash. Set its guide number on the lens barrel with the guide number lever.
- Ring to ⚡, then focusBring the flash mark to the centre index and focus on your subject.
- Read the f/stopPress the release lightly and note where the pointer sits in the viewfinder, for example f/5.6.
- Ring back to AThe pointer now shows what the meter wants for the daylight, which is usually a different stop.
- Turn the speed dial to matchChange the shutter speed until the pointer rests on your noted f/stop when you press lightly. Then shoot.
Rewind and unload
- Stop at the end of the rollWatch the counter. When the lever resists, the roll is finished.Never force it past the last frame.
- Press the rewind buttonTurn the camera over and press the button on the base.
- Crank the film backRaise the rewind crank and wind the film back into its cassette.
- Feel the tension dropA sudden change of tension tells you the film is fully rewound.
- Open the back and unloadTake the cassette out, away from sun or bright light.Never open the back before rewinding.
Storing it
Keep it somewhere dry and ventilated with the shutter and self-timer released. Set the ring to OFF, and take the battery out for long storage.
Manual p. 32
Filters
The lens takes Olympus 43.5 mm screw-in filters.
Manual pp. 5, 33
Reference
Specifications
- Format
- 35 mm film, 24 x 36 mm full frame
- Lens
- E. Zuiko 42 mm f/2.8, 5 elements in 4 groups
- Shutter speeds
- B, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500
- Flash sync
- X contact; guide number scale 10 to 40 in metres, 32 to 130 in feet
- Viewfinder
- 0.6x rangefinder showing shutter speed, f/stop, parallax marks and red zone
- Meter
- CdS cell, 43 degree angle of acceptance
- Exposure
- Automatic with shutter speed preferred (not B), release locks on insufficient exposure; or fully manual
- Film speed
- ASA 25 to 800, DIN 15 to 30
- Meter range at ASA 100
- EV 7 (f/2.8 at 1/15) to EV 18 (f/22 at 1/500)
- Focusing
- Double-image coupled rangefinder, 0.9 m (3 ft) to infinity
- Film advance
- Lever, 150 degrees in one stroke or several; prevents double exposure
- Power
- One 1.3V mercury PX625 or equivalent
- Self-timer
- 90 degree lever, about 10 seconds
- Filter mount
- Olympus 43.5 mm screw-in
- Size and weight
- 109 x 70 x 50 mm, 410 g
Manual p. 5
Exposure counter
It shows S, 1, 2, 4 and then even numbers up to 36, with 12, 20 and 36 in yellow. An orange arrow marks the count. Opening the back returns it to S.
Manual p. 15
Care
- Store it dry and ventilated, with the shutter and self-timer free of tension.
- Do not drop it. Keep it below 50°C (122°F), and warm it if it reaches minus 15°C (5°F) or colder.
- Keep it away from radios, televisions and other strong magnets.
- Do not touch the lens. If you do, wipe it with a clean unstarched cotton cloth straight away.
- After the beach, wipe the body with a soft cloth to remove salt.
- Set the ring to OFF when not in use, and remove the battery for long storage.
Manual p. 32
Filters and accessories
| UV | Cuts ultraviolet; can stay on to protect the lens. For black-and-white film. |
|---|---|
| Y2 | Darkens blue sky and brings out clouds. For black-and-white film. Set half the film's ASA. |
| 1A | Skylight; prevents a bluish tone. For colour film. |
| 81C | For colour film in cloudy or rainy weather. |
| 82C | For colour film in morning or evening light. |
| ND4 | Cuts light. Set a quarter of the film's ASA. |
| Lens hood | Cuts glare; reverses onto the lens for the case. |
| Close-up lens | f = 30 cm. Focus at infinity for a 29.6 cm working distance and a 17.3 x 26 cm field. |
| PS200 flash | Guide number 14 in metres, 45 in feet, at ASA 100. |
Manual pp. 33 to 35
Guide number for your film and flash
Find your flash's guide number for ASA 25 film along the top, then read down to your film speed. Set the nearest number on the camera.
| Film ASA | 30 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 100 |
| 50 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 85 | 100 | 140 |
| 64 | 45 | 55 | 65 | 80 | 95 | 110 | 160 |
| 80 | 55 | 65 | 75 | 90 | 110 | 130 | 180 |
| 100 | 60 | 70 | 85 | 100 | 120 | 140 | |
| 125 | 65 | 80 | 95 | 110 | 130 | 160 | |
| 160 | 75 | 90 | 110 | 130 | 150 | 180 | |
| 200 | 85 | 100 | 120 | 140 | 170 | ||
| 400 | 120 | 140 | 170 | ||||
| 800 | 170 |
Manual, guide number table at the back. The booklet does not state the unit; the values match the camera's feet scale (32 to 130).
Sources
Operating steps, numbers and tables come from the instruction booklet. The other pages are used only where a note cites them.
Instruction booklet
- Olympus 35RC Instructions, scanned PDFOlympus Optical Co., scan by M. Butkus. Source for every step and figure in this guide.
- Butkus camera manual library: Olympus 35 RCThe library page that hosts the scan.
Videos
- How to Load and Unload Film from an Olympus 35 RCGrainificent, YouTube. Watch alongside chapters 2 and 6.
- Olympus 35 RC Rangefinder Film Camera Review with photosGrainificent, YouTube.
Articles
- Olympus 35rc Review: yet another classic OlyHamish Gill, 35mmc, 2014. Background on using the camera.
- Olympus 35 RCMike Connealy. Source for the hearing-aid cell, spacer and light seal notes.
- How to adapt a 675ZA hearing-aid battery as a PX625 replacementHamish Gill, 35mmc, 2014. Source for the Wein, 675 and alkaline rows of the battery table.
- PX625 battery alternativesAusgeknipst, a shop that sells adapters, so treat it as a seller's view. Source for the 1.4V figure, O-ring and cell life.
- Mercury battery, WikipediaSource for mercury cell voltage behaviour and the silver oxide row.
- Olympus 35RC, WikipediaUsed to cross-check the specifications against the booklet.
Further reading, not used as a source
- Olympus 35RC reviewKen Rockwell.