I like old film cameras and I often visit Island Thrift to see what they’ve got. Normally it’s just a few 35mm plastic film cameras from the 80s. Those aren’t very interesting, but this week they had some good selections behind the case.
- Olympus SLR OM-1MD w/50mm f/1.8 lens in good condition.
- Olympus SLR OM-2 w/50mm f/1.8 lens. The shutter was jammed solid.
- Yashica Electro 35 G (1968 version, up to ASA 500) with a dented lens rim.
- Yashica Electro 35 from 1966. The original non-G version that went to ASA 400.
Of course I got the last one. 🙂
I did a check out of all 4 and gave the manager a lesson in old film cameras. I looked at the shutter settings from bulb to 1/1000 on the OM-1MD, checked the aperture changed when moved, the film advance, looked for fungus and scratches on the lens and made sure the shutter didn’t stick.
Except for the OM-2, the cameras worked. The manager removed the OM-2 which I thought was decent of him.
Without a battery the Electro 35 will default to 1/500 exposure. I thought the aperture blades were stuck (they’re not) but what this new camera needs is work on is the wiring. At home when I put a battery in I got the check battery light working but I also got a ZZZT! noise on the inside.
I took the battery out quickly. This camera is over 48 years old so I do expect some problems. The light seals disintegrate on touch and the whole thing can use a good cleaning. I’ll do some research, I think I know where I can get this one serviced.