The Olympus Trip AF 50, a snapshot camera from Olympus in 35 mm format, offers uncomplicated handling. Similar variants such as the Olympus Trip 600 and Olympus Trip 500 complete the range. Production took place in a Chinese factory.
The fixed lens with 28 mm focal length and maximum aperture of f/6.7 is ideal for snapshots, landscape and group shots. The focus does not allow manual distance adjustment, and a minimum distance of 100 cm to the subject is required for sharp images. Macro shots cannot be realised optimally.
Exposure settings are controlled by the built-in light meter for films with ISO 100 to ISO 400. The automatic exposure function does not allow manual selection of exposure time and aperture, with the shutter speed set to 1/100 second.
The built-in flash is useful in low light conditions with a range of up to 1.9 metres. A tripod thread facilitates group shots, while a self-timer is missing. The camera requires two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*), although rechargeable batteries are a sustainable option.
Films for the Olympus Trip AF 50
What types of film are suitable for the Olympus Trip AF 50? Despite the digital photography boom, the camera shows a nostalgic affection for analogue film and uses 35 mm film.
For colour shots, Kodak Ultramax 400* is recommended. Black and white shots are possible with the Ilford XP2 Super*. Both films show solid performance according to various test reports.
The C-41 development process is suitable for processing colour films and is offered by most photo labs. In Germany it is possible to have colour films developed in large drugstore chains.
The Olympus Trip AF 50 has an exposure area of 24 mm x 36 mm and the film transport is automatic. A counter on the top shows the number of photos taken, while a window on the back shows the film loaded.
Olympus Trip AF 50 Quartz Date
In addition to the normal model, there was also a Quartz Date version. This version of the Trip AF 50 offered the option of imprinting the recording time and date on the images. This function was very popular as it made it easy to reconstruct the dates of the photos taken. The disadvantage is, of course, the visual impression that a date gives in the pictures. Thanks to Exif data, this no longer plays a major role in digital photography.
