Olympus 35RC range-finder camera: Ok film friends, I could use your advice. I was drafted in October 1972 and bought my first camera at the Army PX. A compact and excellent...

Harl-Man

Ok film friends, I could use your advice. I was drafted in October 1972 and bought my first camera at the Army PX. A compact and excellent range-finder, the Olympus 35RC. It has a mechanical shutter and also has an AUTO setting.
Back then the ARMY PX sold a 36 exposure roll of Kodak 25ASA slide film, including processing for $.99 and I took lots of slides, I still have this camera. It takes a PX625 battery that is obsolete. There is a WEIN battery that the company states will replace it.
I’ve read mixed reviews on the WEIN product.
Do any of you have your own experience and can share with me?
Also, I’m planning to fire it up and take some color photos, not slides. What film would you recommend. Using this camera will likely bring some interesting questions from the younger folks who see it!
Lastly, I served two years with the 2nd Squadron - 1st Cavalry, 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood, Tx. 1972-1974. Are there any of my fellow “Blackhawks” troopers out there??
Regards and thanks,
Harley Bowman -

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Suggest checking with B&H Photo for available 35mm film products.
Also suggest Googling other sources (e.g., BatteriesPlus and Varta(brand) for batteries for film cameras.
If you decide not to develop your own photos, a very good source is The Darkroom in San Clemente, CA.

Harl-Man

Thank you!!

Harl-Man

Ralph
How do you like your Fuji X100F?

BebuLamar

Harl-Man wrote:

Ok film friends, I could use your advice. I was dr... (show quote)

You can get the Wein cell, it's supposed to supply the correct voltage of 1.35V. But try the A625 which is 1.5V first. It won't damage your camera. I have not tried the Wein cell but with the 1.5V battery my 35RC metering is off by a lot but I suspect that my camera meter isn't accurate in either case. I use it in manual mode and in manual it doesn't need a battery.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Harl-Man wrote:

Ralph
How do you like your Fuji X100F?

The X100F is an outstanding compact camera with a great many creative features. Bought mine in ~9/2017 and it quickly became my goto camera. All that said, I am now thinking of selling it in favor of a small lightweight Fuji camera that uses multiple lenses.

Harl-Man

Good to know, I’m looking at the X100F or the X-T3.
Now that I’m retired and on a fixed budget I’m getting more and more careful about these purchases. Having input from folks like you is very worthwhile

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Harl-Man wrote:

Good to know, I’m looking at the X100F or the X-T3.
Now that I’m retired and on a fixed budget I’m getting more and more careful about these purchases. Having input from folks like you is very worthwhile

Take a look at the Fuji X-T30.

Harl-Man

Ok

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

BebuLamar wrote:

You can get the Wein cell, it's supposed to supply the correct voltage of 1.35V. But try the A625 which is 1.5V first. It won't damage your camera. I have not tried the Wein cell but with the 1.5V battery my 35RC metering is off by a lot but I suspect that my camera meter isn't accurate in either case. I use it in manual mode and in manual it doesn't need a battery.

The discharge curve of alkaline cells makes them not good for camera meters. The Wein Zinc Air cell discharge curve is more akin to the old mercury batteries but they won't last as long as those old cells. You could
get the meter recalibrated, but that's a bit pricy. I use older Zinc Air hearing aid batteries (# 675) placed inside hollowed out 625 shells as I can get the hearing aid batteries for a lot less than the Wein cells. I wouldn't try opening up the older mercury cells myself though. I bought some already fixed years ago...

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Have you given any thought to the X-T3. I bought one a couple months ago. A nice piece. Good luck.

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

I bought the X-T3 a couple months ago and so far I really like it. I know - a few months are not much time for agood accessment, but.... Good luck.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I still have this same camera. Received it as a college graduation gift in 1971. It accompanied my on many fine days of skiing at Alta and Snowbird, Utah.

Mine has a stuck shutter, so I haven't used it in many years, but it has a place of honor on a shelf above my desk where I edit many photos on the computer today.

Harl-Man

Do you have a photo of the hollowed out 625 shells. How did you hollow them out??

Harl-Man

Thanks
I am looking at the x-t3