A couple of questions on the Olympus OM-G/OM-20

[KoNickon]

I got an OM-G (OM-20 is the same camera) some time ago but have only been checking it out closely in the last couple of days, particularly in comparison with the OM-10, which I understand the G/20 superseded. Ostensibly the G/20 is improved over the OM-10. But a couple of things have me puzzled:

First, I can't tell how the Manual mode on the G/20 is supposed to work. The camera, unlike the OM-10, has a shutter speed setting dial at the base of the lens mount, just like the OM-1 and -2. I know the OM-10 has a whole separate Manual attachment. But I can't see how setting the camera in Manual mode appears to make any difference in exposure. Certainly there is no indication in the viewfinder readout, when in Manual, that changing the shutter speed makes any difference. I'm used to a viewfinder display that shows the speed I set, but also displays what the meter suggests. All the G-20's finder shows, as far as I can tell, is the shutter speed recommended based on the set aperture.

So I guess I need to know (or double check) what shutter speed I had set? The manual that came with the camera does not explain this. In fact, reading the manual, the Manual mode would seem to be nothing more than an automatic exposure compensation setting (like the +1.5 setting the XA has).

Second, I have an OM Winder 2 that I believe came with the OM-G. But this winder doesn't seem to work with the camera, though it works perfectly with the OM-10. There is an extra electrical contact on the bottom of my OM-G as compared with the OM-10. So is there another model of winder (or a later version of the Winder 2) that works with the G/20?

Thanks!

 

[KoNickon]

Giving this a bump, in case anyone missed it.

 

[rfaspen]

Wish I could help. I gave away or sold nearly all of my OM kit: OM-1n, OM-2n, OM-4 and many nice lenses except for one (the 90/2.0 Macro). They were nice cameras all, and if the OM-10 or OM-20 is half as nice.....cool! I heard/read somewhere that the OM-10 was a less expensive option to the single-digit versions. That could be totally wrong thought (it was on "the internet").

I'm guessing you have some lenses for this beast?

Best of luck. Someone here must know more about your OM.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

My first 35mm SLR was an OM-G; so I can help here!

The OM-G has a pretty crappy viewfinder display for manual exposure. Basically, it tells you what shutter speed it recommends you use for the aperture you have set and the light the meter measures. It does not tell you what speed you actually have set, nor does it tell you how far off your exposure is. The system is not very accurate since it only displays in one stop increments (since shutter speeds can only be changed in one stop increments). That means your exposure could be off by as much as half a stop (the display in the finder it rounds up or down to the nearest full stop from the correct exposure).

These were not very good cameras; made largely of plastic and not very reliable. I wore out two of them when I was a teen (mine and my dad's). I would not buy one today. John Hermanson, the OM repair guru in the US, will not service them anymore. If I were you, I would return it, and try to find an OM-2n if you want a good, reliable, repairable OM system camera. The OM-1 is good, too; but manual only and requires working around the fact that it was designed for mercury batteries. The OM-2 uses modern silver oxide batteries. The OM-2n is the best version of the OM-2; the original OM-2 is also hard to get repaired and less reliable. Fortunately, the OM-2n is very common.

Regarding batteries, make sure that you use silver-oxide batteries in the OM-2n or the OM-G; do not use alkalines. These cameras do not do well with alkalines and tend to lock up randomly when using them.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The Winder 2 works for the OM-G, I used one with mine all the time. Your OM-G likely has something wrong with it if the winder works on your OM-10.

 

[KoNickon]

Thanks, Chris -- actually I have had a number of the OM-1 and -2 series; these two (the G and the 10) I had bought on a whim some time ago. Thanks also for clarifying what the G's finder displays, and for the recommendation to stay away from the alkalines.

I have a lot of Zuiko lenses for these cameras, plus several third party lenses (including two Star-Ds that had come with the OM-G).