is the olympus OM2 the best analog 35mm camera?

[caila77]

At the local photography club there was a heated discussion between supporters of different 35mm analog camera systems.
In particular supporters of the Olympus OM system and those of the Pentax system.
The subject of the discussion was the Olympus OM2 which is considered by many, including on the web, to be one of the best 35mm analog reflex cameras ever produced. Although everyone knows that it was one of the many truly innovative OMs, I'm asking you: what makes it one of the best 35mm reflex cameras?

 

[BernardL]

Please define best. I bet the OM2 is not the most robust analog SLR. And what is the benefit of being "best" once inoperative?

 

[css9450]

The subject of the discussion was the Olympus OM2 which is considered by many, including on the web, to be one of the best 35mm analog reflex cameras ever produced. Although everyone knows that it was one of the many truly innovative OMs, I'm asking you: what makes it one of the best 35mm reflex cameras?

Just to be clear: Are we speaking of THE best, or just one of the best?

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Well, asking a bunch of photographers what is the best 35mm SLR is like asking Who's On First. For what it is worth, I bought my wife an OM2 back in the day because she loved the small size and so on. When I got the camera, I played around with it for a while and handed it back to her and said "Have fun." I did not like the camera at all and still don't. My personal favorite 35mm camera is a Nikon F3HP. I am sure others have their own personal favorites, too.

 

[skopar steve]

I don't think many people will agree on any particular 35mm analog camera as best, but in the flickr group Olympus OM Crew, The cult of Zuiko the OM2 and OM2n show up very often. Personally I enjoy the OM4TI. Mostly for the meter.

 

[splitimageview]

Best at what? Define 'best' and then we can open up the discussion. 😀

Like anything else photographically, the answer is 'it depends.'

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I worked at a Camera Shop when the OM-1 was new, OM-2 coming out. We had a 15% defect rate on Olympus OM's and steered people towards Pentax and Nikon.
I had the Olympus OM-2P Spot/Program: severe battery drain problems, I gave it away for someone needing parts. This is a common problem with the OM-2 series.
I've found that Olympus makes great lenses, but- mechanically frail. I replaced some way-to-thin springs that were under constant pressure on an Olympus 35SP, bought cheap with the broken mechanism and sold showing the heavy duty replacement at a good price.

 

[WoodallP]

Maybe we could avoid too much heat by adding the word reflex to the thread title as that is clearly what the question is about; at least that way it keeps the RF purists away 🙂

 

[caila77]

I agree that today it is impossible to define which is the best reflex and that there is no absolute best reflex. Today many people on the web talk about the OM2 as an exceptional reflex, and certainly at the time it was innovative (TTL flash for example), but today if I had to recommend a reflex I would not recommend the OM2.
Usually those who speak enthusiastically about the OM2, calling it "the best", refer to the dimensions, the viewfinder or the position of the shutter speed dial.
Personally, I don't like reflex cameras that are too small or even viewfinders with too much information. To the OM2 I would prefer a Konica T3 or a Minolta XE-1; remaining on the small size reflex cameras a ST801 with its lenses. For me, the main reason why I would use an Olympus OM lies in the feeling with the zuiko lenses: compact and with excellent performance.
Despite my thoughts, however, online you can find many enthusiastic reviews on the Olympus OM2 for which I do not find a particular superiority compared to other reflex cameras, although it remains an excellent reflex camera.

 

[Richard G]

1. No
2. It’s the Nikon F3HP, for argument’s sake.
3. I have an OM2n. And an OM4. I inherited these from my father. I only used the OM2n. I agree the body is in some ways too small. I find the body too shallow but the light compact lenses work well with that. The metering is good and in bright light you get perfect exposures even if you forget to turn the camera on. I don’t think I would buy one now. It is light. I saw a young woman in our art gallery last year with a Minolta SRT 101. There were love affairs with that camera. Get something solid and serviceable, depending on what your commitment is. In Australia film camera prices have sky rocketed. It’s no longer the case of grabbing one and if it fails buy another. And once you’re three lenses in you’re committed more to the chosen system.

 

[d_c]

If you ask ten photographers for their opinion you shouldn't be suprised if you get at least fifteen different answers.

 

[BillBingham2]

I don't think there is a Best but rather a top 5. But not to push this thread down a bad path, Nikon F2 is my favorite. OM-1n or 2 is in the top 5, but so is the Leicaflex SL2.

 

[Shab]

Is the OM-2n the best SLR film camera? I don't think so, BUT I LOVE my OM-1 and OM-1n cameras... and about all the Zuiko lenses.

Sometimes I think I would like to use a F3 HP, or a Pentxa SLR (with their takumars), or the F4 that I saw in a shop some weeks ago... or... but in those moments I use to take one of the OM-1 and then my soul is in pace. 🙂

I'm not a war photographer, nor a professional photographer, nor a landscape photographer, nor... yes, I'm a very "soft" photographer and my camera and lenses don't need to be SO robust.

At the same time, the lightness is important to me.

And their viewfinder... soooo good.

And what I get from them isn't so bad (I think so). Here you have some examples:















So, when I tell to my family I'm thinking on geting a Nikon F... my sons and daughter tell me:



So... the best camera is the one you have. 🙂

I hope I haven't bored you with my post...

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Olympus, Pentax... no cigar.
Nikon is most reasonable as mechanical only. AF should be same or Canon EOS EF.

 

[agentlossing]

Lot of K1000 users out there who would like to disagree with the OM2 hypothesis.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

One of the greats, of course, but with its own particular limitations; such is the case with any camera or system. But first, let's define our terms. What is meant by "best"? Best for what?

 

[agentlossing]

One of the greats, of course, but with its own particular limitations; such is the case with any camera or system. But first, let's define our terms. What is meant by "best"? Best for what?

There's the rub.

 

[Darinwc]

"Best" is dependent on what is being measured. And there are many different uses and things to measure for a camera system. So by the very nature of the question, no single camera is the best.

The Olympus OM2 main advantage is it's excellent through the lens, live during exposure, off the film metering system. This works well for everything from flash high speed photography, macro in and out of the studio, and low light and astro photography with exposures up to 2 minutes.

Consider that proper exposure was very important to professionals at the time, especially considering you didn't know the result until you develop the film.

 

[splitimageview]

It's the best automatic exposure off-the-film center-weighted metering SLR for Olympus OM Zuiko lenses. No doubt.

 

[agentlossing]

It's the best automatic exposure off-the-film center-weighted metering SLR for Olympus OM Zuiko lenses. No doubt.

There we go!