52 rolls, 52 cameras, 52 weeks

I've been using another Olympus this past week… the AF-1 Twin.

The AF-1 Twin was introduced in 1988 and as its name suggests has a twin lens system, switchable between a 35mm wide-angle lens and a 70mm short telephoto lens.

Olympus AF-1 Twin

I like twin lens compact cameras, with a short 35~70mm zoom I usually end up using only the extremes of the range anyway and although it may not actually be true I like to think that two fixed focal lengths will give better image quality than a cheap zoom… Discuss!

The AF-1 Twin is a chunky little beast but still pocketable (the sliding lens cover negating the need for a case) and I've shot a roll of Ilford XP-2 super that I've had kicking around for ages with it.

This week's camera is a real blast from the past for me…

The Olympus OM-1N is a slightly updated version of the original OM-1 that was announced at Photokina as the M-1 in 1972. Leica (with their M series rangefinder cameras) complained about the 'M-1' name and thus was born the 'OM-1'.

Olympus OM-1N + F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 Auto-S lens

I had one of these beauties in the 80s and loved using it so when this example popped up in a charity shop recently I couldn't resist!

Manual focus, manual exposure and a range of relatively inexpensive but excellent Zuiko lenses make the OM-1 a good buy for anybody wanting a simple 'old school' entry into film photography.

I'd almost forgotten how nicely the OM cameras handle… aperture, focus and shutter speed can all be adjusted without taking the camera from the eye and without sacrificing a comfortable grip on the camera/lens combination. The positioning of the shutter speed ring may be unconventional but it works fantastically well!

Some more results for you today!

'Trollies' - 1/125sec @f/8

In keeping with the age and style of week two's camera, the Olympus Ace rangefinder, I shot a roll of Kodak Tri-X rated at ISO 320 and had it processed and scanned by Peak Imaging in Sheffield.

'Our Glorious Dead' - 1/250sec @f/8

'Tunnel' - 1/250sec @f/8

'20ft 6ins' - 1/250sec @f/11

'Retro' - 1/250sec @f/11

'Steps' - 1/125sec @f/11

I must admit that I'm not over keen on the Ace, finding focusing incredibly difficult (although the faint rangefinder spot and my need for some new specs certainly can't have helped…) Again, the only editing amounts to straightening, cropping, sharpening (and a little shadow recovery).

Mention 'interchangeable lens rangefinder camera' to photographers and I doubt many of them would think 'Olympus' but that is exactly what we have here in the shape of the Olympus Ace.

The Ace series was introduced in 1958 and consisted of two models, the meterless Ace and the Ace-E that has a built-in uncoupled Selenium meter. The Ace features a Copal SV leaf shutter with speeds from 1 sec to 1/500 sec plus Bulb, the shutter is clearly visible with the lens removed.

A total of four lenses were produced for the cameras:

• 3.5cm f/2.8
• 4.5cm f/2.8
• 8cm f/5.6
• 8cm f/4

and brightline frames for all three focal lengths are included in the viewfinder (as can be seen in this dodgy iPhone shot).

I've had this example on loan from a friend for almost a year now, high time I put some film through it wouldn't you say?