I've gone and bought an Olympus.

Pfreddee

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In the suburbs of Dillwyn, Virginia
It's an OM-1n, with a 50mm lens (Sorry, not sure which Zuiko iteration it is) for $150.00 from my local full-service camera store. This is a first for me. I want a small 3-M camera for B/W photography, and this one caught my eye. It's heavily brassed, so I take that to mean it was well-loved by its former owner(s). I'm looking forward to taking it out for a spin next week. Do you other Olympus owners have any words of wisdom about this camera?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)

PS. A 3-M camera is, of course, a metal, mechanical, manual camera.
 
Congratulations on getting this wonderful SLR. All I can say is enjoy ... if it fits with you you'll never need any other SLR system. 🙂
 
Just enjoy it.
Take lots of pictures, and enjoy the huge viewfinder.
It's that simple and that nice, that's why a lot of people love it.
 
OM-1 has everything you need and none of the rubbish that you don't. I loved mine.

I think the consensus around these parts is that, because of the quality, size and mode of use, it's an honorary rangefinder.
 
You'll love the viewfinder and maybe the small size, too. The glass is fantastic and the cameras are quiet. An under-appreciated gem.
 
Used my OM-1 for the first time in a while the other day ... fell in love all over again! 😛
 
In Olympus OM 1 one can see at a glance, when looking from above just before looking in the finder, all parameters:
ISO set, speed and of course F number and distance setting on the lens (plus the focal length in green if it's a Zuiko).

In Leica world, only M5 has this facility ( Oh, maybe a M2 to M4-x with Leicameter MR, with ASA/DIN smallish markings).

Enjoy.

Arnaud
 
In Olympus OM 1 one can see at a glance, when looking from above just before looking in the finder, all parameters:
ISO set, speed and of course F number and distance setting on the lens (plus the focal length in green if it's a Zuiko).

A tool you are intimately familiar with will feel most natural. I can think of other cameras that allow top plate viewing of all these parameters.

Can you meter as well? A Contaflex Super can do all you say plus metering on top plate and in viewfinder. Plus the linked shutter speed and aperture controls which mean you can quickly change aperture or speed while maintaining correct exposure.
 
A couple of weeks ago I got two OM-2S Programs , one OM-1, three 50mm (one 1.4 and two 1.8's) one 28/3.5, one 100/3.5, one 35-70/4 and one 300/3:5 from a neighbor who was cleaning out his house. "hey Bob, you want this old gear? Take it or I'll give it away somewhere else."

I asked if I could think about for a couple of days........NOT! With everything I've read here I told him I'd pay him for it but he refused. 🙂

I just got batteries in the cameras and they all work, the OM-2's are plenty accurate when compared to my D700 meter and a Pentax Spotmatic. The OM-1 works but I have an alkaline battery in there. I'll be taking it out as I've read they can damage the camera's meter. That and the voltage falloff are NG. I'll be getting a C.R.I.S. adapter for it.

What lovely, solid, compact cameras and the viewfinder's are fantastic. The
lenses are solid and focusing feels smooth as butter.

You Zuikoholics ain't been lying! I'm looking forward to getting to know these guys.
__________________
Bob Smith...traveling backwards in time photographically...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/high_green_and_clear/
 
A couple of weeks ago I got two OM-2S Programs , one OM-1, three 50mm (one 1.4 and two 1.8's) one 28/3.5, one 100/3.5, one 35-70/4 and one 300/3:5 from a neighbor who was cleaning out his house. "hey Bob, you want this old gear? Take it or I'll give it away somewhere else."

I asked if I could think about for a couple of days........NOT! With everything I've read here I told him I'd pay him for it but he refused. 🙂

I just got batteries in the cameras and they all work, the OM-2's are plenty accurate when compared to my D700 meter and a Pentax Spotmatic. The OM-1 works but I have an alkaline battery in there. I'll be taking it out as I've read they can damage the camera's meter. That and the voltage falloff are NG. I'll be getting a C.R.I.S. adapter for it.

What lovely, solid, compact cameras and the viewfinder's are fantastic. The
lenses are solid and focusing feels smooth as butter.

You Zuikoholics ain't been lying! I'm looking forward to getting to know these guys.
__________________
Bob Smith...traveling backwards in time photographically...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/high_green_and_clear/


What a great kit to fall into your lap ... and great that you were able to see the immense appeal of this system and why it has so many fans. 🙂
 
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