Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Ever since I discovered the allure of the OM range I’ve viewed the mainstay of the system as being the OM-1. I have a couple of OM-2s and an OM-4 but have always found the OM-1 to be the camera that suited me the best … simple with match needle metering and that amazingly large, clear viewfinder. I won’t go into the qualities of Zuiko lenses because we know they are more than good enough and lens preferences are very subjective IMO. I also won’t discuss the ergonomics of the OM body because you either like it or you don’t … the killer for many people appears to be the placement of the shutter speed dial … personally it suits me though I can understand why others don’t find it so ideal.
In spite of being very content with my OM-1 I have bought other OM bodies out of curiosity over the last couple of years to see how they sat with me. The OM-2 while a fine and remarkably inexpensive camera never really grabbed me … I’m not someone who uses AE a lot and the meter readout when shooting manually seems a little dinky after an OM-1 though I know it’s not really. There’s just more information there than I felt I needed and both the OM-2s I own seem to have metering that drifts slightly as the batteries deplete … this could be my imagination of course. I decided that it would be nice to try spot metering so bought an OM-4 … not only was it a disappointment but the example I bought has a serious metering issue and requires almost two stops of compensation by fudging the ISO setting to get accurate exposures. I originally intended sending it to Camtech in the US for a CLA and to sort out the metering but decided I didn’t really like the camera enough to justify the cost so it sits in the cupboard unused.
Throughout this process I’ve often read and thought about the OM-3 as possibly being my ideal camera but couldn’t get my head around the prices being asked for them. They weren’t produced in the same numbers as other OMs and seem to have that collector factor that afflicts a lot of cameras in this position. The OM-3 for the uninitiated is non battery dependant with a manual shutter that runs to 1/2000. The battery is solely there for the metering which has the option of spot or centre weighted and a subtle but excellent LCD readout is provided in the bottom of the viewfinder … there is an illumination button which is easily accessed with a fingertip without having to change your grip or take the camera away from your eye when shooting in low light. Without a battery it operates exactly as an OM-1 aside from the extra stop of shutter speed. One very noticeable bonus for me is the dioptric adjustment of the viewfinder … I wear contact lenses and my vision tends to vary slightly with changes in humidity and a perfectly sharp finder is only a click away when this happens.
Cutting to the chase, a near mint OM-3 at a very reasonable price appeared in the RFF classifieds a few months ago from someone I trust and have dealt with previously so I made the decision to buy it knowing that it wouldn’t be hard to sell if I didn’t get along with it. Initially I was disappointed because it felt so different to my beloved OM-1 and the fixed hot shoe and different prism housing shape change the svelte minimalist look of the camera somewhat. Also the film advance felt harsh compared to my OM-1 courtesy of the steel gears not to mention my well worn OM-1 was serviced by Camtech a year or two ago and has a particularly slick advance. After a couple of rolls of film it went into the cupboard and I continued to use my OM-1 thinking I may have wasted a substantial chunk of cash for a camera I didn’t really like or need … or certainly didn’t like in comparison to the said OM-1. A few weeks ago I decide to give it another try and I have to say after numerous rolls of film I’m now finally converted. I use it exactly the same way I used my OM-1 where the meter is secondary and I tend to judge exposures based on sunny 16 provided the conditions are predictable. When they aren’t I have that amazing spot meter at my disposal not to mention the extra shutter speed which is very useful when shooting outdoors with a fast lens. It’s only one stop but I find myself constantly using that 1/2000. In summation I would describe the OM-3 as a souped up OM-1 with corresponding appeal to the purist who appreciates minimalism and build quality in a good SLR.
When you really like a particular camera design you often find yourself in the position where one particular model will become your personal ‘Holy Grail’ and that’s what the OM-3 became to me. The trouble with ‘Holy Grails’ is they often don’t live up to expectations and when you finally stumble over one at the right price you’re faced with the situation where you’re forced to rationalise your purchase by telling yourself what a great camera it is even though you really know little about it and how well it will suit you in the long term.
The OM-3 has now become my go to OM and is my first choice of camera for most situations when shooting 135 film. The camera was worth every cent of its price in my opinion … but what about my OM-1? That beautiful little black SLR will always be my most loved OM and SLR overall on an emotional level because of what it represents … Maitani’s genius child and nothing can detract from that. However … it now has to take second place in functionality to what I regard as the perfect OM and definitely the best SLR I have ever used.
In spite of being very content with my OM-1 I have bought other OM bodies out of curiosity over the last couple of years to see how they sat with me. The OM-2 while a fine and remarkably inexpensive camera never really grabbed me … I’m not someone who uses AE a lot and the meter readout when shooting manually seems a little dinky after an OM-1 though I know it’s not really. There’s just more information there than I felt I needed and both the OM-2s I own seem to have metering that drifts slightly as the batteries deplete … this could be my imagination of course. I decided that it would be nice to try spot metering so bought an OM-4 … not only was it a disappointment but the example I bought has a serious metering issue and requires almost two stops of compensation by fudging the ISO setting to get accurate exposures. I originally intended sending it to Camtech in the US for a CLA and to sort out the metering but decided I didn’t really like the camera enough to justify the cost so it sits in the cupboard unused.
Throughout this process I’ve often read and thought about the OM-3 as possibly being my ideal camera but couldn’t get my head around the prices being asked for them. They weren’t produced in the same numbers as other OMs and seem to have that collector factor that afflicts a lot of cameras in this position. The OM-3 for the uninitiated is non battery dependant with a manual shutter that runs to 1/2000. The battery is solely there for the metering which has the option of spot or centre weighted and a subtle but excellent LCD readout is provided in the bottom of the viewfinder … there is an illumination button which is easily accessed with a fingertip without having to change your grip or take the camera away from your eye when shooting in low light. Without a battery it operates exactly as an OM-1 aside from the extra stop of shutter speed. One very noticeable bonus for me is the dioptric adjustment of the viewfinder … I wear contact lenses and my vision tends to vary slightly with changes in humidity and a perfectly sharp finder is only a click away when this happens.
Cutting to the chase, a near mint OM-3 at a very reasonable price appeared in the RFF classifieds a few months ago from someone I trust and have dealt with previously so I made the decision to buy it knowing that it wouldn’t be hard to sell if I didn’t get along with it. Initially I was disappointed because it felt so different to my beloved OM-1 and the fixed hot shoe and different prism housing shape change the svelte minimalist look of the camera somewhat. Also the film advance felt harsh compared to my OM-1 courtesy of the steel gears not to mention my well worn OM-1 was serviced by Camtech a year or two ago and has a particularly slick advance. After a couple of rolls of film it went into the cupboard and I continued to use my OM-1 thinking I may have wasted a substantial chunk of cash for a camera I didn’t really like or need … or certainly didn’t like in comparison to the said OM-1. A few weeks ago I decide to give it another try and I have to say after numerous rolls of film I’m now finally converted. I use it exactly the same way I used my OM-1 where the meter is secondary and I tend to judge exposures based on sunny 16 provided the conditions are predictable. When they aren’t I have that amazing spot meter at my disposal not to mention the extra shutter speed which is very useful when shooting outdoors with a fast lens. It’s only one stop but I find myself constantly using that 1/2000. In summation I would describe the OM-3 as a souped up OM-1 with corresponding appeal to the purist who appreciates minimalism and build quality in a good SLR.
When you really like a particular camera design you often find yourself in the position where one particular model will become your personal ‘Holy Grail’ and that’s what the OM-3 became to me. The trouble with ‘Holy Grails’ is they often don’t live up to expectations and when you finally stumble over one at the right price you’re faced with the situation where you’re forced to rationalise your purchase by telling yourself what a great camera it is even though you really know little about it and how well it will suit you in the long term.
The OM-3 has now become my go to OM and is my first choice of camera for most situations when shooting 135 film. The camera was worth every cent of its price in my opinion … but what about my OM-1? That beautiful little black SLR will always be my most loved OM and SLR overall on an emotional level because of what it represents … Maitani’s genius child and nothing can detract from that. However … it now has to take second place in functionality to what I regard as the perfect OM and definitely the best SLR I have ever used.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
The OM-3 shutter is completely mechanical but in theory the camera is the same as the OM-4 in manual mode ... with working batteries of course. Take the batteries out of the OM-4 though and it becomes a paperweight!
I think it's the similarity in pholosophy to the OM-1 that gives it it's appeal for me.
I think it's the similarity in pholosophy to the OM-1 that gives it it's appeal for me.
rodt16s
Well-known
I've had an OM3 for donkey's... that was my next step up from OM1's as well..
Wonderful tool.
If you haven't got one, try to find a grip 1, it improves the handling no end
Wonderful tool.
If you haven't got one, try to find a grip 1, it improves the handling no end
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Mine lives in a Luigi grip case which makes the camera's handling pure heaven ... smells nice too!
zuikologist
.........................
Nice review and I like the obsessive part of the quest - sums up a large part of RFF in many ways
kshapero
South Florida Man
Never had an OM-3 but I was seeded an OM-4ti and 5 gorgeous Zuiko lenses back in 1991 for an 8 month project for Olympus. As a Nikon bigot I did not take to it very well. But eventually I came around. And oh those lenses. If only they would have let me keep this magnificent kit........
zuiko85
Veteran
My only OM experience is with the OM-1, OM-2 and OM-2sp. If the "coffee grinder" advance mechanism of the -2sp is the same as the OM-3 then that would be enough to turn me off. The 2sp also has an odd, long duration shutter sound as the sub mirror does it's thing. But since I got the body free I'll hold onto it as a back up camera seeing as how both my aging OM-1 bodies now need service.
maitani
Well-known
that's a great writeup keith, glad you 'converted' too, I remember when you freshly got it you where a little underwhelmed, think of it as an OM-1+++ instead of an OM-3 , I had all of the OM's ever made, and there's nothing like 'the' OM-3 (ok the 3Ti is same with TTL etc., but I dislike the 'silvery' finish to be honest, and it's too expensive for what it is) there's nothing like a pure black OM-3 and a bunch of F2 primes , despite all the cameras I have this the OM-3 has a special place for me and It's one of the (5) cameras I'm planning to keep forever. Imo the pinnacle of Olmypus from the last half century.
I'm afraid you're writeup might cause even more of a price increase on the 'already small' worldwide OM-3 market.
, I had all of the OM's ever made, and there's nothing like 'the' OM-3 (ok the 3Ti is same with TTL etc., but I dislike the 'silvery' finish to be honest, and it's too expensive for what it is) there's nothing like a pure black OM-3 and a bunch of F2 primes , despite all the cameras I have this the OM-3 has a special place for me and It's one of the (5) cameras I'm planning to keep forever. Imo the pinnacle of Olmypus from the last half century.I'm afraid you're writeup might cause even more of a price increase on the 'already small' worldwide OM-3 market.
kanzlr
Hexaneur
I hope I will find a nice OM-3 some day at a good price.
I currently use an OM-4Ti and OM-2Sp and actually prefer the 2Sp...not even sure why.
I currently use an OM-4Ti and OM-2Sp and actually prefer the 2Sp...not even sure why.
wblynch
Well-known
Thank you for the nice review Keith. It mirrors my experience very closely.
Although my OM-3 has the "grindier" film advance, I feel it is more strongly constructed than the OM-1 - not quite as delicate. I was fortunate to find a near-mint OM-3 for a very good price but have only run about 3 rolls through it.
I am currently suffering some vision loss that makes the OM-3 and OM-4T meter nearly impossible to read. For this reason my OM of choice lately has been a gorgeous OM-2N I found several months ago. Silky smooth and quiet.
The OM-2SP has that funky shutter noise from the aperture control of the Program function. Very similar to the OM-PC (40). While the OM-2SP has spot metering for manual mode, the OM-PC has that wonderful ESP matrix metering that works beautifully for slides.
One feature of the OM-2SP that I love is it beeps when your shutter speed goes too high, allowing you to pick a smaller aperture. With my eyes this is invaluable. I have not experienced beeping from the OM-4T or (certainly) the OM-3.
The OM-3 does beep when you remove the lens. I believe this is to indicate loss of any stored meter settings.
These things are like beautiful sisters. All great to look at and wonderful to hold, but each with their own unique features and personalities. You can't go wrong marrying into that family.
But in the end, I agree with you that the OM-3 is the best OM for the long haul. The strong, durable, easy-going sister. Yet elegant and sophisticated. And is probably the best cook!
And I, also, will always hold a prime spot for the OM-1.
Although my OM-3 has the "grindier" film advance, I feel it is more strongly constructed than the OM-1 - not quite as delicate. I was fortunate to find a near-mint OM-3 for a very good price but have only run about 3 rolls through it.
I am currently suffering some vision loss that makes the OM-3 and OM-4T meter nearly impossible to read. For this reason my OM of choice lately has been a gorgeous OM-2N I found several months ago. Silky smooth and quiet.
The OM-2SP has that funky shutter noise from the aperture control of the Program function. Very similar to the OM-PC (40). While the OM-2SP has spot metering for manual mode, the OM-PC has that wonderful ESP matrix metering that works beautifully for slides.
One feature of the OM-2SP that I love is it beeps when your shutter speed goes too high, allowing you to pick a smaller aperture. With my eyes this is invaluable. I have not experienced beeping from the OM-4T or (certainly) the OM-3.
The OM-3 does beep when you remove the lens. I believe this is to indicate loss of any stored meter settings.
These things are like beautiful sisters. All great to look at and wonderful to hold, but each with their own unique features and personalities. You can't go wrong marrying into that family.
But in the end, I agree with you that the OM-3 is the best OM for the long haul. The strong, durable, easy-going sister. Yet elegant and sophisticated. And is probably the best cook!
And I, also, will always hold a prime spot for the OM-1.
kanzlr
Hexaneur
the OM-4 beeps too. But it can be disabled when you turn the self-timer in the opposite direction, towards the lens mount. Maybe yours is set that way.
gustavoAvila
Established
Keith, better check your OM-4T, mine complains loudly for overexposure in auto mode.
BTW, I own every OM-x model except for the "3".
My favorite is the OM-1 for its straightforward user interface and uncluttered display.
The OM-1 (and OM-3) also have the huge advantage of functioning in cold weather; the battery dependent models give up the ghost in even moderately cool temperatures.
BTW, I own every OM-x model except for the "3".
My favorite is the OM-1 for its straightforward user interface and uncluttered display.
The OM-1 (and OM-3) also have the huge advantage of functioning in cold weather; the battery dependent models give up the ghost in even moderately cool temperatures.
Noserider
Christiaan Phleger
Shot extensively with OM in the 80's and early 90's, and was smart enough to buy an OM-3 new when I had a bit of money. Shot with the 2sp, the 3 and the 4T until a poor excuse for a boat captain turned the boat broadside into large swells and swamped the boat, full salt water bath for the OM-3. Luckily my Dillingham bag was closed and it took the wave in stride saving most of my gear, but the OM-3 was toast along with a nice Tamron 2.8 Zoom. By that point (early 90's) the OM-3 was out of production and it was replaced with another 4Ti which was fine, but I really missed the 3, great handling and really fit my style of shooting. I switched to Nikon soon after, most of the news pros I worked with either shot Nikon or were switching fast to Canon AF so I scooped a few excellent deals on MF Nikon gear. Still wish I had kept a few of the OM lenses around, had a few gems....
If I was going to dabble in the OM system again (lottery win!) I without question would search out a 3..
If I was going to dabble in the OM system again (lottery win!) I without question would search out a 3..
D.O'K.
Darren O'Keeffe.
Very interesting Keith. I still prefer the OM1 to the OM3, largely for the reasons you give in explaining your initial reaction, now changed. However I wonder if my lukewarm feelings are mostly owing to the loud "twang" the shutter (or mirror mechanism?) makes on my particular camera: a high-pitched and irritating noise, probably indicating a need for the service I'm too mean to pay for. Or is this a general OM3 problem?
Very glad you've found your holy grail though. Monty Python would be proud...
Regards,
D.
Very glad you've found your holy grail though. Monty Python would be proud...
Regards,
D.
LeicaFoReVer
Addicted to Rangefinders
how about the OM-G model? Till I snapped one from `christmas giveaway 2012` I was not aware of this model. Still I have not received it yet but looking forward to it. I have no lens though
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Well Keith, I really didn't need to read about the OM-3, but it was you writing it up, so I just had to. Damn!
I agree about the OM-40/PC. I used one for awhile when I was selling cameras and had access to the demo unit. The metering was superb even though the body was a bit cheaper than OM-x models.
Maybe I will pare down to two OM-1 bodies, sell off all my other 35mm gear, seek out an OM-3, finally get an M4-P and have that as my 35 kit. Once I was sure of the basic kit, I would sell the redundant OM-1. Together with the Chamonix, I think I would be done. Really, I mean it.
I agree about the OM-40/PC. I used one for awhile when I was selling cameras and had access to the demo unit. The metering was superb even though the body was a bit cheaper than OM-x models.
Maybe I will pare down to two OM-1 bodies, sell off all my other 35mm gear, seek out an OM-3, finally get an M4-P and have that as my 35 kit. Once I was sure of the basic kit, I would sell the redundant OM-1. Together with the Chamonix, I think I would be done. Really, I mean it.
wblynch
Well-known
Damn, my 4T must be faulty. I will check the switch setting.
Thanks guys!
filmfan
Well-known
My OM-4 worked in a 15*F snowstorm for 4 hours and it is battery dependent...
marcr1230
Well-known
+1 for OM-3 love. I've got my original OM-3 , and and OM-4Ti. I view them as the class of the pre-autofocus SLR era. Small and capable, great meter, minimal and efficient controls. Excellent glass.