nobbylon
Veteran
great camera, I use a pair of OM1's along with my M's. Zuiko's can still be had for great prices. It won't last though with all the attention they're getting. I got my 24, 50, 85 and 180 from members here and they're great lenses.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I've always been fascinated by the shutter speed adjustment. For me it works perfectly having it behind the lens and metering manually is very fast when you're not groping around on the top of the camera for a small dial. I remember in a previous thread ages ago a few people said they didn't like it ... how do you guys feel about it?
ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
My favorite lens is the 28-48 zoom.
I don't use it much, and it's the only zoom I own, but there are days and situations where it works so very well.
I don't use it much, and it's the only zoom I own, but there are days and situations where it works so very well.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I leanred photography on an OM so to me it is more 'normal' than the traditional shutter speed dial on top of the camera.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Chris, if you get a chance, try Minolta XD-11, that's the *only* Minolta body that is not "boring" to me, it has the precise feeling and the meter is very-very good, it's worth having just to use those excellent Rokkor glasses
Pentax bodies, as you say are nothing special, the LX may be cool,
but I'd rather try out alternative bodies like from Ricoh, Fujica, Chinon, they are a lot of fun.
Canons... I still haven't got anything to say... I tried to find anything out of the ordinary about their stuff, but ...
Another brand that is worth having if it's just for the glasses are the Konica AR. Some of their lenses are beyond nice. So far, their best body (IMHO) is the Autoreflex T4 (not TC).
ChrisN
Striving
And the Pentax focus ring turns the wrong way. One thing I do appreciate about the Pentax LX is the very bright viewfinder, in marginal conditions. I've been comparing the OM2n with the LX, with 24/2.8 OM vs 24/2.8 Pentax, and 50/1.8 vs 50/1.7, and in dim light the LX viewfinder is noticably brighter and easier to focus. I much prefer the OM2n controls, especially for exposure compensation (on the LX it requires two actions to set comp; on the OM a single action). The OM2 is quieter of course.
Keith, come down to Canberra and we can compare your OM2 with 50/1.2 with my LX with 50/1.2.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
And the Pentax focus ring turns the wrong way. One thing I do appreciate about the Pentax LX is the very bright viewfinder, in marginal conditions. I've been comparing the OM2n with the LX, with 24/2.8 OM vs 24/2.8 Pentax, and 50/1.8 vs 50/1.7, and in dim light the LX viewfinder is noticably brighter and easier to focus. I much prefer the OM2n controls, especially for exposure compensation (on the LX it requires two actions to set comp; on the OM a single action). The OM2 is quieter of course.
Keith, come down to Canberra and we can compare your OM2 with 50/1.2 with my LX with 50/1.2.
The OM-2 focusing screen is dim, because it is a 1970's era screen, even in OM-2 cameras made in the early 80's. They couldn't make them brighter because the manual exposure sensor reads from the screen. The OM-4, 4T, 3, 3Ti, and 2s models had an optional bright screen available (the 2-13 screen). I have them in both my 4T bodies and it is considerably easier to focus in dim light than the regular 1-13 screen found in the OM-2.
ChrisN
Striving
A late question for you, Chris C, if you see this. I understand the 2-13 screen will make the viewfinder brighter, but that it will make the meter indication inaccurate in the OM2 and OM2n. Would that matter if the camera was used in auto-exposure? I believe that once the shutter is open the camera meters off the film rather than using the meter reading that was indicated before the shutter was pressed.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
That's right, autoexposure will work fine, though the shutter speed indication in the viewfinder will be innacuarate in auto mode, the camera will use the right shutter speed because the viewfinder needle gives an approximation of the speed that will be used. Final determination is done by a pair of meter cells in the mirror box floor that read off the shutter curtain or the film.
nrb
Nuno Borges
I began with an OM10, but soon got an OM2, an OM1 and an OM4.
The lenses are quite nice too.
The lenses are quite nice too.