Difference between revisions of "Olympus FTL"

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The '''Olympus FTL''' was a 35mm SLR sold by [[Olympus]] between 1971 and 1972. It was a transition model, after the [[Olympus Pen F|Pen F]] half-frame SLR and before the release of their new [[OM]] line in 1972.
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It was a very traditional SLR, with a focal plane shutter to 1/1000s and a through the lens meter with match-needle setting, reading the exposure at full aperture. It could take [[42mm screw lenses]], but the lenses specifically designed and sold by Olympus for the FTL had a special pin to lock them in place, and there can be compatibility problems when mounting them on other M42 bodies.
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===Introduction===
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The '''Olympus FTL''' is a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] camera launched by [[Olympus]] in 1971,<ref> U.S. advertising begins in 1971, but [https://mikeeckman.com/2021/08/kepplers-vault-98-photokina-1970/ it is profiled in magazine show reports from the October, 1970, Photokina]; scans from [https://mikeeckman.com/ MikeEckman.com]. The M42 [[open-aperture metering]] [[Praktica LLC]] was also presented at this show.</ref> using the traditional [[42mm screw lenses|42mm screw-mount]]. It was rather quickly replaced by the revolutionary [[Olympus OM-1/2/3/4|OM-1]], which was presented at Photokina in 1972 and generally available shortly thereafter. In an interview, a former Olympus designer said that the FTL was a stopgap model for the international market, made under pressure from the sales department.<REF> [http://www.maitani-fan.com/maitani_fan/om_1.html This page] of the Maitani's fan page. </REF>
  
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It is said the FTL was not designed by Olympus, and even not built by them. It is also said that the lenses sold for the FTL (see [[42mm screw lenses#Olympus lenses|Olympus 42mm lenses]]) have nothing in common with the one for the OM system (see [[Olympus OM lenses|OM lenses]]), but it is quite surprising seen the similarity in their characteristics.
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The chief designer of OM-1, [[Maitani Yoshihisa]]{{Japanese name order}} maintains that the FTL was not designed by Olympus,<REF> [http://www.maitani-fan.com/maitani_fan/om_interview_3.html This page] of the Maitani's fan page. </REF> meaning an outside design Olympus purchased. Nevertheless, the FTL and the OM-1 have some similar features, therefore, it is reasonable to expect suitable elements to be reused in the new camera. The [[42mm screw lenses#Olympus lenses|Olympus 42mm lenses]] may not be optically the same as those for the [[Olympus OM lenses|OM system]], but they are both Olympus Zuiko lenses, and all presumably made by Olympus.
  
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What is sure is that today the FTL is completely forgotten, while the OM-1 is well known.
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===The camera===
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The FTL might seem like a traditional [[35mm]] [[SLR]], bearing a close resemblance to the [[Pentax|Asahi Pentax]] [[Spotmatic]], but it introduces [[Open-aperture metering | full aperture]] [[TTL]] metering on a 42mm screw-mount camera. An interesting quirk of the six matching M42 Zuiko lenses is that the aperture rings are clickless.
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Previously, a screw-mount lens had been considered unsuitable for full aperture TTL exposure metering, due to the unpredictable angular position when screwed onto the camera, varying with wear, user strength, or production tolerances. This is solved using a positive locking pin on the lensmount, assuring the the lens's aperture coupling is correctly aligned (also the system adopted by the [[Fujica ST801]]).  Owing to the lensmount locking device on the FTL, a chrome button at 11 o'clock at the camera front must be depressed to remove the lens.
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The Olympus FTL, although otherwise traditional, is very well built and delicately finished, and undoubtedly built to the same high standards as associated with any Olympus products. It has a cloth focal plane shutter from 1 to 1/1000 sec and B. The through-the-lens meter has a match-needle visible in the finder. The system is similar to that employed in [[Minolta SR-T 101]], but the follower needle is only connected to the aperture ring, while the shutter speed dial, including the film speed setting, actually rotates the meter movement itself. It seems the two cameras deliberately are made different at some points, like the robust hot-shoe on the FTL which is replaced by a removable one on OM-1, and the ON/OFF switch on the OM-1 lacks battery check position. The FTL is about the same size, but about 8mm taller and not so handsome.
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The [[42mm screw lenses|screw mount]] Zuiko FTL lenses has an aperture-ring connecting-pin which may be obstructed by the body when mounted on other M42 cameras. However, the only known instance is the VEB [[Contax S]] family. The lens has a depth-of-field preview button, which might be left depressed if slid sideways.
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== FTL accessories ==
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* set of three extending rings
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* macro bellows
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* focusing rail
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* slide copier
 +
* microscope adapter
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* close-up lenses, two models
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* repro stand
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* electronic flash unit
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* filters
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* lens hoods
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== Notes ==
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<references />
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== Bibliography ==
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* {{Francesch Olympus}}
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== Links ==
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*[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/olympus/olympus_ftl/olympus_ftl.htm Olympus FTL user manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
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*[http://www.maitani-fan.com/index.html Maitani's fan page] has interesting information about Olympus internal story at the time, and publishes the two interviews cited in our text.
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{{Olympus classic}}
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[[Category: Japanese 35mm SLR]]
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[[Category: 42mm screw mount]]
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[[Category: Olympus|Ftl]]
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[[Category: O]]
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[[Category: F|Ftl, Olympus]]

Latest revision as of 14:47, 17 February 2023

4290744860_0c931ea666.jpg
image by Simon Spaans (Image rights)

Introduction

The Olympus FTL is a 35mm SLR camera launched by Olympus in 1971,[1] using the traditional 42mm screw-mount. It was rather quickly replaced by the revolutionary OM-1, which was presented at Photokina in 1972 and generally available shortly thereafter. In an interview, a former Olympus designer said that the FTL was a stopgap model for the international market, made under pressure from the sales department.[2]

The chief designer of OM-1, Maitani Yoshihisa[3] maintains that the FTL was not designed by Olympus,[4] meaning an outside design Olympus purchased. Nevertheless, the FTL and the OM-1 have some similar features, therefore, it is reasonable to expect suitable elements to be reused in the new camera. The Olympus 42mm lenses may not be optically the same as those for the OM system, but they are both Olympus Zuiko lenses, and all presumably made by Olympus.

The camera

The FTL might seem like a traditional 35mm SLR, bearing a close resemblance to the Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, but it introduces full aperture TTL metering on a 42mm screw-mount camera. An interesting quirk of the six matching M42 Zuiko lenses is that the aperture rings are clickless.

Previously, a screw-mount lens had been considered unsuitable for full aperture TTL exposure metering, due to the unpredictable angular position when screwed onto the camera, varying with wear, user strength, or production tolerances. This is solved using a positive locking pin on the lensmount, assuring the the lens's aperture coupling is correctly aligned (also the system adopted by the Fujica ST801). Owing to the lensmount locking device on the FTL, a chrome button at 11 o'clock at the camera front must be depressed to remove the lens.

The Olympus FTL, although otherwise traditional, is very well built and delicately finished, and undoubtedly built to the same high standards as associated with any Olympus products. It has a cloth focal plane shutter from 1 to 1/1000 sec and B. The through-the-lens meter has a match-needle visible in the finder. The system is similar to that employed in Minolta SR-T 101, but the follower needle is only connected to the aperture ring, while the shutter speed dial, including the film speed setting, actually rotates the meter movement itself. It seems the two cameras deliberately are made different at some points, like the robust hot-shoe on the FTL which is replaced by a removable one on OM-1, and the ON/OFF switch on the OM-1 lacks battery check position. The FTL is about the same size, but about 8mm taller and not so handsome.

The screw mount Zuiko FTL lenses has an aperture-ring connecting-pin which may be obstructed by the body when mounted on other M42 cameras. However, the only known instance is the VEB Contax S family. The lens has a depth-of-field preview button, which might be left depressed if slid sideways.

FTL accessories

  • set of three extending rings
  • macro bellows
  • focusing rail
  • slide copier
  • microscope adapter
  • close-up lenses, two models
  • repro stand
  • electronic flash unit
  • filters
  • lens hoods

Notes

  1. ↑ U.S. advertising begins in 1971, but it is profiled in magazine show reports from the October, 1970, Photokina; scans from MikeEckman.com. The M42 open-aperture metering Praktica LLC was also presented at this show.
  2. ↑ This page of the Maitani's fan page.
  3. ↑ The name is given in the Japanese order, with family name followed by the given name.
  4. ↑ This page of the Maitani's fan page.

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.

Links

Olympus Classic Cameras
Semi | Semi II | Six | Chrome Six | Flex | Standard | 35 | Ace | Pen | Pen F | FTL | OM-1/2/3/4 | OM-10/20/30/40 | Trip | µ (mju:) | XA
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