The use of a diamond shaped aperture was also a feature on the Olypmpus 35 EC, ECR and RC cameras. Then, the XA line up would continue to have diamond shaped aperture openings.
That diamond shaped aperture is a hallmark of cheapness. The mechanism is two plates with a V-shape cut into the side. They are overlapped to form a diamond. To adjust the amount of light passing though the diamond opening, the plates slide a bit back and forth. Very cheap; not that precise. They level of design is reflected though out the camera. On one hand, it represents a general lack of precision in its operation. On the other hand, the simplicity of the construction is not only cheap to make, but tends to be more durable, lacking any finely tuned parts. Since its use was targeted at snapshoots who tend to be happy if their 3x5s from Walmart show a recognizable image, so these cameras really fulfill their mission. Basically, they are the same camera inside, except for the full versus half frame film formats and the slightly longer lens focal length on the Trip 35. Those lenses are actually better quality than the lenses which appear on later succeeding cameras, like the Mju or the new Pentax 17.
I don't understand the claim of them being entirely mechanical when the selenium cell voltage controls the aperture setting. If the aperture sticks (common) there is no way to adjust it manually.
Thanks for the side by side. I just remembered how much the Olympus XA1 carried the spririt of the Trip 35 on.
The use of a diamond shaped aperture was also a feature on the Olypmpus 35 EC, ECR and RC cameras. Then, the XA line up would continue to have diamond shaped aperture openings.
That diamond shaped aperture is a hallmark of cheapness. The mechanism is two plates with a V-shape cut into the side. They are overlapped to form a diamond. To adjust the amount of light passing though the diamond opening, the plates slide a bit back and forth. Very cheap; not that precise. They level of design is reflected though out the camera. On one hand, it represents a general lack of precision in its operation. On the other hand, the simplicity of the construction is not only cheap to make, but tends to be more durable, lacking any finely tuned parts. Since its use was targeted at snapshoots who tend to be happy if their 3x5s from Walmart show a recognizable image, so these cameras really fulfill their mission. Basically, they are the same camera inside, except for the full versus half frame film formats and the slightly longer lens focal length on the Trip 35. Those lenses are actually better quality than the lenses which appear on later succeeding cameras, like the Mju or the new Pentax 17.
I don't understand the claim of them being entirely mechanical when the selenium cell voltage controls the aperture setting. If the aperture sticks (common) there is no way to adjust it manually.
I think it just means that they don't require a battery, although it does require the selenium cell and meter to still be functional.