Help with Olympus OM-4

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Pascal

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I recently purchased an Olympus OM-4 so I may use some of my favorite olympus lenses on a body it was actually designed for. I have been using a few olympus lenses with adapters on my Canon and Olympus 4/3rds digital SLR's and felt the urge to get back to film.

Can someone point out where I may get an instruction manual for the camera - for starters.

Does Olympus provide any service on the OM-4. Does anyone else repair these if needed.

What kind of focus screens are available for it and who/where can I get a focus screen with split/microprism.


I am planning on using the Olympus OM 21mm f2.0, OM 40mm f2.0, OM 50mm f1.2, f1.4, f1.8, 35mm PC, and 90mm f2.0 lenses on this body. In addition, I am also looking forward to trying out some of the Tamron SP lenses on the OM-4.

Any information or advice to utilize this body to it's full potential would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'm not sure about availability of OM-4 spares but there are still specialist Olympus repairers here in the UK. There's a lot of useful Olympus OM information at:

http://esif.cjb.net/

I remember reading about an issue with some of the earlier Tamron Adaptall adapters that have a screw which can foul the small black button on the OM-4 lens mount that tells the camera it has a lens attached. Being plastic, it's easy to shear the point off the button, rendering it inoperable. It's on the web somewhere but I can't recall where.

Hope that's of some help.
 
Pascal,

Have look at this link:

http://zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~rwesson/esif/om-sif/bodygroup/om4.htm

At the bottom of the page are links to PDF's of the manual. And it's a great site overall for OM users.

Services can be done by the Zuikologist who frequents this site, Trius, Shadowfox or Jesse1Dog can probably point you in the right direction.

Try the dreaded Ebay for screens.

Above all enjoy your new camera.
 
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Are you sure you're not just posting to show-off your OM lenses? ;)

That is some collection!

For CLA forget Olympus, try zuiko.com

Focusing screen-wise, what do you have now? split/microprism screens are interchangeable between OM-4 and OM-2, so you can get a really cheap, non-working OM-2 to get the screen out of it (probably cheaper than buying a brand new screen).

The deluxe version of the screen is the 2-13 which makes the viewfinder even brighter. But these are rare, and quite expensive.
 
Here's a quick link to the explanation of the potential Tamron problem:

http://olympus.dementia.org/Hardware/PDFs/OMTamronMount.pdf

I've only ever seen the later mounts and had no problems with them but this avoids a possible issue.

Early OM-4s (and the OM2-SP/OM-40 of the same vintage) are notorious for draining batteries rapidly and later ones have modified electronics to solve the problem - mine does it but it's no great hardship to take out the batteries when the camera isn't in use. (There'll be many different opinions on this issue of course!)

They also have some sort of double mirror system which makes the shutter a little noisier than the earlier electronic models (I'm thinking of the OM2n here) and the wind-on isn't as smooth either but these are minor issues, it's a very nice camera - enjoy!
 
shadowfox said:
Are you sure you're not just posting to show-off your OM lenses? ;)

That is some collection!
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ha..ha...Not really. To show-off, the Zeiss or Leica's would have a much bigger wow factor :eek: .... and I have seen what some RFF members have posted.... left me speechless for a while.


These lenses took a while to get - camera shows, fleabay, old stock hunts at camera stores around the country, and the best part is I paid less than a 1/3rd of what they go for used on ebay. For instance, found a brand new 50mm f1.4 for $80. The 50mm f1.8 was $20 on ebay and tack sharp. The 21mm f2 was $350 and it did not look like it was ever used. These are the one's I love to use with my full frame canon digital SLR's and now they are being put to use on my Olympus 4/3rds system.

Ever since I sold my Contax G2 kit, I have been itching to go back to film. The OM4 should relieve some of that itch :D
 
It seems OMs are very popular at RFF, and here's another Zuikoholic... Welcome Pascal :D

Screen 2-13 is really a pure pleasure to use. U found one brand new just a few weeks ago for €35 and bought it immediately.

Other than that you probably already have everything you need - OM-4, a bunch of great lenses. Just buy some film and go use it :)
 
You'll love your OM-4. I have two of the newer OM-4T bodies and wouldn't trade them for anything. The standard OM screen, which originally came with your camers was the 1-13. That's a split-image/microprism screen. Its the same screen usied in the older OM-1 and OM-2 cameras. The 2-13 a lot of the guys here mentioned was an optional screen you could buy that was just like the standard 1-13, but CONSIDERABLY brighter. If you do any low-light work, you will want a 2-13. In the USA they typically go for $100 or so; don't know what they sell for in Europe but as has been said they're not common. I have one in each of my OM-4T bodies.

Aside from the 2-13 screen, my advice is learn to use the spotmetering system, it is incredible. I never use the centerweighted meter and have been so spoiled by the accuracy of the OM-4T spot that I have quit using my other 35mm cameras because thier averaging meters are so kludgy to use (in my opinion)
 
Hmm, I read somewhere about the 2-13 screen, that it needs to have the tab filed/ground down to fit in earlier OMs (OM1 for instance), but I'm still looking for one:)

The spot meter on my OM2SP is fantastic, AFAIK it works similarly to the OM4 (not Ti) and does go through batteries.

Some nice lenses you got there :) What film will you be using ?
 
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Peter_Jones said:
Hmm, I read somewhere about the 2-13 screen, that it needs to have the tab filed/ground down to fit in earlier OMs (OM1 for instance), but I'm still looking for one:)

The spot meter on my OM2SP is fantastic, AFAIK it works similarly to the OM4 (not Ti) and does go through batteries.

Some nice lenses you got there :) What film will you be using ?
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Just be aware, that if you put a 2 series screen into an OM-1(n) or OM-2(n), you will have to have the light meter adjusted to compensate for the increased brightness. I have an OM-1 setup this way (with a 2-13 screen) and it is truly nice.:)
 
You can also get a Beattie intenscreen for the OM cameras which may even be brighter than the 2-13. These are still in production, AFAIK. Again, you would need to get the meter recalibrated.
 
You might like the 1-10 grid screen for the 35pc. I use it for the 24pc and it helps especially for architecture. I'm waiting for a Beattie screen for my om4 right now! Good luck.
 
Chris101 said:
Indeed! And the standard screen in an OM1 is so bright, it hurts your eyes!
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Yeah, when there's sun. But when I'm doing my bar shots w/ the 21/2, 35/2.8, etc. and don't have a 50/1.2, I'll take every bit of brightness I can. :p
 
I have and OM 1n, OM 2 and the OM 4.
The 4 is very nice, but mine does eat batteries if put away for a couple of months. Removing batteries after a day's shoot isn't that much of a pain with a nylon coin made from a paint scraper. A metal coin will really nick the soft brass battery cover up quickly.

The OM 1 is the best choice, battery adapters are readily available, but if it's run what what you brung go for the OM 2.

Zuiko lenses can be Cadillac, and the best ones really hold their price. The best are still better than some of the best lenses made today, and they somehow have an 80's Leica look to them.
 
Dan: I don't know if you can get a circuit upgrade for your OM-4 along with a CLA or not. The later OM-4 bodies had the same circuit as the OM-4t, which fixed the battery drain problem.
 
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