Olympus 35 DC
Introduced in 1971, the Olympus 35 DC is the simplified version of the RD. Same lens, same size, same focus but with out the manual controls.
I especially like the nice small size and fast 1.7 lens. The DC gives you full exposure control. The 35 DC only trusts you to focus and shoot. But don't dismiss the 35 DC as the underachieving sibling, it gives some nice images. It shares a lens with the DC and that is a very good thing. It also shares build quality. The DC feels like a very well built camera, not like many of the focus and shoot camera of the era. Also, the focus is the same rangefinder system as the 35 RD.
My Take:
I have to confess that I did not miss the manual controls. I won't pretend that I am a purest that fell the need to control every aspect of the process. I am the type customer that Olympus had in mind for the DC: give me great images, all the feel of a quality camera and take over the exposure. I can live with that. Especially given the quality of the images that the 35 DC produced. There is a BLC (Back Light Compensation) button on the back that limits the metering to the rangefinder patch. I guess that is a half step compromise for giving you some control. It also, will not fire the shutter in too low of light. I understand that there is a version without the BLC but with a low light override.
If you can live without the full control of the 35 RD (or if you see that as a plus), the 35 DC gives great images with a quality fell in a nice small go anywhere size. Recommend.
Lens: Olympus F.Zuiko 40mm f1.7
Film: FujiColor 100