I got these two messages from some guy on the the Olympus-Pen list. Does
anyone know anything about the Olympus ECR camera other than what I've
answered?
You can reply to him also at markhahn2000@xxxxxxx
Skip
From: "Mark Hahn" <markhahn2000@xxxxxxx>
Reply-To: olympus-pen-rf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [olympus-pen-rf] new ECR user questions
just got batteries in the Olympus ECR that someone gave me and have a
few questions:
1) how good is the E. Zuiko lens? How many elements etc.
2) what is the shutter range?
3) how do the GN numbers work? (never used an old flash on a camera
like this before)
4) how well does the meter work with the alkaline batteries that I
was forced to put into it?
5) what is that orange light supposed to be telling me?
6) how good is the camera? ...it is quite small and handsome to look
at.
thanks!
Mark
PS I am new to the list. You can see some of my other photo
interests at: www.geocities.com/markhahn2000/index.html
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I've never even heard of this camera, but it must be near the RC/RD/SP
cameras, as it looks very similar. The only reference that I could find is
in Japanese at http://ha3.seikyou.ne.jp/home/tessin/tast/olympus35.html.
For the full details, you can get an original manual at www.craigcamera.com
or ask on the Olympus list.
E means 5 elements. Zuiko's are typically very good performers.
The camera probably requires a mercury PX625 to operate
properly. Alkalines of similar size are not the correct voltage and will
not give the correct exposure. Replacements for the Mercury batteries
(which you can find via Ebay or the Internet in Europe) are Wein Zinc-Air
cells and a CRIS insert which lets you use modern batteries.
Look here or do a search for PX625 on a search engine.
http://www.criscam.com/mr9faq.htm
http://www.photobattery.com
Olympus 70's rangefinders are fine performers. They often need RF
cleaning, as the slot that houses the wind lever admits dust over the
years. Count on $75-100 for a full, professional cleaning. At the same
time, most repair guys will do a conversion to a
modern, non mercury battery.
Skip
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Thanks Skip!
I loaded up the camera with some Delta Pro 100 and the alkaline
batteries and tried it out today, WOW! that is a really nice little
camera to use; dead silent and a bright finder... of course aperature
priority would make it even better... but since I got the camera for
free what do I have to complain about? This camera takes two huge
640 button cells for which there are no Wein cell etc. replacements,
but my exposures came out just fine... if it is off it is only by +
1/2 stop. The lens does seem to be quite sharp... now I just have to
figure out what the top shutter speed is... I would like to shoot 400
speed film, but if the camera has a top speed of 1/250 like some of
the PENs it won't do here in sunny Arizona. What filters do these
cameras generally take? An orange or ND filter might be an
appropriate accessory.
mark
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