The Olympus Trip AF 31 is a compact camera that came onto the market in the 1990s. It is characterised by its ease of use and is therefore well suited for beginners. A similar model is the Olympus Trip AF 31, which also offers a self-timer.
The camera is equipped with a fixed 34 mm lens and a maximum aperture of f/5.6. This focal length is particularly suitable for snapshots. However, distant subjects cannot be captured in focus.
Focussing is automatic and there are no manual setting options. Aperture and shutter speed are set automatically by the camera, while the sensitivity of the film is recognised by the coding on the film roll.
There is an integrated flash that triggers automatically and can also be deactivated. In addition, the flash has an integrated fill-flash mode that can be activated if required and ensures that the flash fires with every shot.
A fill flash is useful when the subject receives less light than the background, for example a person standing in front of a window in a room.
The Olympus Trip AF 31 can be mounted on a tripod and requires two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*) for operation.
Another function is the self-timer. This is perfect for group pictures or selfies.
In addition to the normal model, there was also a Quartz Date model of the Japanese camera. The QD version can imprint the recording time onto the images.
Film selection for the Olympus Trip AF 31
The camera is still usable and there is still a selection of films available for it. In addition to the batteries, films are also required.
According to the instruction manual, the Olympus Trip AF 31 is designed for use with 35mm film from various manufacturers.
A good choice for colour shots, for example, is Kodak Portra 400*. For monochrome images, the Ilford FP4 Plus* is an option. There are also many other 35mm films for this camera.
The colour film is developed using the C-41 process, which is offered by many professional photo labs. Some of these labs also offer black and white film processing.
The negatives of this camera measure 24 mm x 36 mm, and one roll can hold approximately 36 images. There is a small window on the back of the camera that shows the film loaded.
The automatic film transport function automatically moves the film to the next frame after each release. As soon as the film roll is full, the camera automatically rewinds the film before the back can be opened.
Alternatively, there is a manual rewind process, which is controlled by a switch on the top of the camera and also includes a counter for the photos taken.
