A solution for the slippery little Olympus OM (never said it was a cheap solution)

[Keith]

I love my OM-1 (and my OM-2) but with even average sized hands I find the camera extremely difficult to hold comfortably and safely ... all I can say is it must be a challenge with larger hands! When whatever his name was, Maitani I think, designed the camera like most things that came out of Japan from that era they seemed to cater to the average Japanese physic! Also he was trying to make the camera similar to the Leica M dimensions, or so I've read.

I remember a few threads back Roland was about to get some type of side grip from Japan ... I'd be interested to hear how he went with that! In the meantime I've been shoehorning my OM-1 into a Luigi M grip case which does great service on a few other cameras so why not the OM ... after all it's supposedly within the Leica's dimensions and I've always been a big fan of Luigi's grip cases ... I've now noticed he does a cheaper version of this style of case!

It transforms the camera for me and has made it nearly ergonomically perfect ... the strap lugs don't line up with the Leica case cutouts but as I seldom use any type of strap that's not an issue ... I reckon it looks OK too!

[edit] ... I meant to add, anyone thinking of doing this you need to put about half a centimeter of packing in the bottom of the case.

 

[ferider]

The grip I got is too big (i.e. the baseplate) for the OM, Keith. I'm using it on a Nikon F, now.

BTW, if you get a Luigi case with grip for the Bessa R[23]*, it also will fit the OMs strap lugs. Still there will be a difference on the back of the case, i.e. the indentation for the eye piece is not in the center, obviously.

I'm sure Luigi will make you a custom one if you ask.

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[xayraa33]

Luigi needs to make these custom fit for the OMs.

there is an untapped market for making an OM camera very holdable, for people with large hands.

 

[Keith]

The grip I got is too big (i.e. the baseplate) for the OM, Keith. I'm using it on a Nikon F, now.

BTW, if you get a Luigi case with grip for the Bessa R[23]*, it also will fit the OMs strap lugs. Still there will be a difference on the back of the case, i.e. the indentation for the eye piece is not in the center, obviously.

I'm sure Luigi will make you a custom one if you ask.

Cheers,

Roland.

I'm pretty happy with this arrangement and I'm not about give Luigi any more money ... I've been using it for a little while now and it's good to not go overboard with his cases 'cause as beautiful as they are, they ain't cheap. Much to my delight this case also works OK with my Nikon S2.

Share the love! 😛

 

[BillBingham2]

Having somewhat fat hands too it's only part of the OM that never really felt right. While I love carrying it, holding it for a long time never really felt as good as my Nikkormat. My right hand just felt cramped. My style and subjects do not require doing this as much so I'm still in love with the OM. While a winder would add a battery pack, I wonder what Tom A could do......

B2 (;->

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I find the OM's much more pleasant to use with the winder attached. But, man, that Luigi case looks nice!

 

[BillBingham2]

What about that guy over in China the Head Bartender did some stuff with? While the quality might not have been to the Luigi quality cost was a lot lower.

B2 (;->

 

[shadowfox]

OM-3 and OM-4 has a little hole on the side of the body for a detachable grip.

Just in case someone's considering all the OM-family.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

OM-3 and OM-4 has a little hole on the side of the body for a detachable grip.

Just in case someone's considering all the OM-family.

That grip is hard to find and sells for big money. Usually about $50 for that little piece of plastic. I have one on each of my OM-4T bodies and wouldn't go without it, it really makes the camera so much easier to hold. I have small hands and still prefer the grip.

 

[bobomoon]

The Bessa R grip I had fit the OM body. Not perfect but pretty close.