Gary,
Many thanks for that info on the FTL, however I don't think I want to get
into collecting them at this stage. Would you like me to pick it up for you
(it looks in excellent condition, but I didn't handle it, works out to about
$US180) ?
...Wayne
> Yes, the FTL system (camera/lenses/accessories) is quite collectible.
> It was in production for less than a year (1971), and as a result is
> quite scarce. The FTL is a needle match, open aperture TTL metering,
> full-frame, screw-mount (M42) SLR. In fact, it was the first japanese
> M42 camera to offer open aperture metering -- at least a year before
> Asahi, and two years before Fuji or Mamiya. Btw, THE first camera
> in the world with M42 mount and open aperture metering was the short
> lived East German Pentacon Super, which came (and went!) in 1966.
>
> Only 6 Zuiko/FTL lenses were ever made: 28/f3.5, 35/f2.8, 50/f1.4,
> 50/f1.8, 135/f3.5, and 200/f4. All 6 were terrific, and were later
> reincarnated as OM lenses. There was also a slew of accessories:
> bellows, slide copier, etc. In my experience, Zuiko/FTL lenses are
> harder to come by than bodies.
>
> In many ways, the FTL design is a bridge between the Pen F/FT which
> preceeded it, and the OM system that followed. The Zuiko/FTL lenses
> look like Pen F/FT lenses on steroids, and many features closely
> resemble those we are all so familiar with: DOF preview on the lens,
> ON/OFF switch next to rewind crank, bright VF, clean and uncluttered
> controls layout, VERY quiet horizontal cloth shutter, etc.
>
> Ivor Matanle in his well-researched book on collecting classic SLR's,
> has nothing but praise for the Olympus FTL and its lenses. Sadly,
> Mr. Matanle is also less than coplimentary on the OM system, and so
> many on this list feel compelled to dismiss his opinions. However,
> I must agree with him about the FTL: it is one fine shooter, which,
> unfortunately, will be more valued for its collectibility than its
> virtues as a fine, user-friendly SLR.
>
>
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|