Is this good price for a chrome OM 1 w/ shoe + 50 1.8?

[not_in_good_order]

A local seller is asking $100.00 for a chrome OM 1 with a hotshoe plus a 50 1.8 lens. I have not yet had a chance to physically inspect the equipment, but if the camera and lens are in decent shape, is this a good price, or should I pass?

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I paid $7 for an OM-1 but then had to do a CLA + add a battery adaptor. The OM-1 needs an MR-9 because without it I found that the readings under low light were way off. You are probably better putting your money into an OM-2 as it will take standard/readily available batteries (SR-44, silver oxide). With that said look up recent posts comparing Nikon F-3HP to OM-2.

 

[not_in_good_order]

Thanks for the quick reply. It sounds like I should pass on this one. Oh, well, I probably don't need to get started with a new system right now anyway. With all the talk of the OM system on here, I'm definitely curious to try it out. The viewfinder magnification is what interests me the most.

 

[jesse1dog]

$100 sounds a lot for an OM-1. I picked up one from eBay for £18 not so long ago, and that was with a 50mm 1.8 lens. Have to be a bit carefull with the OM-1 bodies because the seals setting in the prism can deteriorate to such an extent that 'goo' is visible in the viewfinder and surfaces can be seriously affected. That really means a replacement prism and a CLA while you are at it. Best to ask a seller about this issue before buying.
I agree - leave this one: OM-2 is a better buy.

jesse

 

[Beemermark]

OM-1 or OM-1N? The 1N takes regular silver oxide batteries.

 

[Trius]

If it has received a CLA it is a good buy.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I just picked up an OM1 md with shoe, 50/1.8, case and original boxes in excellent condition for $50.00 CAD. It was in the local Kijji for over a month with no takers. According to a net source there was a time that Olympus did not put the dreaded foam between the housing and prism in the later stages of the OM1 production run. I have no way of verifying this info. My OM1 md meters just fine with a 675 zinc air hearing aid battery and an O ring for a spacer. The 675 doesn't last long but are very cheap. The meter seems to agree with the one in my D700 fairly closely. So I guess I am saying there can be better deals out there if you are patient.

Bob

 

[trip-xa]

I have been looking for a chrome OM-1n as a second body to my black OM-1n and have found that prices on ebay (at least) are all over the map. I foolishly passed on one locally a while back that was about $80 w/lens. I think I would overpay for a good one. Check out zuiko.com and you can see what the high end for a CLA'd OM-1 (not n) can be. Happy hunting. I love these cameras, but please, don't try to buy the 28/2 or 35/2 on ebay, you will just drive up the prices . Ha ha.

 

[ferider]

It really depends. From US 20 for a basic Bargain OM1, to around US 200 for an excellent OM1n with 1.5V batteries, or a nice black copy (see http://www.keh.com/Class-Products/1/OM/2/79321/WG.aspx).

 

[Trius]

I have an OM-1n that needs a CLA. I've been promising to send it off to John, but haven't mainly because I haven't been home long enough to pack and ship it. CLA will be about $140 once it's returned. So it's worth $140 minimum, to me, but a lot more for its purpose and use.

If I had a 40/2 or 35/2 or 85/2 to put on it, it would be priceless. 😀

 

[Keith]

My eBay silver OM-1 with 50mm 1.8 cost me $56.00 from memory and it looks new and works perfectly. My OM-2 with the same lens was much the same price so what he's asking does seem high to me!

It's amazing that a camera as good as the OM-1 can be bought for what is absolutely peanuts considering it's credentials!

 

[Pickett Wilson]

While the OM's are cheap, the price to get them CLA'ed seems to be higher than most other SLR's of that vintage. Don't really know why. I've bought a couple of OM's - an OM1 and an OM2 - over the last year to add to my other OM's, and both, though they look almost new, have erratic meters and shutters. I think many of these cameras need CLA's at this point, so figure that into the price.

 

[Keith]

John at Camtech charges $130.00 for a CLA on an OM-2 and a little less for an OM-1 which seems pretty reasonable to me. Are other SLR's actually cheaper to CLA than this?

It can be relative though I guess ... my black OM-1 cost me a little more than I would have normally paid on ebay (because I really wanted black 😛) and then developed an advance problem along with the meter going south. That camera now owes me close to $300.00 so I have to love it and can never sell it! 😀

 

[bob338]

i bought an om-1 with a 50mm f1.8(made in japan) just yesterday for $60. it's a user with new seals and supposedly a recent cla.
we'll see if it was worth it in a few days...

bob

 

[Chris101]

My "local" used camera store, Collectible Cameras in Phoenix, had very few of the single-digit OMs for quite some time, but lately has restocked with really nice examples. To each his own notion, of course, of whether they are worth it:

http://www.collectiblecameras.com/home.php?cat=800

And, no, I have no stake of any kind in the store, other than hoping it stays in business for a long time. The store stands behind the goods it sells and it's staffed with tremendously knowledgeable people.

I've known about that store for years Dan, but because of the hours they keep, I have never actually been there. Looking through their pages, I think it's worth ditching a day of work soon to go browse their cases! By the way, Bill Struck (of CC) sold me my first serious digital camera back when he worked at Guild.

 

[John Hermanson]

corrected below

 

[John Hermanson]

Sorry, that should have said: I regularly sell OVERHAULED OM-1/1N/ 2/2N bodies for $200 - $250. That's the going rate and after 2 hours labor per body I think they're worth it. If someone says "I'm a student and on a tight budget" I wish them luck on ebay. You get what you pay for. I have tons of OM parts and a big inventory of original OM Zuiko lens elkements. John