• Olympus Trip 35 — view 2
  • Vintage Olympus Trip 35 ad — "For the Trip of a Lifetime, Take Along the Fabulous Trip 35" — view 3
  • 1968
  • Zone-focus
  • No battery

Olympus Trip 35

Sixteen years in production. Ten million made. Still the right answer for travel.

The Trip 35 is the rarest kind of camera: a point-and-shoot that's earned its cult. Selenium-cell meter — no battery, ever. A Zuiko 40mm f/2.8 lens, four elements, that's shockingly sharp at the apertures it gives you. Four zone-focus settings (head-and-shoulders, group, scene, infinity) you set with a flick of the lens ring. Programmed shutter at 1/40 or 1/200, aperture stepped automatically to match the meter's read. You frame, you guess focus, you press.

No menus. No batteries. No reasons not to take it.

Olympus made over ten million between 1968 and 1984. David Bailey shot the famous advertising campaign. They're still everywhere because they're still right.

Match

Who this is for

Good for

  • Travel
  • Walk-around
  • Beginners
  • Photographers who want zero setup

Not for

  • Anyone who needs precise focus or selectable shutter speeds

Character

What it feels like to shoot

A pocketable little brick. The shutter is a quiet clack. Set the focus by flipping a tiny dial on the lens — there are four positions, picked by icons (one person, a group, a scene, infinity) rather than distances. Frame, press, advance with your thumb. A red flag in the viewfinder pops up when there isn't enough light, at which point you switch to flash or wait. Rolls go quickly with this in your hand.

Born 1968

History of the Olympus Trip 35

Designed by Yoshihisa Maitani — the same engineer behind the Olympus Pen, OM-1, and XA. Released in 1968 and produced almost unchanged for sixteen years. Production passed ten million units before the line ended in 1984.

Technical specifications

MFG. 1968 – 1984
01
Format
35mm zone-focus compact
02
Manufacturer
Olympus · Japan
03
Production
1968 – 1984
04
Lens
D.Zuiko 40mm f/2.8 (4 elements / 3 groups)
05
Metering
Selenium cell (no battery required)
06
Viewfinder
Reverse-Galilean with bright frame and parallax marks
07
Shutter
1/40s or 1/200s (programmed two-speed)
08
ISO range
ASA 25 – 400
09
Flash sync
All speeds (X-sync hot shoe + PC socket)
10
Exposure modes
Aperture priority (programmed), Flash-manual
11
Dimensions
115 × 73 × 56 mm
12
Weight
290 g
13
Power
None — selenium cell powers the meter

Original manual · Olympus Trip 35

Get the factory user guide as a PDF. We'll also drop you a note with film + dev tips for this body.

Thanks. → Download the Olympus Trip 35 manual (PDF)

Backed by GPP

Service & guarantees

Every analog camera ships through our bench

This unit has been bench-tested by GPP. Shutter speeds verified across the range, light seals replaced where age had taken them, meter calibrated against a known reference. Cosmetic condition is reflected in the listing photos — knicks and dings consistent with a working camera body. Mechanically, it's good to shoot.

Comes with our 7-day functional return policy: if anything we declared isn't working as described, we'll exchange or refund.

  • CLA'd by GPP — shutter speeds checked, light seals replaced where needed, meter calibrated against a known reference.
  • 7-day functional return — if it doesn't work as we declared on this listing, we exchange or refund. Wear-and-tear consistent with the listed condition isn't returnable.
  • UAE & worldwide shipping — Dubai same-day before 12 PM (AED 50), UAE-wide in 2–3 business days (AED 40), international tracked in 5–10 business days (calculated at checkout). Insurance can be added on request. Customs and import duties are the buyer's responsibility on international orders. Full shipping policy.
  • Walk in to inspect — Warehouse D36, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Mon–Sat, 10am–7pm. Bring a roll if you'd like to test-fire on the spot.

Questions

Things people ask

What film does it take?

Standard 35mm film. We carry the widest selection in the Middle East — colour, B&W, slide — across consumer, professional, and cinema stocks. Need a recommendation for this body? Just ask us.

Is the camera serviced before sale?

Yes — every analog camera at GPP goes through our bench before it goes on the listing. Shutter speeds verified, light seals replaced where needed, meter calibrated against a reference.

What's your return policy?

7-day functional return. If anything we declared isn't working as described, contact us within 7 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange.

Can GPP develop and scan the photos I shoot with this?

Yes — our in-house film lab handles colour, B&W, and slide development with scanning. 24-48 hour rush available. More on the film lab.

Can I see the camera before I buy?

Always welcome. Visit Warehouse D36, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm.

Reading

Further reference

Camera-Wiki entry on the Olympus Trip 35

Wikipedia article on the Olympus Trip 35

Olympus Trip 35
Dhs. 800.00
  • ✓ CLA'd by GPP
  • ✓ 7-day functional return