The Olympus Trip Panorama 2 is characterised by its user-friendliness as a simple point-and-shoot camera. Developed by Olympus in the 1990s, it offers hardly any setting options, which simplifies handling. It was originally sold for 14,000 yen in Japan, where it was also manufactured.
Its body is made of plastic and it has a fixed lens with a focal length of 33 mm and a maximum aperture of f/4.5. A sliding cover serves as protection for the lens.
The fixed focus setting of the camera dispenses with autofocus, whereby a minimum distance of one metre to the subject is recommended for clear shots.
Without manual exposure settings, the aperture and shutter speed are fixed. The only adjustment option is the ISO slider on the front for ISO 100, 200 and 400.
A tripod connection and self-timer are missing on this model.
However, the Olympus Trip Panorama 2 can be fitted with a carrying strap and was originally sold with a matching bag.
Additional lighting is provided by an integrated flash which, together with the rest of the camera, is powered by two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*), which also drive the automatic film transport.
A characteristic feature is the panorama function, which creates a wider image section by mechanically covering part of the image frame with bars, similar to a panorama. This effect can also be achieved subsequently by cropping the image, as no additional information is stored on the film in panorama mode.
Panorama mode is activated by a switch on the back. The function can be set at any time. With its predecessor, the Trip Panorama, this had to be activated via a switch in the film chamber before the film was loaded.
Quartz Date function
The Panorama 2 is equipped with a clock that makes it possible to record the date and time on the images, similar to the Exif data of digital images. One possible disadvantage is that the data is permanently visible in the image.
Films for the Olympus Trip Panorama 2
According to the operating instructions, the Olympus Trip Panorama 2 uses 35mm film, which can still be produced and developed in most photo labs.
For colourful shots, Kodak Gold 200* is recommended, while Ilford Delta 100* delivers excellent black and white photos. Both types of film are known for their quality and have been positively evaluated in tests.
The film transport is automatic. After each photo, the film is transported further by a motor. The film is also transported back into the cartridge automatically. This process can also be accelerated with a switch.
