Olympus G.Zuiko Auto-W 28mm F3.5 FTL lens. 42mm screw mount.

The Olympus FTL system, a forgotten part of the Olympus history.

Introduced in July 1971 and stopped in January 1972 it had a production run of 7 months before it was replaced by the Olympus M1 system later on the Olympus OM-system. There is always the question of why so short. Perhaps when developing the FTL  Mr  Maitani the chief designer changed his opinion and went for a smaller camera in a completer system, but still wanted to see how the full frame would sell. It is a strange thing to develop a small system for a short time. To develop a system like the M ( OM )takes years , so they were the same time on the drawing board.  The lens design of the FTL system is nearly the same as the OM system. There were not many accessories in the system.  If you compare the complexity from the M system to the FTL it was not a very difficult camera to develop. It has become a rare set to find especially in good working and clean condition.

There were only 6 lenses available in the system.

This is the largest wide angle lens of the FTL system.

Olympus G.Zuiko Auto-W 28mm F3.5  FTL lens. 42mm screw mount.

Angle of view : 75 º

Optical construction : 7 elements in 7 groups.

Diaphragm operation : Automatic.

F–stop range : 3.5 ~16.

Minimum focus : 0,25m

Minimum field size : 18 x27cm  ( 7.1 x 10.6 )

Focusing : Straight helicoids.

Weight : 200 grams

Length : 31mm  ( 1.2 )

Maximum diameter : 59mm ( 2.3 )

Filter size : 49mm.Ø