Olympus OM-1 question.

[JHP]

So I just got an OM-1N which is in nearly perfect condition.

I have two questions.

One of the bottom screws is missing, on the right side edge (opposite end to the battery compartment). Anyone have any ideas what kind of screw it is I need to buy to replace it? Will I be able to replace it?

EG

Also, I have found that shutter speeds just after 30th of a second seem to be far too fast, as in when I put the camera up to light with the lens detatched and the back open, I see no light flashing between the shutter turnovers at any speed faster than 30th. Is this normal? 60th on my camera seems as fast as 1000th. May be a stupid question.

Thanks yall!

 

[philipb]

There is no screw to go in that hole, I think it's a locating hole for winder or other attachment. At least my OMs don't have anything there.

I'm not sufficiently awake to comprehend the second part!

 

[JHP]

I think you're talking about the left side. I am talking about the screw pictured to the very right of the image I posted.

 

[philipb]

There you go, not awake for the first part either. Oops.

 

[Ade-oh]

The answer to your first question is: a small one. If you're gentle it won't do any harm to try some for size.

In answer to your second question, who knows? Nobody here could possibly judge whether your shutter is too fast based on that description.

Your best move is to take or send the camera to a reputable repairer for an overhaul. It won't cost a lot for a mechanical camera like an OM-1n and a good repairer like Jon Hermanson in the US or Luton Cameras in the UK will get it working like new again.

 

[Jockos]

I have a spare parts OM1 and could send you a screw pro bono if you PM you address

 

[Chris101]

If you think the shutter speeds are off, shoot a test roll that includes equivalent exposures with speeds both above and below 1/30 second. That should tell you what you need to know. And if they don't work right, I can personally recommend Hermanson's service.

 

[mdarnton]

If you're not seeing light, don't waste the film--send the camera off for a cleaning.

 

[JHP]

Thank you all for your help!

 

[kuzano]

Should see light....

Should see light....

Thank you all for your help!

If you are holding the camera up to bright light and the aperture set at the largest for the lens on the camera, you should see a flash of light to the highest speed of the camera. Not a long one, but a flash of light coming through the lens aperture all the same.

You have all the same screws I have on my OM-1n. The hole beside the battery cover is for the positioning pin for the winder grip.

Mine is going into Jon Hermanson for CLA. If you want to split the cost of my CLA, I'll tell you how it comes out so you can send yours in for CLA also.

 

[zuiko85]

Sounds like the shutter is capping at any speed over 1/30 sec. Whatever catch that releases the shutter at higher speeds is not engaging and letting the second curtain travel as soon as the first curtain is released. John Hermason at Camtech (www.zuiko.com) is the acknowledged repair guru of all things OM and with a repair will also convert the metering to use a standard #357 silver oxide battery. You cannot get the original mercury batteries for a long time now.

 

[Paul Luscher]

The guy you need is John Hermanson. Former Olympus tech, expert at servicing OMs. His e-mail is omtech1@verizon.net. He can answer your questions, and fix your camera if something's wrong.

 

[JHP]

If you are holding the camera up to bright light and the aperture set at the largest for the lens on the camera, you should see a flash of light to the highest speed of the camera. Not a long one, but a flash of light coming through the lens aperture all the same.

You have all the same screws I have on my OM-1n. The hole beside the battery cover is for the positioning pin for the winder grip.

Mine is going into Jon Hermanson for CLA. If you want to split the cost of my CLA, I'll tell you how it comes out so you can send yours in for CLA also.

The photo I posted was just an example of how mine should look. I am missing the screw to the very right of the camera pictured.

Thanks for your help!

 

[wblynch]

You can take one screw from the tripod mount and move it over...

 

[John Hermanson]

There is no missing screw on the bottom cover. The really large opening between the 2 screws is for attaching to a tripod. Nothing goes there in the meantime. The small open hole on the left in front of the md cap is for the alignment pin found on the motor drive/winder. This sentence doesn't make much sense: "I am missing the screw to the very right of the camera pictured."
When you fire the shutter at ANY speed, you should see some light when looking through the shutter as it fires. John

 

[kuzano]

Not the correct picture...

Not the correct picture...

The OP answered my response indicating that the picture he posted is NOT of the camera bottom he is inquiring about. As I understand it, he chose to show us the picture of a camera with all the screws, rather than a picture of his with the missing screw????

Do I have that right OP....?

 

[Jockos]

I already sent him a screw, so I don't think you guys need to ponder about it anymore 🙂

 

[JHP]

I have a spare parts OM1 and could send you a screw pro bono if you PM you address

I'd like to publicly thank you, another reason why this forum is leagues above others due to it's friendly and generous users.

😀

On another note, since installing a battery into my OM-1 and inserting the screw given to me by Jockos, the fast shutter speeds have miraculously started working. God only knows how, I find it hard to believe simply a screw was involved in making them work, neither a battery in a fully mechanical camera. Very strange but very nice to have the camera working.

Now to run a film and check for real.

 

[JHP]

The OP answered my response indicating that the picture he posted is NOT of the camera bottom he is inquiring about. As I understand it, he chose to show us the picture of a camera with all the screws, rather than a picture of his with the missing screw????

Do I have that right OP....?

Quite right. :bang:

Had I known this would all be so confusing, I would have photographed my OM rather than posting an example camera.