Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/07/18

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Subject: [Leica] New camera
From: rangefinder at screengang.com (Didier Ludwig)
Date: Mon Jul 18 09:02:55 2005
References: <006c01c58bae$b927f0a0$2501a8c0@chartertn.net>

John

The camera is from the mid-70ies. Find more informations at 
http://www.cameraquest.com/olyrd.htm (scroll down for the ED).

For the battery issue there are several solutions possible (follow the 
actual thread "1.35V to 1.5 V battery options"):

-use 1.5V batteries and adjust the ISO setting (try and compare with a 
working meter or another camera);
-find a battery adapter (available for some models)
-my recommendation: let the battery housing modify by a camera technician. 
He will add a little resistance that lowers the the voltage from 1.5 to 
1.35 (I paid EUR 10 for that)

Have fun with your new Oly,

Didier



>Somewhat OT but, hey, it's a rangefinder!!
>
>I bought over the weekend, an Olympus 35 ED very small full-frame RF camera.
>It has a 38/2.8 lens and seems to be completely electronic (no manual
>controls).  I cleaned it up and crammed 4X PX625A batteries into the battery
>compartment and it works! Or at least the lights light up and the shutter
>trips. Now for the two questions:
>
>1-  About when was this little beastie made and does anyone have any info on
>it, and
>2-  The battery compartment fits two rather large, thick button batteries
>and the bottom plate is engraved "SEIKO-ESF B" next to the battery
>compartment.  Is this a battery designation and if so, is there a current
>substitute. The engraving sounds more like a shutter than a battery.
>
>The RF seems to work fine, is properly aligned and bright but has a very
>short base length of about 29-30mm (1.25 inches). Except for the fixed lens,
>it reminds me of what Leica should have done in the 70's to capture some of
>the average citizen market.  This thing really looks like the ancestor to
>all modern point and shoots.
>
>JB




In reply to: Message from jblack at ambio.net (John Black) ([Leica] New camera)