Olympus 35RD

I just picked up an Olympus 35RD knowing it had a shutter problem. Cosmetically it looks great and I gambled on it being repairable. When I got it, the shutter stuck open at all speeds, seems to be a common problem with the RD. I tore into it and cleaned the shutter blades and flushed out the clockwork. While in there it was obvious someone else took it apart, the aperture return spring was missing. I noticed something off with the aperture when I first got it. Fortunately I had a spring that works in my box of bits.

Got it back together and now the shutter works fine but seems I need to do more than a simple cleaning of the clockwork. 1/125 seems to fire closer to 1/60, other speeds seem OK. I'll take a look and see what's special about 1/125.

Some random pics, I always start thinking I'd take photos of the process, but then once I get started I just keep at it.

Good luck. I seem to remember someone having instructions on the WEB for solving the shutter problem of the 35RD -- but that was a long time ago. It did not involve taking the entire thing apart -- just going in through the front of the lens.

You'd have more luck -- and sympathy -- by posting this in the CAMERA REPAIR sub-FORUM.

xkaes said:

You'd have more luck -- and sympathy -- by posting this in the CAMERA REPAIR sub-FORUM.

Click to expand...

Good suggestion - thread moved accordingly.
Hope you find a solution.

I have many nice fixed-lens RF cameras in my collection, including the Olympus 35RD. They have sharp lenses and are pleasant to use. Many years ago the picture I took of my son taking his first steps was with a Minolta Hi-Matic 7S. My experience is that these cameras are not quite as robust as a Canon FTb or Nikkormat or Minolta SRT. Those cameras can usually be repaired and can work for a long time afterward. My nicest RF cameras include the Konica Auto S1.6, Konica Auto S3, Minolta Hi-Matic 7SII, Olympus 35SP and the Olympus 35RC. Of those I think my favorite is the Hi-Matic 7SII. It allows me to set both the shutter speed and the aperture manually. I try to use the RF cameras gently.

I believe I found my problem. The clockwork is fine. The gear that drives the speed setting was off a tooth. At the 1/125 speed setting, one of the cams that sets the speed was just starting to ramp to the 1/60 setting. Though not really on 1/60, the clockwork was slow for 1/125. Going from a slower speed to 1/125 would cause a problem, going from a faster speed to 1/125 would work fine. I reset the drive gear that sets the shutter speed and the shutter is now working fine. So I now have a usable 35RD

For this camera I decided not to do the battery mod and am just using hearing air batteries in a holder. I did some meter adjustments and buttoned the camera up. everything seems to work well.
With these old cameras I prefer to find them in good cosmetic condition but needing some mechanical work over working condition but beat up. The key point is finding them cheap vs a good condition camera that works for 2-3X the price.

This one was a successful find.