Dear list / Mark Langer / John Hudson,
Mark Langer wrote:
<< there was a gap of a
few years between the discontinuation of the "Made in Occupied Japan"
embossed on the 4 cm f2.8 lens case, and the introduction of a 40mm f2.8
lens on the Olympus 35 Vb. >>
Vision Age Magazine 3 (May 1986) has the start of the 35mm Olympus stuff.
It mentions the 24x32 film size. It says that "this picture size, considered
to have great potential, ceased to exist in 1949 upon the request of G.H.Q.
(General Head Quarters) of the Occupation Forces."
Basically it says that they forced the Japanese commpanies into 24x36 on 35mm
film (for export), so that's the way it went. Developing and mounting
processes for colour reversal film were already automated in the USA at
24x36. Interesting... It says that 24x32 was a good match for 10x8"
photographic paper.
1948?: Olympus 35 had 40mm F3.5 4 elements in 3 groups and between-the-lens
shutter. Prototype Camera. Lens says: "Zuiko Coated" [35mm 24x32 film.]
1948: Olympus 35 I had between-the-lens shutter & Front lens focusing. Same
F3.5 lens? - "Zuiko Coated". [35mm 24x32 film.]
Soon after: Olympus 35 II had 40mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 4 groups)
experimental camera; didn't come to market. [film size?][Required film size
of 35mm 24x36 rule came in 1949.]
Olympus 35 III sync mechanism built into Seiko Rapid shutter instead of
external sync terminal. This model "was produced".
Soon after: (1950?): changed to Olympus 35 IV with Copal No.00 shutter. max
speed 1/200s. The IV picture has a 4cm F3.5 lens labelled "F.C.", I think.
1953: Olympus 35 IVa: max shutter speed improved to 1/300s. Copal shutter.
F.C. lens - 4cm F3.5?
1954: Olympus 35 IVb: max shutter speed improved to 1/500s using a Seiko
Rapid Shutter. F.C. lens - 4cm F3.5?
Model IV was very popular with public it says.
It seems they maybe reverted to the 4cm F3.5 lens and made it F.C. after a
brief period with the 40/2.8.
---
Spring 1955: Olympus 35 S AE camera. Coupled rangefinder. auto lever
winding/(shutter cocking?), Seiko Rapid shutter. Very successful camera.
2 versions: D-Zuiko F3.5 45mm or E-Zuiko F2.8 48mm named S-3.5 and S-2.8
respectively.
End of 1955: more improvements made, including third lens version: G.Zuiko
F1.9 45mm.
Early 1955: Olympus 35 V: more 'popular' version, update of 35 IV. D.Zuiko
F3.5 40mm lens fixed onto a shutter. Double helicoid focus mechanism. Hinged
side-openeing back, self-cocking shutter.
---
October 1955: Olympus Wide: D.ZUIKO W 1:3.5 f=35mm lens. (Cheap camera at
16900 Yen, 70 dollars, cheaper than many interchangeable wide angle lenses!)
Returned to behind-the-lens shutter system, Golden Bright Frame viewfinder
with bright-frame window. rotating helicoid focus which moved all the
elements together.
1957 Olympus Wide E. Built-in electric exposure meter.
1960 Olympus Auto-Eye. shutter speed priority Automatic Exposure - AE.
Interesting article really!.
Dave Bellamy.
http://members.aol.com/synthchap/
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