Given a OM-1 and I have no idea what to do with it

Avotius

Avotius

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So a friend of mine gave me a mint Chrome OM-1 with a 50 1.8 F.Zuiko and frankly I dont know anything about Olympus cameras or this particular camera. I am pleased to see that it seems to be well build but its an awfully awkward camera. For instance the ISO dial threw me for a moment, and the on off switch. Also the battery looks to be a typical a76 but there is no writing on the battery and there is a strange metal washer around the battery that seems to be for centering the battery in the chamber? The battery has no writing on it so I am not 100% sure what battery it is. Shutter seems to be good with all the speeds, and the camera came with the never-ready case and spaghetti thin strap.

I dont know if this is typical but the shutter speed selector seems a hair stiff, so does the focus ring on the lens, also seems weird that the ISO selector can partially unscrew. Lens seems clear and the inside of the camera is pretty clean. I am not very impressed with the finder of the camera, it seems a lot dimmer and harder to focus then my Minolta X700.

Anyway, I know there are a lot of people on here that use these OM cameras and was looking for the pointers about the system or some links to good online resources about the camera, for instance the online manual for the camera.
 
Use it! It's a great camera. The OM-1 uses the discontinued mercury battery. You may have an MR-9 adapter in there. The Wein cells also work great with the OM-1.
 
Given a OM-1 and I have no idea what to do with it
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Send it to me, I will know what to do with it 🙂

an awfully awkward camera.
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It just takes a little getting used to. Then it will be as natural as any other camera. Actually, tha shutter speed ring (although they tend to be alittle stiff) is in the right place where you can reach it without moving your right hand from the shutter release button. The only really awkward thing is the on-off switch.

it seems a lot dimmer and harder to focus then my Minolta X700
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Well, Minoltas were famous for their bright focussing screens, so this is not a surprise.

the online manual for the camera
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A user manual ? What do you need it for ? It's as straightforward as a camera can be.

(PS: unlike X700, the OM-1 is made of metal! real brass!)
 
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Awkward yeah. The self-timer lever, and too-small body kind of torques your hand off the camera. The straight film advance lever is terrible. I'm gonna try Grip-tac on mine, should make it a much better handling camera. I like the look of the images that lens produces a lot. It's a small, neat, pretty camera. The 100mm f2.8 Zuiko lens for it is tiny, much smaller than the 100mm Rokkor. I have the 35mm f2.8 Zuiko also. Sharp. The whole kit fits in a tiny camera bag.

I gave my 16yo daughter the choice between the OM-1 and a Minolta XG-9 for her film camera class. She picked the Minolta. This is the Zuiko 50mm f1.8.

2138984630_05ee978607_m.jpg
 
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Here in China I dont put much stock in being able to find strange unusual batteries, what would happen if I stuck a a76 in it?
 
The hearing aid batteries work good with the washer, but don't last long (may be 2 months).

Or just use it on manual...

Suprised you were disappointed with the viewfinder - I was amazed at the size and clarity. From your further description of the body, perhaps it needs a good CLA?
 
The size of the finder seems good, like that, I guess I have been spoiled by those damn rangefinder things 🙂

Guess I will try to find myself a battery that will go in it, I remember seeing something before about if you stick a 1.5 volt battery in a 1.35 volt camera that the meter doesnt work right or something.
 
When Olympus came out with the OM system it was a major departure from their previous cameras. They started out making tiny "half frame" leaf shutter cameras that got 72 exposures on a roll. About 1964 they introduced the first Olympus Pen F, followed by several upgrades, TTL, etc, half-frame SLR's with a line-up of fantastic lenses. The 18mm X 24mm format wasn't supported by the photofinishing industry. Pros wanted full frame and amateurs bitched about too many pictures on a roll.

Olympus then came out with the smallest ever full frame SLR, the OM. It appealed to Leica users because it wasn't much larger than a Leica M and the photo magazines played up that angle. Next to a Leicaflex SL it was tiny. But by that time the pros and serious amateurs who wanted an SLR were already heavily invested in Nikon, which had motor drives, bulk film backs, and all kinds of lenses available. The Olympus is still a reliable well made camera. That was the era when Pentax was making a big deal over "seven layer multi-coating" as if they were the only company making multi-coated lenses. They weren't, but it hurt the other companies.

Today you can put together an OM kit for very little money. The Pen F cameras and lenses, and other Pen half frame models, are sought after by collectors and are not cheap.

If you stick a 1.5 volt alkaline battery in there your exposure will be off perhaps half a stop at most with the fresh battery. Since alkalines batteries don't maintain voltage as they're used the voltage gradually drops and you end up with an error in the other direction. Negative film has enough lattitude so you probably won't notice much difference until the battery is really old. If you have access to another meter or metered camera you can compare readings. Change the ISO (ASA on older cameras) until the readings match.The alkalines are cheap. Put a new one in every few months.
 
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Thanks for all the replies, it seemed people were very passionate about these cameras on this forum but I never did pay attention.

Anyone know if I can use a typical 1.5v a76 camera batter in it? (the same button battery in most of my other film cameras)
 
If you stick a 1.5 volt alkaline battery in there your exposure will be off perhaps half a stop at most with the fresh battery. Since alkalines batteries don't maintain voltage as they're used the voltage gradually drops and you end up with an error in the other direction. Negative film has enough lattitude so you probably won't notice much difference until the battery is really old. They're cheap. Put a new one in every few months.
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It can be way more than half EV off.

If the voltage is higher than 1.35, the camera will underexpose. And an underexposed negative is a thin negative, w/o details in shadows.

Better just use handheld meter. Or sunny-16.

If you're into electronics, take a look here: http://olympus.dementia.org/Hardware/PDFs/OM1DiodeVer2_1C.pdf
 
Using a 1.5V battery in an OM-1 is not a big deal. Simply set the film speed one speed lower, thus, set the camera for 200 when using ISO 400 film.

Not sure what you mean when you say the ISO selector can partially unscrew, but certainly that's not what it should be doing. Sounds like the camera (and it is a great camera, you will see) could use a CLA at some point.

I agree, having the ISO dial where the shutter speed dial "should" be is rather quirky. And contrary to what other posters have said, changing shutter speeds is a little fiddly since you have to find the two finger grips. But the smoothness of the camera in operation, and that big bright finder, make it a pleasure to use. Many RFFers call it the closest SLR to a rangefinder, since it has many of the same virtues -- small size, quietness, bright finder.
 
You don't need a battery. I can't tell from your description if you are referring to an MR-9 adapter or not. I'd guess not but if yes then you can use the LR-44/SR-44 batteries. There are other focusing screens - the split prism one is 1-13

http://brashear.phys.appstate.edu/lhawkins/photo/om-screens.shtml

The finder is not the brightest but its actually very usable in low light. And I like the finder on the R3a and M6 but you won't catch me using a 135mm on either of those bodies. I found 90 a stretch.

You get used to the shutter speed dial and it should get a little looser with use. The tabs are great because you know what shutter speed you are on by hand.

Funny, I saw this yesterday - of the profile of a poster here
http://www.1point4photography.com/blog/returned-from-the-dead-om1-revived/

Cheers,
-Gautham
 
Use the proper Wein Cell MRB625.....

Use the proper Wein Cell MRB625.....

Proper size, proper voltage, flat curve. I'm on 5 months now with a Wein Cell Zinc Air the proper size for the battery compartment. I measured the voltage and it's 1.38, same as when I took it out of the packet. I've easily gotten 9 months to a year out of these. If I plan not to use the camera for any length of time, I take out the battery and tape the holes closed so it stops reacting/depleting.

I buy them on eBay very low priced. They come sealed with a green sticker over the air holes. Take it off, drop it in the camera and GO with your meter running properly.

I don't understand the resistance people have to this solution. It works exactly like the old mercury batteries , with the exception of a slightly shorter life span.

Here's a link to the seller on eBay, and he is not the only one. The link shows the proper Wein Cell for replacing the old Mercury PX625 and PX13 commonly used in many cameras of this vintage.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PX625-Mercury-Replacement-Camera-Battery-1-35-Volt-PX13_W0QQitemZ220195431650QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220195431650&_trkparms=72%3A1234|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

You may have to copy and paste the link above as it did not come across as an active link. Copy and paste it into the address line on your browser. Or, go to US ebay and look up seller aperture-frequency and look at his listings for Wein cell.

Interesting note on the OM:

The first OM camera model was named the M1. Leica got their boxers in a twist and attacked Olympus causing the name to be changed to the OM1. It's rare to find an original M1 Olympus, but I saw one on eBay about two months ago. It sold quite high.
 
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The OM1 is one of the finest SLRs ever made, in my opinion - and its big advantage is it can use all those superb Zuiko lenses that go for a song on eBay.

I had mine adjusted for 1.5v batteries. There's a guy on eBay UK who does a service and adjustment - I don't know if there are any technicians near you who can do it, but I don't believe it's a difficult job.
 
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