Olympus Trip 35 Review: The Solar-Powered Travel Legend

Background & Key Features

Olympus released the Trip 35 in 1967 as their answer to the vacation camera market, and it remained in production for 17 years, selling an estimated 10 million copies. That's a massive success by any measure. This 35mm compact features a fixed 40mm f/2.8 D.Zuiko four-element lens, automatic exposure via selenium cell metering, and all-metal construction weighing 390 to 410 grams depending on the version. The camera offers two shutter speeds (1/40s and 1/200s) selected automatically, apertures from f/2.8 to f/22, and zone focusing with four distance settings marked by pictograms.

The selenium light meter ring surrounds the lens, powering the camera from ambient light alone. No batteries, ever. The Trip earned cult status among photographers like David Bailey, who appreciated its simplicity and reliability. It was available primarily in silver with a rare black brass version produced from 1967 to 1969 that now commands premium prices.

The Film Look, Made Accessible

While cameras like the Olympus Trip 35 deliver authentic film aesthetics, they come with significant barriers—$100-150 for working cameras, $15-20 per roll, and weeks of development time. Daydream bridges this gap with real-time film emulation that brings genuine film physics to your phone—authentic highlight rolloff, organic grain, and non-linear color response. We're not trying to replace the craft of film photography (we love it too much for that), but we offer an accessible way to capture that film look for everyday moments. Use Daydream for free, no subscription or ads—while still keeping your Trip 35 for when the magic of real film is worth the wait.

Design & Handling

The Trip 35 sits comfortably in one hand at 390 grams, with a metal body that feels genuinely solid without being heavy. Compact dimensions (116mm x 70mm x 57mm) slip into jacket pockets, though the lens protrudes enough to prevent true pocket carry. The shutter button positions naturally under your index finger with the film advance wheel accessible on the back, which is smart ergonomics for 1967.

The viewfinder is bright with frame lines and parallax marks, though the small window requires good eye alignment to see the full frame. The "Judas window" below the viewfinder shows your current aperture and focus setting, which is helpful for confirming settings. Controls are minimal: ISO dial on the outer lens ring, aperture ring at the base (set to "A" for auto mode), and zone focus ring with four pictographic settings. Everything clicks with mechanical precision that feels satisfying.

The shutter is quiet for a leaf design, excellent for candid street work without drawing attention. Film advance is smooth and quick. One quirk: the camera fires without film loaded, so always check your rewind tension to confirm film is advancing. The red flag locks the shutter in low light, preventing wasted frames but frustrating shooters who want to push the limits.

How the Olympus Trip 35 Shoots: Travel Photography and Street Photography Performance

Metering & exposure behavior

The selenium cell metering is surprisingly accurate in good light, handling bright sun to open shade without issue. The camera automatically selects aperture and shutter speed (1/200s or 1/40s), nailing exposure about 85-90% of the time. In high-contrast situations, center-weighted metering can be fooled by bright backgrounds. The red flag warning system prevents underexposure by locking the shutter when light drops below EV8, but means you can't shoot in dim conditions without flash or manual aperture mode. For natural light photography in daylight, the Trip 35 handles exposure confidently.

Focusing experience

Zone focusing is the Trip's biggest learning curve. Four pictographic settings represent approximately 1m (portrait), 1.5m (two people), 3m (group), and infinity (landscape). The system works brilliantly once you internalize distances, but early rolls will have soft shots. For street photography, set focus to the group icon (3m) at f/8-f/11 for adequate depth of field. The 40mm focal length is forgiving. Close-focus work at 1m requires precision—miss by 20cm and your subject goes soft. Distance markings help, but you'll need practice initially.

Lens character & image quality

The 40mm f/2.8 D.Zuiko is genuinely the Trip's secret weapon, a four-element Tessar-type design that punches way above its weight. Wide open at f/2.8, the lens is sharp in the center with slight corner softening that adds character to portraits rather than detracting from them. By f/5.6 to f/8, sharpness is excellent edge to edge with minimal distortion or chromatic aberration. The simple optical formula keeps contrast medium-high without harshness, which gives images a pleasing look.

Color rendition is neutral and accurate on color negative film, with pleasing saturation on Kodak Gold and Ektar that makes travel photos pop. On black and white film like Tri-X or HP5, the lens renders fine detail with smooth tonal transitions that make street photography sing. Bokeh at f/2.8 is unremarkable but inoffensive, a simple two-blade diamond aperture that doesn't distract from the subject.

Low-light performance is limited by the 1/40s minimum shutter and ISO 400 maximum, which is the camera's main weakness. At f/2.8 with ISO 400 film, you can shoot in urban evening light or well-lit interiors, but anything dimmer triggers the red flag and locks the shutter. The lens shows minimal flare when shooting into light sources, which is impressive for a 1960s design.

Film Pairings That Sing

• •Kodak Gold 200 for travel and street work—forgiving latitude matches the camera's simplicity perfectly
• •Portra 400 for portraits and mixed lighting—extra speed helps in marginal conditions when red flag threatens
• •Tri-X 400 for black and white street photography—classic pairing that highlights the Zuiko's sharpness and contrast
• •Ektar 100 for landscapes and bright conditions—fine grain maximizes the lens quality in good light

Best Uses: Travel Photography, Street Photography, and Urban Photography

Best at: Travel photography, street photography with zone focus pre-set, urban photography in daylight, documentary work, casual portraiture in good light

Struggles with: Night photography (1/40s minimum shutter and ISO 400 limit), low-light situations without flash, close-focus work under 1m, fast action

If this is you → pick this body:

• •"I want reliable travel photography without batteries" → Olympus Trip 35
• •"I need rangefinder precision and manual control" → Canonet QL17
• •"Budget-conscious but want excellent results" → Olympus Stylus Epic

Olympus Trip 35 vs Canonet QL17, Yashica Electro 35, and Olympus Stylus Epic

The Trip 35 sits in an interesting middle ground between fully manual compacts and modern point-and-shoots. The Canonet QL17 offers a coupled rangefinder, faster f/1.7 lens, and full manual control for precise focusing and low-light work, but it's significantly larger and requires batteries. The Yashica Electro 35 delivers aperture priority automation with a 45mm f/1.7 lens but also depends on batteries. Both sacrifice the Trip's battery-free simplicity, which is the whole point.

The Olympus Stylus Epic represents the Trip's spiritual successor with autofocus and a sharp 35mm f/2.8 lens. It's smaller and easier to use, but it requires batteries and commands higher prices ($200-300 versus $100-150). The Trip 35 delivers similar image quality with mechanical charm and zero battery anxiety.

* Prices as of December 2025. Market fluctuates based on condition and seller.

Is the Olympus Trip 35 Worth It in 2025?

As of December 2025, working Trip 35 cameras sell for $100-150, with the rare black brass version at $150-200. Prices have climbed from $50-80 five years ago due to film photography's resurgence. At current prices, the Trip 35 offers excellent value—proven reliability, zero battery costs, and a sharp lens. The selenium cell is the main concern; buy from reputable sellers who've tested the red flag mechanism.

Worth it if you want simple, reliable travel photography without batteries. Not worth it if you need low-light capability or precise manual focus. The Canonet QL17 offers more control for $50-100 more; the Olympus Stylus Epic delivers easier operation but costs $100-150 more and requires batteries. Bottom line: at $100-150, the Trip 35 is excellent value for daylight shooters who appreciate mechanical simplicity.

Film's Future, Your Pocket

Cameras like the Olympus Trip 35 represent the simplicity and reliability that made film photography accessible to millions. At Daydream, we've spent years studying these exact characteristics—the gentle highlight rolloff, the organic grain structure, the non-linear color response—to bring authentic film emulation to real-time mobile photography. We're not replacing film; we're making it accessible for those moments when loading a roll isn't practical. Our app is free, with no subscription or ads, because we believe more people should experience what film photography offers. Whether you shoot with an Olympus Trip 35, a phone running Daydream, or both—you're part of keeping the film aesthetic alive.