giving Olympus OM a try

[carlb]

Ditto

Ditto

Woohoo ... I've received notification that my black OM-1 is on it's way back to me from John Hermanson at Zuiko.com.

Same here, except mine is chrome

Probably more money than I ever thought I would spend on a camera that cost me so little in the first place ...

Likewise, but mine has a truckload of sentimental value so it's money well spent as far as I'm concerned.

Can't wait for the post to arrive

 

[BillBingham2]

.....I'd REALLY like the 1-14 screen layout in a 2-series, but it doesn't exist. The 1-14 screen is like the 1-13 (split image with microprism surround), except that the split image is on the diagonal ... that is DA BOMB, and those suckers do a bomb explosion on your wallet, too. They're scarce.

In the Nikon world it's called a P screen and I agree, nothing better. I think with the 2-X series screens you need to either adjust the meter or adjust your ASA or exposure compensation a bit.

After thinking the HP 800CT was the best form factor ever in a laptop and missing it for 13 years they come out with netbooks. So I've have learned there is always hope. Perhaps Olympus or someone will get this M4/3 thing right.

If I ever go back to an OM system, it will be with a OM-1 and a 1-14 screen.

B2 (;->

 

[Bobbie]

A couple of points that I have not seen mentioned here:

The battery drain problem with the "twos" and "fours" can be alleviated, or even cured by turning the shutter speed dial to "B" or "manual 1/60" position when the camera is not in use.

The auto exposure mode is "off the film" and in real time.
The shutter speed indicated just before you trip the shutter is a guesstimation. The actual exposure can and will change during the exposure to suit changing lighting situations.
Reaction time is super quick. Great for multiple, open flash.





Bobbie.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

A couple of points that I have not seen mentioned here:

The battery drain problem with the "twos" and "fours" can be alleviated, or even cured by turning the shutter speed dial to "B" or "manual 1/60" position when the camera is not in use.

The auto exposure mode is "off the film" and in real time.
The shutter speed indicated just before you trip the shutter is a guesstimation. The actual exposure can and will change during the exposure to suit changing lighting situations.
Reaction time is super quick. Great for multiple, open flash.
Bobbie.

Thats no true about the battery drain, though it is one of the most often repeated myths about the OM system. John Hermanson, RFF member and factory trained Olympus service tech, has stated several times on the Olympus email list that sweeting the shutter speed to one of the mechanical settings has NO effect on the battery drain, which happens no matter what.

 

[ethics_gradient]

Rick,
the original OM's are very nice to look through (particularly in their day, some of the top of range dslrs now are brighter, not the second tear dslrs), but when you first look through the the #2 screens they do knock your eye out! luckily in the OM-3Ti the #2 is standard.

Not just bright, but big:

 

[Trius]

I've never heard of a battery drain problem on an OM-2 unless there was a defect. Have I missed something?

 

[FrankS]

When it rains, it pours.

Today I got lucky on CraigsList again (OM 1 with 50f1.8 for $40),

and on eBay (a black OM 1 with 50f1.4 for $89).

Oh, also a free Vivitar 35mm / 6x6 enlarger with a Nikkor lens.

I love digital cameras for making this all possible.

The 50f1.4 will be sold off. I'm happy with f1.8.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

When it rains, it pours.

Today I got lucky on CraigsList again (OM 1 with 50f1.8 for $40),

and on eBay (a black OM 1 with 50f1.4 for $89).

Oh, also a free Vivitar 35mm / 6x6 enlarger with a Nikkor lens.

I love digital cameras for making this all possible.

The 50f1.4 will be sold off. I'm happy with f1.8.

I'd keep the 1.4 if I were you, or at least try it. Depending on which version of the 1.4 and which version of the 1.8 you got, you may prefer the rendering of the 1.4.

 

[FA Limited]

Over the years I've owned the other major brands of SLR (Nikon F, F3, F4, Canon F-1n, and Minolta XK) but never Olympus.

pentax was never a major brand? 🙁

 

[FrankS]

pentax was never a major brand? 🙁

Oops, my oversight. ME, MG, MX, Spotmatic, K1000

 

[FrozenInTime]

I wish the bodies were black instead of chrome

Sure they come in black :

But I did have to wait for a couple of years for this mint black one to show up.

The viewfinder is a revelation at x0.92 magnification.
I sold my E-3 + 25 f/1.4 and went back to film as I could not see to focus with the AF screen and cropped sensor despite having the best 4/3 viewfinder, as amply shown in ethics_gradient's shots showing the road to Mount Cook.

 

[FrankS]

Hi FIT. Nice camera. I knew they came in black, but the ones I was able to buy were chrome. Yesterday on eBay, I did win this one:

(seller's pic)

 

[Robint]

The 1-14 screen is like the 1-13 (split image with microprism surround), except that the split image is on the diagonal ... that is DA BOMB, and those suckers do a bomb explosion on your wallet.

I recently bought an OM 2n off the bay. Looked so forelorn sitting there, mirror locked up and no bids with three minutes to go. So I bid and won, $19.95 including shipping. Came with shoe 4 and a 1-14 split diagonal screen!!!
Put in batteries and reset mirror and up she fired.🙂

(Sellers Pic)

 

[jesse1dog]

Robint
You certainly got a great bargain there - the screen alone must be worth what you paid.

 

[Trius]

Robin: I have a variety of spare screens. Contrary to what I said earlier, the 1-14 screen is a PITA to use. I will trade you two other screens (for your trouble), pay shipping ... I wouldn't want you to experience any disappointment. 😀 😉

 

[Robint]

Trius, I quite understand! To save you the disappointment of going to all that trouble I will suggest a simple fix. When focusing with a 1-13 screen hold the camera at 45 degrees to the horizontal, voila an equivalent 1-14 (-;

 

[John Hermanson]

Chris is on the ball here. OM-2, 2n, NO battery drain. 2S, 3, 4 have battery drain. Setting the shutter speed dial to B/60 does NOT turn the drain off. All that does is prevent the meter from turning on if the release is pressed partway. The 2S was made for such a short time that Olympus never updated the circuit board. Same goes for the OM-3. The 3Ti had a much improved board with 1/6th the drain of the original. The 4 circuit was improved 2-3 times before the T/Ti came out (Ti was version imported by Olympus in the US, T was sold everywhere else). When Olympus Japan ran out of Ti tops, USA sold T version too. 4 with updated circuit board will turn battery check LED & beep off automatically in about 30 seconds. Battery drain is also about 1/6th that of original 4. John, www.zuiko.com

 

[gliderbee]

You got a good deal for all that.

Which 50? a 1.8 probably? Like Thomas said, there are several very different versions of the Olympus 50/1.8 and there are also several of the f1.4 version as well!

I never realized there were different versions of the 50/1.8 .. Can you explain what the differences are, how to recognize them and which ones are the best ?

thanks,
Stefan.

 

[FrankS]

I believe that the latest version (cconsidered to have the highest resolution) of the 50f1.8 lens has the words, "made in Japan" on the lens ID ring. An early verion of this lens has a silver ring around the nose of the lens.

As an update, I now have 2 black OM1s, a chrome OM1, an OM2, and a black OM4. Lenses: 28f2.8, 28f3.5, 35f2.8, 50f1.8MIJ, 50f1.8 silvernose, 50f1.4 silvernose, 100f2.8, and 135f3.5. Yes, OM is addictive!

2 chrome OM1s with 50f1.8 lenses, 2 3rd party 28mm lenses and an 80-200 zoom; and the 35-70 Zuiko zoom, have been donated to the local high school's film photography program. (Infecting the next generation!)

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The latest version, the last one made, has made in japan written on the ring around the front element. Not japan alone, but the full phrase made in japan. Very early ones have the front of the lens silver. Later the lens is all black, and there are several versions of the black lens, with the aforementioned one that says made in japan on the front the last version. Its the sharpest one and is very good even wide open, though it has very harsh out of focus rendering (bokeh).