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Olympus 35 SP

Unique Compact Rangefinder  with Centerweighted and Spot Meter!  

  "the finest rangefinder 35mm camera available today....The high-speed needle-sharp Zuiko lens and the high performance Seiko shutter add to making the Olympus 35 SP a masterpiece of camera crafting."    35SP instruction book

Produced from 1969 to about 1976, the Olympus 35 SP has the distinction of being the only 35 Rangefinder with a dual metering system:  spot or  centerweighted readings.   This is  amazing since the camera is over 30 years old and to date no other RF  has equaled the 35 SP's dual metering.   Yes indeed, it was far ahead of its time.  If you don't count the Leica M5 and CL with their large spot meters, the 35 SP is also the only 35 rangefinder with spot metering!  Besides that, the 35 SP was  the 1st  camera with AE exposure AND spot metering!  

The sophisticated and sharp 7 element five group 42/1.7 Zuiko lens offers proof of the quality built into the Olympus 35 SP.  A  simpler less expensive  5 or 6 element lens would have sufficed,  yet Olympus choose to go the more expensive route and use the best lens possible for its price range.   

The SP offers programmed automatic exposure non interchangeable lens rangefinder with manual over-ride.  The lens   focuses  down to 2.8 ft  with a f/16 minimum f/stop and a 49mm   filter size.   It measures 5 1/8" long  x 3 3/16 high x 2 7/16" deep counting the lens and weighs in at  22 oz.  Black SP's are quite rare,  almost all are chrome.  

 

Notice what appears to be two front viewfinder windows.   The one of the left is the meter cell.   The round dial on the end is the ASA meter dial, which moved the PC connection to the front of the camera.

Three lens control rings front to back:  combination shutter speeds/ EV range/ AE,  combination flash guide numbers/ AE/ f/stops, and focusing scale.  For AE operation, both of the two front controls rings must be turned to "A" as shown in the center picture.  The front ring allows a choice of shutter speeds from 1 to 1/500th second, plus B,   AE exposure, and the meter EV settings.     The middle ring has the flash guide number system on the left side, AE in the middle, and F/stops on the right side.    The small lever next to the f/stops is the 9 second delay self timer.

        

The pic on the far left shows the camera set for a feet Guide Number of 130 and a shutter speed of 1/125th.  The pic on the far right shows the manual setting for 1/125th at f/5.6.

The SPOT meter button is on the back of the top plate near the film advance lever.  

On the Plus Side

• Dual CDS Metering system: The SP has a 20 degree central field  angle, or a  6 degree spot.  This is really a big deal since no other rangefinder has ever had such a meter.   By default, the meter is measuring the 20 degree central field.  For spot metering, just press in the appropriately name "SPOT" button on the back of the top plate and hold it in until you trip the shutter.
• Spot Metering area is roughly indicated by the bright Rangefinder Spot in the viewfinder.  Keep the spot meter button pressed in on AE exposure, otherwise the camera will revert to centerweighted metering.
• Exposure Lock: Take an exposure reading and then press in the shutter release slightly, and the exposure reading locks, for you to re-compose your shot. 
• A large bright Viewfinder and Rangefinder, for this genre of camera.   Parallax correction marks, but no automatic parallax correction.   .7x magnification
• Meter works in manual operation.  This is the only leaf shutter compact RF of this era that I can think of which has manual metering.  Typically manual over-ride means no meter.
• AE Meter range is EV 5.5 to 17 (ASA 100) with a shutter lockup outside the AE range of 1/15th to 1/250th.  That's right, the camera will lock up and not function on AE if the indicated shutter speed is lower than 1/15th.  Set on manual, the camera has a larger EV range of  EV 3-17, shutter speed range 1-1-500th. 
• Flash Guide Number exposure range of 10-80 in meters or 32-260 in feet.   Once you set the appropriate guide number for your flash and film combination, merely focusing your camera automatically set the correct flash exposure.    This method can be MORE accurate than TTL flash since it can't be fooled by off gray subjects! 
• Large convenient focusing lever.
• Hot shoe AND PC flash connections.
• ASA film settings from 25 to 800.
• Flash sync at all speeds, 1 sec to 1/500th.
• The "Pen Flash CL" Flash gun was made for AG-1/B flash bulbs,  though they seldom used today.  

The Negative

• It's great the SP offers metering on manual exposure, but unfortunately it is not terribly convenient.  Taken off AE, the metering system is uncoupled  --  much like the system used on the Olympus Pen FT.     The photog has to take a meter reading and remember the EV setting in the viewfinder,  then adjust the f/stops and shutter speeds until the desired EV range appears on the lens barrel.   This system does indeed work, and it is indeed better than no meter at all -- but it's slow by the techno weenie standards of today.
• For AE Exposure, there is NO  indication of the chosen f/stop shutter speed combination.   Instead,   the camera indicates the EV values  in the viewfinder,  but you are left guessing what the exposure is.    
• Filters exposures are not automatically compensated for.  The meter cell is not located in its usual position on the filter ring due to its dual averaging/spot design.  Instead, it is next to the viewfinder where clumsy fingers can block it while holding the camera. 
• The 35 SP was designed for the ever  popular mercury 625 battery. You know the one,  the one that's illegal in the US.  Your camera repairman can adjust the meter for the new, slightly different voltage 625 replacement.  Yet, these batteries are still sold in many other countries.  Other alternatives are having the camera calibrated to a different battery, or using a battery adapter.
• In keeping with the technology of 1969,  the meter is sensitive only down to EV3.
• The AE system unfortunately locks up when the chosen shutter speed is below 1/15th or higher than 1/250th.     It may lockup just when that flying saucer lands in your backyard.

The Olympus 35 SP is slightly larger than the Minolta CLE

• Olympus SP Variations: Chrome with black "SP" on front, Black with white "SP" on front, and chrome with the "SP" in red.   A slightly modified SPn was also produced, see below.

35 SP N

The later 35 SP N is much rarer than the regular 35 SP in my experience, to the approximate ratio of 25 to 1.    Basically it's a slightly modified SP, identified by the front plate"35 SPN" logo.   Like the 35SP, black enamel bodies were also produced in limited numbers.  35 SPN changes that I know of:

Battery check with test light added between spot button and viewfinder

• Black trim around Rangefinder/viewfinder windows

• Black aperture ring instead of chrome

• Duller matte chrome finish

• Slightly larger and longer advance lever

• Slightly larger film rewind lever

The 35 SPN appears to be identical to the 35 SP in all other features, at least so far as I can tell.

The Olympus 35 SP's dual spot and centerweighted  metering system is unique.     IF this is what you need,  there is simply no other choice among  classic 35mm rangefinders.

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Revised: November 26, 2003 .  Copyright � 1998-2002  Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved.    This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind.  Information in this document is subject to change without notice.  Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.