CS -
I recall hearing (from a relatively reliable source) that the head of
the FTL design team was a fellow who worked on (created?) the
Mamiya/Sekor. If you look inside them both, you'll see remarkable
similarities in design.
It was also explained to me that it (the FTL) was intended as a "trial
baloon" to see if an Olympus SLR had "legs" in the American/World market
(terminology mine). It did - they sold enough, it was felt, to proceed
with a "full court press". Hence the OM System - and the rest, as they
say, is history.
I think I've got a copy of the original instruction manual - write me
off-line if you'd like me to make a copy of it.
C
Charlie Stricklen wrote:
>
> In addition to my OM gear and my wonderbricks (Oops...MF, too. I wish I
> could limit my illness to zuikoholism. Every time I start to think I can
> live without a 4Ti, I spot a chrome 50mm Distagon for my Hassy 500 C/M.
> This is most disturbing, even to me.)
>
> Anyway, in addition to this stuff, my most treasured (if least used)
> camera is my Olympus FTL purchased new in 1971 (even then I had to have
> every lens available for it--Zuiko 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 135/3.5, 200/4).
>
> I don't know much about this old beauty, except that it has always taken
> wonderful pictures. I understand the FTL was marketed for only about a
> year or so before the introduction of the OM System. Some have said it
> may have been made by Minolta for Olympus. I wasn't aware Minolta was
> into screw mount cameras, but it's possible.
>
> Anybody know where I can get some detailed info on this stuff?
>
> Also, does John H. play with these?. It still works fine after all these
> years, but there must be some nasty stuff going on inside.
>
> Charlie
>
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