Olympus 35

Olympus 35 photographed by mar_nyc

Released in 1948, the Olympus 35 I was the first 35mm camera sold in the Japanese market. Olympus developed the camera to meet two key requirements. First, it had to be compact and light. Second, it had to support rapid shooting. The speed with which users could wind the film, charge (the shutter) and push the shutter earned the 35 I the nickname "pickpocket camera" because it took pictures as quickly as pickpockets took valuables from their victims. This capacity for rapid shooting made the Olympus 35 I extremely popular. When it first went on sale, it was designed for a 24x32mm image size. This was subsequently modified to the present 24x36mm size, which is suitable for slide mounting. The Olympus 35 I was priced at ¥10,600 yen. The series continued to evolve, culminating in the Olympus 35V.

Bibliography

• Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Olympus de 1936 à 1983. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27679-X.
• Matsuzaki Sōichirō (松崎惣一郎). "'Orinpasu kurōmu shikkusu' to sono koto domo" (「オリンパスクロームシックス」とその周辺のことども, "About the 'Olympus Chrome Six'"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.76, June 2005. ISBN 4-257-13078-4. Kurashikku kamera katachi to kinō 'supuringu kamera hen' (クラシックカメラ形と機能「スプリングカメラ編」, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.28–31. (The author worked for the Olympus company from July 1949.)

Links

• Olympus 35 I on Olympus Global History.
• Olympus 35IVa on Olympus Global History.
• Olympus 35Va on Olympus Global History.