How good is the OM-3 ... who has one here?

[David Murphy]

I think every hardcore SLR lover gets OM-3 fever at some point in life. Mine hit when they were simply unavailable anywhere. After a couple of years, I slaked my mechanical/titanium thirst with a Contax S2: suitable for my C/Y lenses, and a self-timer. 🙂

Ah yes the Contax S2 -- expensive yet intriguing! I think there is a least one Yashica body with a C/Y mount that is fully manual and inexpensive on the used market - the Zeiss C/Y lenses appeal to me, but I've not yet indulged in this!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Can someone please post a link to some info on those 2 series Olympus focus screens? Are they in Om-3s or just the OM-3ti?

Marty

They came in the 3Ti but were sold by themselves to those wishingto put them in the other cameras they fit in (The OM 3, 4, 4T, and 2S Program). I have a 2-13 in all of my OM bodies and would not part with them for anything.

 

[maitani]

Hi I'm new here

I have been through this whole OM thing as well.. and I came to the conclusion that my black OM-3 is the last camera I’d ever part with, period.

I have (or had) basically all from the 1 to the 4 at some point, some of them even in different variations, (N's SP's old, very old ones, MD's...), I’ve ended up selling almost all of them, only keeping the OM-4ti black (for TTL flash, long exposures, auto-mode etc.), and the OM-3 for the pure 'full mechanical reliability' and feeling (I still have a om2n in the drawer, but this one gets used rather seldom. I also sold my om3ti because I got an excellent offer an I made some profit out of it. I would like to own an original M-1 one day, but I'm not in a hurry..)

The OM-3 Never let(s) me down, no battery drain issues here (unlike some older OM-4, or OM2SP’s…) which I had experienced personally)

The black 3 is (in my opinion) the best looking and sleekest of all OM’s, I like it so much because it's so reduced to the essentials, from the gravure, lovely full black colour, even the self-timer has been left off, one mode only MANUAL (and a battery check position of course). yes it looks even better than the 3ti which unfortunately come with those 'darkgrey' top- and baseplate only. but this is just a preference thing. I don’t flash in 99% of the cases, so I don't miss the TTL either.

It’s the camera I use on long trips, I can use it with a handheld meter if I have no spare batteries, an additional advantage is the superb metering system and a the (for me) really useful 1/2000 mechanical shutter speed, as I'd like
to shoot on the edge wide open even in daylight for portrait work.

I rather say, get one as long as you can. It will fit your 50 1.2 perfectly.

 

[nikku]

As the late Charleton Heston liked to say "From my cold, dead hands . . ." 😀

They came in the 3Ti but were sold by themselves to those wishingto put them in the other cameras they fit in (The OM 3, 4, 4T, and 2S Program). I have a 2-13 in all of my OM bodies and would not part with them for anything.

Wow, such strong feelings! I had a 2-4 screen modified to fit my OM-2n, but found it nearly unusable due to the loss of contrast because the screen was so bright! The 1-4n screen is much more useful in an OM-1 or OM-2. Now that I actually have an OM-4T, I wouldn't mind using a 2 series screen, but because almost all of my lenses are f2 or faster, it's not strictly necessary.

 

[geotrupede]

-Best spot metering ever (in fact it is selective multi spot, you pick the points and you can see each value and average... wow).
-Mechanical shutter
-Solid metal body
Go go go!
G

PS I have an old OM4, still a great camera.

 

[Traut]

I just picked up a very clean OM-3 with 50mm 1.4 for $580 on the bay. I thought it was a fairly good deal compared to what the OM-3ti is fetching. Do you think I did OK?

I have a lot of glass including the 90 f2 macro and the 18mm which I haven't shot in years. Its strange when you have the time to shoot a lot you don't have the funds to buy your dream cameras - then later in life you you have the $$ but never have the time.



Thanks

 

[nikku]

I just picked up a very clean OM-3 with 50mm 1.4 for $580 on the bay. I thought it was a fairly good deal compared to what the OM-3ti is fetching. Do you think I did OK?

I have a lot of glass including the 90 f2 macro and the 18mm which I haven't shot in years. Its strange when you have the time to shoot a lot you don't have the funds to buy your dream cameras - then later in life you you have the $$ but never have the time.



Thanks

That's a fair deal on the OM-3. Oh, and if you ever want some of those underused lenses to see some use, just send 'em my way! 😀