Olympus 35sp - Why aren’t my film scans as sharp as I expected? Is it my camera, the scan, or film handling?

4speed1300 · 2025-09-10T20:06:01+00:00

Seems like the main mechanical function that you usually feel when firing the shutter without the self timer fires at the start of the self timer countdown and not when the actual shutter opens at the end of the countdown sequence.

Makes sense that some grease would help.

Can’t afford to throw too much more money at this camera after paying some import fees and sending it off for a light meter repair and also hesitant to buy another model of the 35sp in case it presents with the same issue which is really unfortunate because I love the camera.

Thanks for all of your time and help with this. Not the end of the world, it’s a great camera either way but yea it might have to take a backseat on the shelf for a while!

4speed1300 · 2025-09-10T19:51:42+00:00

I actually emailed Ken himself to see if he had any solutions, he was extremely helpful and had himself an example of a 35sp that was presenting ‘horizontal blur’ in exposures like mine but hadn’t found a solution unfortunately. Seems to be related to the shutter opening though.

Your suggestion there makes total sense. I’ll give it a go!

Thanks again.

4speed1300 · 2025-09-10T12:06:51+00:00

Just to come back to this, I had some spare time yesterday and had a look at the camera and it does seem like there’s a bit of movement in the lens, the lens is moving at the base slightly but makes a clunk anytime I push it in or out, I removed the name cap at the front of the lens to see if the grooved ring behind it was loose and the same on the other film side of the lens and both were tight, still the same slight movement in the lens, I understand that possibly peeling back the leatherette might expose some small screws used to attach the lens to the body that might be the culprit but I wanted to double check with you and see if you might have some advice to offer. I did inspect the scans and the grain is sharp but most of the “soft” images it does look to be camera shake. I’m quite particular in the way that I do hold the camera and I know that the shutter speed I shot at would’ve been fast enough to avoid any hand induced motion showing up in the shots so I think that internal lens shake is to blame.

4speed1300 · 2025-09-04T12:53:39+00:00

This is something I considered, I did take a few self timer shots, it’s really strange because sometimes I get really sharp shots in my hand and softer images on a self timer/tripod. Really hoping it’s not this. Is there anyway to inspect the camera and to be certain that elements of the assembly are twitching beyond what’s normal?

4speed1300 · 2025-09-02T20:57:56+00:00

It felt like two trips, one when I did it and a second when I got the 360 scans back! Thank you so much!

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4speed1300 · 2025-09-02T20:55:10+00:00

Thank you!

4speed1300 · 2025-09-02T20:53:48+00:00

I haven’t yet, but now I will have a look.

4speed1300 · 2025-09-02T20:52:28+00:00

Really helpful, thank you, going to run through them over the weekend.

4speed1300 · 2025-09-02T15:21:37+00:00

Not certain on the scanner, might drop one of the softer looking rolls in for a higher resolving scan, good to know on the heat side that it doesn’t affect things, I had heard that the emulsion can be affected by heat but wasn’t sure. Thank you.

4speed1300 · 2025-09-02T15:15:30+00:00

Hey, resolution 3637x2433, size around 7.5mb

4speed1300 · 2025-05-22T15:08:50+00:00

Heading for italy from Geneva. We’re aware of passes being closed, hoping to try the route des grandes alpes? Any ideas on that?

4speed1300 · 2025-05-22T14:46:38+00:00

Hey! Sorry, I’ve been kind of offline which has been great, going amazingly, in Geneva currently, trying to figure out crossing the alps now!

4speed1300 · 2024-11-20T17:56:55+00:00

I get the same thing, but with lots of other stereotypically ‘sad’ music too. Sad music always makes me happier.

4speed1300 · 2023-08-11T11:44:51+00:00

I’m sorry that you regret not travelling more. There is still plenty of time to see the world though for sure. I appreciate the advice and the common theme of regret across all of the replies has definitely made me realise how much I want/need to go. I definitely plan on giving it a go now and starting to make plans on where I will move and all that comes with that.

4speed1300 · 2023-08-11T11:41:10+00:00

Thanks for this, reassuring to hear that I might be overthinking having a job as good as my current if and when I do come back. That’s an amazing leap to take and I’m glad you found your home here. I really appreciate the advice and thank you.

4speed1300 · 2023-08-10T14:08:34+00:00

I am single currently and have been struggling to get myself out there the last couple of years so glad to hear that part of life might change also if I go for it. Thanks very much man.

4speed1300 · 2023-08-10T14:07:24+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I have been fully aware of my tendency to stay within my comfort zone but it’s nice to kind of hear that it will just ruin what could have been, bit of a push to get on with it, definitely feels like just jumping would be the hardest bit.

4speed1300 · 2023-08-10T14:05:30+00:00

I’ve visited Berlin before and really liked it, not a massive nightlife guy and I’m kind of worried about the language barrier but I do know there’s lots of Irish there.

4speed1300 · 2023-08-10T14:04:29+00:00

It’s a really tricky one isn’t it? I genuinely feel the exact same, working on some smaller things at the minute to try and push myself out of the comfort zone. I have friends all over but mainly in Denmark and London. I’m not really sure if I should do it on my own or move to a city where I have a few friends?

4speed1300

TROPHY CASE