Olympus Auto Electro-set rangefinder camera boxed-7307

            The first photos from a very special, hard to get and almost unknown camera:
Olympus Auto electro-set (1958 - 1959) 

1958
was the appearance year of the Olympus Auto electro-set

Olympus wrote in the manual:
This camera is the result of the gained experience.
That means, this camera is very special.

To me this is the very beginning of the Olympus 35 coupled exposure meter rangefinder cameras, but with many special details that no other Olympus rangefinder camera ever had again. Its incredible that this camera is so unknown even by Olympus fans.

In 1958 the Olympus Auto was then the only camera in the world with coupled exposure meter that when the shutter speed dial was rotated, the aperture was also changed to maintain the same light value, but when the aperture dial was rotated, only the aperture setting was changed.
At that time Olympus made history many times, and this one was the only with this kind of versatility.

Based on the ACE body an amazing camera was developed by engineers with no limits.
Again supplied with a fixed lens (E. Zuiko 1:1,8  f = 4,2 cm) the camera had got a coupled Selenium light meter with a hinged cover over the meter cell.
A buster-cell* could be connected  for better measurements. The plug was on the front right under the meter cell.

The round ASA scale window was on the back, the ASA setting was done by pressing a lever and rotating the aperture ring.

For exact exposure, the shutter speed must preset and the aperture ring, according to the meter reading, turned.
Multi exposure* was possible by pushing a small lever at the back.
If the camera was loaded, the film transport could be watched in a small window* next to the viewfinder.
Rewind knob and camera back safety was placed at the base plate and luxuriously constructed.
The large viewfinder window with bright frame, combined with the coupled rangefinder with parallax compensation* for the best possible picture sharpness. A  lever at the distance ring made focusing easier. 
There was a special connection for  fixing the carrying belt.

 * The only Olympus rangefinder camera that had these features, and it was from 1958! Not even the 35 SP have them and the build quality of this camera.

Specifications Type: Olympus - Auto
Engraving: Olympus - Auto

Release date: Dezember 1958
Body color: chrome
Leather color: black
Shutter: Seikosha - SLV
Shutter-Speeds: B, 1 to 1/500 sec.
Flash syncronisation: M and X
Finder: Bright frame, distance meter mix picture
Rangefinder: coupled
Film-Advance: Film advance lever  
Exposure meter: Selenium 
ASA: 10 to 800
Battery: none
Extras: Selftimer
Lens: G. Zuiko 1:1.8   f = 4.2 cm
F-Stop range: 1.8 to 16
Focusing: 2.5 ft to infinite
Elements: 7
Groups: 5
Size: 142 x 88 x 68 mm
Weight: 780 g
Price at release: 34.800 Yen

   

Taken on: April 30, 2012

Tags:

Auto Electro-set

Olympus

Rangefinder

accessories

original lens hood

Cameras photos

Film Camera

Auto

Electro-Set

42mm

f1.8

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Sets appears in: • 1958 - OLYMPUS AUTO ELECTRO-SET

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Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9600, f/4.0, 1/340 sec, 14mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S9600
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/340)
Focal Length:	14mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto bracket
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.0 (Windows)
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