The 35SP does not have a through-the-lens light meter. It's the window at the top right corner of the camera when you look at it from the front. As you adjust the film speed dial, you can see how that opens and closes the shutter over the light meter window to adjust its sensitivity.

Used to have both, and I have to agree. SP may have the better lens, but I think the RC is designed better (having a shutter speed dial like slrs, settings visible in the viewfinder, smaller etc.) Plus the RC is a bit quieter. I was put off with the SP when I realized just how loud it was, especially when doing street photography. The RC and the XA are much better when trying to be stealthy.

I gotta say, these videos are making me want a rangefinder haha

I have the RC, and have been itching too sell it and "upgrade" to the SP, but you make some very good points. The RC is genuinely pocketable, and if I am going out shooting and I know that I'm going to need that wider aperture, then I can just take my OM-1 with a fast prime...

I have both. The SP is easier to focus anf faster, but beyond 11ft that doesn't matter. At f8, the lenses are equally sharp. The RC is so small and light, I take it everywhere on a shoulder strap. I tend to store the SP in a bag with another camera for specific photo shoots.

I have always enjoy your videos, and this one is no different. I owned a 35SP for several years but I never got around to using it. I bought it on eBay and had it shipped to my home in the USA while living here on Germany. I actually never even saw the camera for the first six months I owed it and with each visit, I always had other cameras with me. Well, on a trip last month I finally decided to pick up a 35RC and sell the SP. Like you, I think the SP is a great camera but it doesn't call to me like the RC. Sure the SP has more features than the RC (more shutter speeds, spot metering, being able to meter in manual mode, etc.) but I have fallen in love with the size, function, and form factor of this tiny rangefinder. And like you, I really like having both shutter speed and aperture displayed in the viewfinder. The 35RC is quickly becoming my favorite camera.

The RC is a true classic ;)

Extremely thorough and detailed comparison. And to tell you the truth, you really don't have to choose which one you like best. jus grab the one you feel like when the time comes.

Just got my first RC.....what a little gem. It's also my first Olympus, so I'll let you know later. Thanks for the nice comparison!

Having watched your videos, you convinced me to get a 35RC to compliment my OM2N.... wow it really is a little gem, love the camera and will take it on holiday with me this year.

Totally agree with you Ade, I love the RC for is small size and form. I'm a bit of a collecting nut, had the chance to buy an SP, but bought an second, additional RC instead. Also, an RC in good nick is usually around £60-£70. An SP around £200 or so!

The 35 RC is a great all-rounder. But it's a good thing you have both, just in case you change you mind.

Great video again, another fan of the RC. I was on the fence between the RC and SP too.

Just found and ordered a 35RC! It will be my first rangefinder. I gotta say I was having serious doubts about going for the SP or the RC. Ended up choosing the RC because of the size and...well, the price which can be about half of the SP. Thanks for the comparison!

Getting the 35 RC in soon, can't wait to try it out!

SP does not meter through the lens. It has separate light meter window and unfortunately it is no on lens barrel thus it does not compensate filter density automatically

I have a black sp35, I like it a lot. Had the battery calibrated to the new 1.5volt batteries.

I'm not a big rangefinder guy myself, but I like hearing your opinions on these. I have a Konica C35 that looks similar, never used though. Not sure it works.

Thanks for posting this! I have an RC and an ECR and was considering the SP, but after your comments and seeing the size difference, think I'll hold off... until maybe I find a deal on one or something. With the same lens, the ECR is a nice alternative to the RC sometimes with its program only mode.

I have both. Hard to tell the difference between images from both, but SP does have the edge.. but the RC is the one I carry, because the lens is still outstanding, the view finder is great (with both aperture and shutter speed visible) and it is subjectively half the weight and size of the SP. (it's not, just feels like it) You can fit the RC in your pocket, not the SP. Both have accurate meters and focus easily. Something to note, I bought an XA because I wanted something even smaller, but I still used the RC because the viewfinder is so much better, and everything on the XA is so tiny. Also, the CDS cell on the XA failed, and there is no manual mode on the XA so now it is a brick. The CDS cells on the older Olympus seem to be more durable, and if they do fail, you can meter manually and still have full functionality with the camera. But I have 3 SPs, 1 RD, 1 RC, and all the meters are good. BTW, if you think the viewfinder is dim or not clear, either clean it yourself (not difficult) or have it done - a world of difference. and make sure it is aligned / calibrated properly. Re, battery. I use a 675 zinc air hearing aid battery and cheap ebay adapter. they are super cheap at costco hearing aid centers. The zinc air 675 has a nominal voltage of 1.4v but if you look at the discharge curves of the 675 zinc air vs 625 mercury after the first hour of activating the zinc air the voltage is almost identical, the zinc air looks even flatter. It does not last more than 3 - 4 months but, Cheap! Like $0.25 cheap. I checked my exposures with a Sekonic meter and they are spot on. 42mm is perfect normal. Good for everything. You need a very good scanner, and very fine grain film, to discern the difference between negatives from the SP and RC. As far as 2.8 vs 1.7 goes... yes, for some shots it will make a difference, but with a 42mm lens not as much as you think. I know this is an abominable practice, but sometimes I want a touch more background separation than f2.8 can give - a very delicate and judicious application of the new lens blur tool in lightroom ... voila... f1.7. Biggest issue with any of these leaf shutter cameras is the maximum shutter speed of 1/500th, ND filters are necessary if you do want to shoot wide open in daylight. Filter size of 43.5mm is a bit of a pain on the RC. I use a 43.5mm - 46mm adapter, 46mm (ND) filters are much cheaper and more available, as are 46mm rangefinder hoods. I do really like the EV system with the SP.... when shooting manual exposure, holding the aperture ring and shutter ring at same time lets you change both values simultaneously and maintain a constant exposure (ev). EV is much more convenient for sunny 16, eg - 15: bright sunlight, 14: bright cloudy, 13: cloudy soft shadows, etc.. just set aperture and ss to get that EV, brilliant. I love the RC so much I am thinking of picking up a few more before people realize what great cameras these are and they get super expensive :-) I cannot figure out why these have not gone the way of the Rollei 35, Mju II, Yashica t4, etc. That's also why I have 3 SP .

Thank you for this enjoyable video. I have a 35RC from ebay and have not shot it. It is currently in a repair shop getting CLA and new light seals. I am looking forward to shooting it when I get it back. I started on 35mm in 1976 on an Olympus OM1. I still have the OM1 and love it.

Thanks for this breakdown. I just bought the RC, and your review really helped!

Great comparison. Was talking to someone about this the other day. I have an SP and the only issue I have is the lack of aperture/shutter speed readings like you said! Really I'm not sure what Olympus was thinking with that. Interesting seeing that size difference too! Thanks

I have the RC version and right now is at the service. In a few days it will be ready for some street photography! Nice timing with ektachrome!! Cheers

I've got both of these fine cameras along with good many other Olympus rangefinders. Your point about EV values rather than actual speed and aperture is the one thing I would change about the SP otherwise I'd normally default to the SP in preference. But like you I find both great cameras to use,I don't know if it is coincidence that as one by one my Olympus cameras begin to have faults develop these two remain the most reliable, along with the simpler Pen cameras.

In terms of quality compact 35mm P/S cameras I think it's down to the SP vs. the Minolta Hi-matic 7SII. Both have great lenses. The Canonet QL17 I had was quite flare prone so I wasn't very fond of it.

The Spot version of Olympus compact cameras! Compared to today prices it was a €2000 camera when it was released and that 1.7 lens with 7 lens in five groups! Wow great stuff 👍

I couldn't decide so I got both. Look at the date of this post....it's 2020!! Yeah, I shoot and process all my film (B&W, E6 and C41). Fun stuff. I'll get familiar with them both and post back to you. I'm very curious how I will adapt to the SP's EV setup. That will be very new to me.

Thanks for this great survey!!

Nope it is not 8 nor 15 seconds, but 1/8 and 1/15 second. I like my Olympus 35 RC (even got a second that I'm repairing). I like the small size and I will also pick it over larger cameras. I have the Minolta Hi-matic 7sII which is just a tiny bit larger than the 35 RC, so this gets used too.

Just bough my RC 35 after watching your videos :D

Now that's old school! :)

I have both cameras, and while the lenses are very good, the lack of a Depth of field scale kills the experience for me.

Thank you for sharing. I bought a 35sp myself after watching some youtube reviews including yours and love that camera, so much fun to use with very nice picture quality, however I wish I could get the framing I want. Maybe I should practice and shoot more. Ha~

I have the RC but the auto mode is not working and the lens is scratched a but. Have test only a couple of shots and seemed very good.

The shutter speeds are not seconds (apart from the 1) They are fractions of a second eg 1/8 of a second 1/4 of a second.... Not 8 and 4 seconds.

I like your videos. Subscribed.

I bought the sp after watching one of ur vids love it to bits altho the meter readout takes some getting used to generally I manually meter with a sekonic just to be sure. Love the size of the RC tho 📷

And then Canon released the Canonet series, of which I own the ql17 Giii. Biggest flaw with that camera? No metering in full manual...What?!? Not sure what they were thinking, but I suppose the light meter isn't that accurate to begin with. I'm about to pick up a 35 SP.

If I’m correct they aren’t actually rangefinders because they have focusing mechanisms in the viewfinder. But regardless of the name, do both models have the split focusing in the viewfinder? That was actually the thing I loved the most about the RC vs compact rangefinders is that you could actually see focus rather than using other means to guess focus - is the sp the same?

I'm headed to Scotland and Ireland for 2 weeks and was considering taking a rangefinder. what would you take? can you do a SP vs RC vs Trip? how about SP vs canon canonet ql19? thanks, really enjoy your videos

Dear Ade, Lovely video cameras:) Me, I prefer aperture/shutter speed indicators in my viewfinder, as it makes it much easier to relate to sunny 16 rule:) And my preferred aperture is, as Weegee is famously quoted "f8 & be there":) Regards,

Hi. Im looking to buy one of these but just can pick one. Love the size the RC, but the low light performance in the sp attract me as well. Which would be the smartest choice?

great video.

have you checked out the canonet ql17 giii? I'm havung trouble deciding on whether to get the rc or this as a manual compactish fixed lens rangefinder

Hi. Great comparison there. How do you solve the battery issue?

Great video. Do you find the newer non mercury batteries mess with the light meter on the SP, making it inaccurate?

How do these both compare to the trip 35 in your opinion?

Hi Old Cameras, I love your videos soooo much ! Would you like to introduce your videos to Chinese audiences? For reasons, you know, KZfaq was banned I China, and for another, there was not much good nostalgia camera videos like yours in China.

May I ask what is the size for 35rc lens cap? Thank you!

Hi, thanks for the great vid, can the SP be used in aperture priority? Thanks.

will you make a video about the Olympus 35 RD?

How do you digitalize the film?

King Sunny Ade

Enjoyed the video, didn't learn anything about these cameras which have got ISO as well(?) as ASA settings. Music irritating in a less than pleasant way.

Are they film cameras?It could be better if they were also digital and had a screen on the back.