Olympus FTL

Introduction: The Olympus FTL at a Glance

The Olympus FTL is a 35mm single-lens reflex from 1971 that mounts its lenses by screwing them onto a 42mm thread, the M42 system. That makes it a camera with a foot in two worlds: an Olympus body with Zuiko glass on one side, and a huge family of screw-mount lenses on the other. If you enjoy exploring SLR film cameras, the FTL is an interesting one to read about.

The example photographed here carries an F.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.8, one of two standard lenses named in the original manual. With a pentaprism finder, a match-needle meter and a cloth shutter, it is a fully manual camera, so every exposure decision stays with you.

A manual-focus SLR rewards a deliberate rhythm. You turn the focus ring until the image settles, line up the needle in the finder, and only then release the shutter.

Design Roots and Historical Background

A camera with a short shelf life

Olympus brought the FTL out in 1971. Within about a year the company showed the OM-1 at Photokina in 1972, a new system that pushed the FTL into the background almost immediately.

According to a former Olympus designer, the FTL was never meant as the long-term plan. He described it as a stopgap for the international market, produced under pressure from the sales department.

Metering on a screw-mount body

What sets the FTL apart is its metering. It is documented as the first 42mm screw-mount camera to measure light through the lens with the aperture wide open. The lens mount carries a pin that connects the lens to the camera for this purpose, so it pays to seat the lens carefully.

Key Technical Highlights

Shutter and viewfinder

The shutter is a cloth focal-plane design offering 1 s to 1/1000 s plus B for long exposures. A built-in self-timer runs for about 10 s, and flash synchronisation is available for X and FP. Through the pentaprism finder you see a microprism spot on a Fresnel screen, which helps with quick focusing, and the magnification is 0.92x with the 50mm lens.

Metering and lenses

Exposure is set with a match-needle display inside the finder. The CdS cells cover EV3 to EV18, measured at ASA 100 with an f/1.8 lens, and the camera accepts film speeds from ASA 25 up to 2000. The two standard lenses were the F.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.8 and the G.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.4. Their aperture rings have no click stops.

• Mount: 42mm screw thread (M42)
• Shutter: cloth focal plane, 1 to 1/1000 s plus B
• Meter: full-aperture TTL, match needle, EV3 to EV18
• Film speed range: ASA 25 to 2000
• Filter size on the 50mm lens: 49mm screw-in

Modern-Day Use in 2026

Where the FTL excels

The FTL suits photographers who want a manual SLR with a meter they can double-check against their own judgement. It shows the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and film speed in a very direct way.

Use it for:

• Learning manual exposure on 35mm film
• Portraits and everyday scenes with the 50mm f/1.8
• Collecting a short-lived Olympus model
• Trying M42 lenses on a body that meters at full aperture

Practical shooting tips

• Compare the needle with a handheld meter or a scene you know well when you shoot your first roll.
• Check the aperture scale before every frame, because the ring has no clicks to count.
• Use the microprism spot for quick focusing and confirm with the ground glass around it.

Buying and Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying used

A film SLR of this age deserves a careful look, so test each function in good light and take your time.

• Fire the shutter at every speed and listen for steady, even sounds.
• Open the back and inspect the light seals for crumbling or stickiness.
• Look through the lens and finder for haze, fungus, dust or separation.
• Test the match-needle meter with a fresh cell and compare it with a known reading.
• Try the self-timer and the lens release button.

Turn the focus and aperture rings slowly and feel for grit or stiffness.

Power and batteries

The camera was designed around a 1.3 V mercury battery, listed in the manual as an Eveready E625, Mallory RM-625R or GE No.625 or equivalent, together with a battery checker. Without it the meter stays dead.

• Find a modern replacement cell that suits your meter before you start shooting.
• Remove the cell when the camera is stored for a long time.
• Keep the battery contacts clean and free of corrosion.

Basic care and accessories

• A padded strap and a protective case for travel
• A lens cap and a 49mm filter to protect the front element
• A blower and microfiber cloth for glass and body
• Browse more photography accessories to complete your kit

What to pay

On European marketplaces such as eBay, working examples are typically listed around €105–€175. That range is drawn from a mix of complete cameras, with bodies and lens kits side by side, so treat it as a guide rather than a fixed price.

Conclusion: A Short Chapter Worth Knowing

The Olympus FTL pairs the screw-mount lens world with through-the-lens metering at full aperture. Its time in the catalogue was brief, and that gives it a particular charm for anyone who enjoys the stories behind old cameras.

With a 50mm f/1.8 on the front, it is a compact way into manual-focus film photography. Check the seals, the meter and the glass, and a good example can keep working for you. You may also enjoy our guide to the Olympus IS-100S.

Ready to explore cameras like the FTL? Browse our analog cameras, see more SLR film cameras or discover the Olympus range at DutchThrift.com.

Sources: the original Olympus FTL instruction manual; Olympus FTL on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3; price range based on recent eBay listings in Europe.