Olympus History

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• History of Cameras
  • 1936-1970
    • Medium-Format Cameras
    • 35mm Cameras
    • Pen Series
    • EE-Equipped Cameras
  • 1971-1992
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After the introduction of electrical exposure meters, Olympus began to study ways to incorporate EE (electric eye, now known as "AE") functions into its cameras. This work led to the creation the Olympus Auto Eye, the world's first genuine EE camera. EE functions continued to evolve, and subsequent advances included program AE, auto flashmatic and CdS meters.

Olympus Auto Eye

Olympus 35LE

Olympus TRIP 35

Olympus 35SP

Olympus 35EC

Olympus 35RC

Olympus 35DC

Olympus Auto Eye   (1960) Launched in 1965, the Olympus 35LE featured the world's first programmable electronic shutter with a flashmatic function. The 1/15-1/500 second programmable EE electronic shutter employed a CdS light sensor. The appropriate exposure could be obtained simply by setting the distance and pushing the shutter button.

Olympus 35LE   (1965) Launched in 1965, the Olympus 35LE featured the world's first programmable electronic shutter with a flashmatic function. The 1/15-1/500 second programmable EE electronic shutter employed a CdS light sensor. The appropriate exposure could be obtained simply by setting the distance and pushing the shutter button.

Olympus TRIP 35   (1968) The Olympus TRIP 35 is a full-sized compact EE camera based on the Pen EES. It first went on sale in 1968. The name reflects its suitability as a convenient camera to take on trips. The TRIP 35 became very popular as a camera that combined ease of use, reliability and a low price with superb photographic performance. It remained a best-seller for many years, and over the next 20 years over 10 million were produced.

Olympus 35SP   (1969) The Olympus 35SP was launched in 1969. This lens/shutter camera was the first camera to support spot metering as well as averaged metering, and the "SP" in its name denotes the spot metering capability. This versatile camera allowed both program AE and manual photography.

Olympus 35EC   (1969) Launched in 1969, this camera was popularly known as "Elecon." It featured a Seiko program shutter capable of providing long exposures up to 4 seconds, as well as an auto flashmatic function based on an externally mounted strobe flash unit. The 35EC was subsequently replaced by the enhanced EC2 model.

Olympus 35RC   (1970) Known as "Richard," the Olympus 35RC first went on sale in 1970. With a body similar in size to the Pen cameras, this coupled-rangefinder camera had a shutter-priority AE system. The aperture setting could also be controlled manually, making this an ideal secondary camera.

Olympus 35DC   (1971) This camera went on sale in 1971. The letters in the name stand for "Deluxe Compact." The programmable automatic exposure system made photography easy in any setting, whether the subject was dark or brightly lit. The Olympus 35DC featured the world's first automatic flashmatic system and backlight correction system that allowed programmable auto photography even with a strobe. It became popular as an easy-to-use camera that always produced excellent results.

* Other products can be viewed on the product line-up page.

* The information shown is based on information in initial product announcements.

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