Olympus 35 ECR
The Olympus 35 ECR is the 1972 update to the EC. The body is about the same size, the lens is still a E.Zuiko 2.8, and it remains automatic exposure. The big change is a move to a rangefinder from a zone focus.
The controls of the ECR are slightly different than the EC. Most significantly the ISO/ASA control moves to the front of the lens rather than the top plate. Maybe to make room for the rangefinder. The real difference is the rangefinder vs zone focus. The EC had a nice bright viewfinder. The ECR viewfinder is not bad but nothing exceptionally bright. Focusing with the rangefinder seemed less than perfect. It is not as good as the slightly larger sibling the 35 RD. The use profile of this otherwise, automatic camera, felt more compatible to a zone focus.
My Take
I like the compact size of the EC and the ECR. They both slip easily into a coat pocket and are simple to take along. The addition of a rangefinder was not a big plus for me. It was not a negative but given the point and shoot, no exposure control of the ECR, a rangefinder seemed unneeded. Also, I did not find it crisp enough to fell any more confident about the focus than a zone focus. This is not a rangefinder like the 35 RD, but it is just enough smaller to give it a different use. Not the best compact rangefinder, but convenient and affordable for what it is. Give the chose of a EC or a ECR, I would be tempted to stick with the EC (or EC2) and zone focus.
Lens: Olympus E.Zuiko 42mm 2.8
Film: FujiColor Superia X-TRA 400