Simply and Ridiculously Brilliant
First released in 1967 and produced for nearly two decades, the Olympus Trip 35 is far more than just an old point-and-shoot camera; it’s a cultural icon that captured millions of holidays, family moments, and everyday scenes. With over 10 million units sold, the Trip 35 remains one of the most successful 35mm compact cameras ever made, cherished today by beginners and seasoned film enthusiasts alike for its simplicity and exceptional image quality.
The Trip 35 was designed with a clear purpose: to be a reliable, easy-to-use camera for people travelling on holiday—hence the "Trip" name.
The design philosophy was to be the ultimate traveller
Compact and Durable
The camera features a pleasing retro aesthetic with a robust, all-metal body that feels substantial in the hand, yet is small enough to slip into a coat pocket or a small bag. Its elegant, minimalist design has stood the test of time, making it a stylish accessory even today.
Battery-Free
Perhaps the most ingenious feature of the Trip 35 is its power source—or lack thereof. It requires no batteries to operate the light meter or the automatic exposure. Instead, a ring of photovoltaic selenium cells surrounds the lens. This meter generates a small electrical current based on the available light, which mechanically sets the aperture and shutter speed. This feature not only saves on cost but ensures the camera is always ready to shoot.
Core Mechanics and User Experience
The operational simplicity of the Trip 35 is its greatest strength, removing nearly all technical barriers to taking a photo.
The Zuiko Lens: A Hidden Gem
The camera is equipped with a fixed 40mm f/2.8 D. Zuiko lens. For such a simple camera, this lens is remarkably sharp, producing images with excellent contrast and clarity that easily surpass the quality of many modern, plastic point-and-shoots. The 40mm focal length is slightly wider than the standard 50mm, making it perfect for street photography and capturing the environment during travel.
Zone Focusing: Simple, Not Perfect
The Trip 35 utilises a zone focusing system, meaning there is no precise rangefinder to look through. Instead, you estimate the distance to your subject and choose one of four intuitive symbols on the lens barrel:
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Flower (1m/3ft): Close-ups
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Head-and-Shoulders (1.5m/5ft): Portraits
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Two People (3m/10ft): Group shots
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Mountain (Infinity): Landscapes
While this system is fast, it requires some practice in distance estimation. Miss the zone, and your otherwise sharp photo will be slightly out of focus.
The Automatic Shutter and the Red Flag
The camera operates with just two shutter speeds: 1/40th second and 1/200th second.
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In "A" (Automatic) mode, the light meter chooses the correct aperture and speed. In bright light, it favours 1/200th. In lower light, it defaults to 1/40th.
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If there is insufficient light for a proper exposure, the camera will not let you take the picture, and a highly visible red flag pops up in the viewfinder, preventing a guaranteed underexposed shot. This feature is a lifesaver for film waste.
The camera does offer manual aperture control (and a fixed 1/40s shutter speed) for use with a flash, offering some limited creative control.
Image Quality and Modern Relevance
The images produced by the Olympus Trip 35 are characteristically sharp and vibrant in colour, with the unmistakable, pleasing look of classic 35mm film. When used correctly in daylight, the exposures are remarkably accurate thanks to the simple, effective metering system.
Pros:
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Outstanding Lens Quality: The Zuiko 40mm f/2.8 is far better than its size suggests.
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Battery-Free, Solar Powered Operation: A huge convenience and environmentally friendly bonus.
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Reliability: Highly durable build.
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Red Flag Warning: Prevents costly mistakes in low-light conditions.
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Ideal for Beginners: True point-and-shoot simplicity encourages focusing on composition rather than settings.
Cons:
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Selenium Meter Degradation: The selenium cell has a finite lifespan; older models may have an inaccurate or dead meter. It's important to protect the light cell by using the push-on lens cap when not in use.
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Limited Low-Light Capability: The slowest shutter speed (1/40th) and maximum ISO setting (ISO 400) mean you must use a flash indoors or at dusk.
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Zone Focusing Challenge: Requires the photographer to be comfortable estimating distances, which can lead to missed focus if rushed.
Chrome and Black Button:
The difference between the chrome (silver metal) and black (plastic) shutter release buttons on the Olympus Trip 35 is purely cosmetic and serves as a quick way to date the camera's production year. Some collectors maintain that other components of the chrome button Olympus Trip are more solid and well made compared to the black button version.
Here is the breakdown:
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Chrome (Silver Metal) Button: These indicate earlier models of the Trip 35, produced from its launch in 1967 up until approximately 1978. These are often slightly more sought after by collectors for their full metal aesthetic, though this is a subjective preference.
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Black (Plastic) Button: These indicate later models, produced from around 1978 until the end of the production run in 1984. Olympus made this simple switch, likely to reduce production costs slightly.
Key takeaway: The core components—the Zuiko lens, the selenium light meter, the two shutter speeds, and the red flag warning system—are identical across both versions.
How to discover more about the Manufacture of your Olympus Trip
The serial number on an Olympus Trip 35 camera doesn't give you an exact date of manufacture. One way to tell is to open the film compartment and carefully remove the pressure plate on the back of the door and look for the code on the back of the pressure plate. Olympus stamped the manufacture date and the production factory using the following characters:
1st = Japanese character or letter (in later models) signifying the assembly plant.
2nd number representing the last digit of the year of assembly.
(e.g. 5 = 1975, 0 = 1980).
3rd number or letter representing the month of assembly,
1-9 for Jan-Sep, X, Y, Z for Oct-Dec.
… for example; N1Y = Nagano – 1971 – November
Over the 21 years of production Olympus made these cameras in Shibuya [Outer Tokyo], Hachioji Shi (Central Tokyo), Kyoto and Nagano.
What to Look for When Buying an Olympus Trip 35
The Olympus Trip 35 is famously robust and reliable, having easily stood the test of time. Whether you're looking at a Chrome-button or Black-button model, a good example should give you many more years of enjoyable film photography.
Here is a comprehensive 10-point inspection guide to help you find a fully functional camera:
External Condition and Controls
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Inspect the Camera Body: Check for dents, dings, or signs of impact, particularly around the lens barrel. A significant drop can deform the lens itself, making it no longer perfectly circular.
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Test the Winding and Shutter:
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Wind the film advance and trip the shutter repeatedly.
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The wind-on should feel smooth with no grinding noises.
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The shutter firing should sound crisp and immediate.
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Check the Dials and Rings:
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Focus Ring: Rotate the lens to all of the focus zone settings. It should move freely and click securely into each position.
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ISO and Aperture: Check that the ISO dial at the front of the lens adjusts to all settings and that the aperture ring rotates smoothly from $f/2.8$ to A (Automatic), clicking distinctly at each marked setting.
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Examine the Viewfinder and Rewind Crank:
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Viewfinder: Look through the viewfinder for scratches, haze, or excessive dust/debris (sometimes even a long-dead insect).
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Rewind Crank: Gently lift the rewind crank ensure it is intact and not broken.
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Lens and Automatic Exposure System
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Inspect the Lens Glass: Check the front and rear lens elements for scratches or internal marks.
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Test the Automatic Red Flag System: This is a crucial check for the camera's meter and shutter lock.
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Set the Aperture to A (Automatic).
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Aim the camera at a bright light source or the sky and fire the shutter—it should fire normally.
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Wind on, then completely cover the lens with your hand or the lens cap.
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Try to fire the shutter again. A working camera will display the Red Flag in the viewfinder and prevent the shutter from firing (this signals insufficient light).
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Check for Variable Aperture:
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Keep the camera set to A (Automatic) with the back open.
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Cock the shutter and fire a shot looking up at the sky. You should see the aperture open small and the shutter open and close.
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Now, immediately point the camera at the floor (a dark area) and fire a shot. You should notice the aperture open wider to compensate for the lower light.
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Internal Condition
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Open the Film Compartment: Use the small silver button on the bottom left of the camera back to open the door.
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Internal Cleanliness: The back of the camera should be clean and clear of debris. Check that the plastic components are undamaged.
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Light Seals: All Olympus Trip 35 cameras will need new light seals. Check whether the existing foam light seals have already been replaced. If not, budget to replace them immediately, as the old foam will have deteriorated over the last 50 years and will cause light leaks that fog the film.
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A camera that passes all these tests should be in good working order and ready to shoot (once those light seals are sorted!).
Verdict
The Olympus Trip 35 is a quintessential piece of photographic history and a brilliant camera for anyone looking to enter the world of film photography or seeking a high-quality, dependable travel companion. Its constraints—the zone focusing, the daylight dependency—encourage a slow, thoughtful approach to photography that is the appeal of the tactile film photography experience.
It's the perfect camera for: Daylight street shooting, outdoor travel, and anyone who wants excellent results without being bogged down by technical settings.
The Olympus Trip 35 will reward you with beautiful, reliable, and perfectly exposed photographs, it is the film photography poster child for good reason!
We sell refurbished chrome and black button Olympus Trip in a variety of colours, shop yours today!
