Frontman
Well-known
I decided this week that I wanted to get a smaller mechanical SLR camera. I have a Canon F1, and a Nikon F, but these are quite heavy and noisy cameras, and I prefer to use a smaller camera for carrying around the city, or on my commute. I have been shooting an old black-paint Pentax SL with an old Super Takumar 50/1.4 with rather yellowish thorium glass. Unfortunately, one of the shutter curtains tore out of it's lathe, and while trying to get the camera apart to replace the curtain, I discovered that much of the hardware was corroded, and a couple of the screws broke as I was trying to remove them.
Anyway, I went hunting for a new camera, and I decided that I wanted a Pentax MX, which is a camera that I have never owned or used. I found quite a few, but they were dented, had stuck mirrors, or had meter problems. Clean MX cameras go for a lot of money in Japan, and I didn't want to spend the current asking price for one.
Then I found a Nikon FM2N for a good price. The camera looked good, and seemed to work alright, but then I noticed that the tab which engages the AIS slot on the lens was broken off. I passed on it.
Next thought was the Olympus OM. I found what the seller promised to be an original black-paint M1. Upon casual inspection, it did look original, with brass under the black paint. But I have seen a couple original black M1 cameras up close, and the serial number range is very low, and they are marked "sample" on the back of the top cover. This M1 had a later serial number, and no "sample" engraving.
After pretty much giving up for the day, I came across this beauty.
The price was too good to pass up, and the shop tossed in the lens for an extra 3000 yen. The price was low because the original 2-13 focusing screen was scratched up. I bought a non-working OM PC camera from the same shop for 1000 yen, and transplanted the screen into the OM3, it was a perfect match and fit.
I'm looking forward to putting this camera through it's paces this weekend, and seeing how it will do.
Anyway, I went hunting for a new camera, and I decided that I wanted a Pentax MX, which is a camera that I have never owned or used. I found quite a few, but they were dented, had stuck mirrors, or had meter problems. Clean MX cameras go for a lot of money in Japan, and I didn't want to spend the current asking price for one.
Then I found a Nikon FM2N for a good price. The camera looked good, and seemed to work alright, but then I noticed that the tab which engages the AIS slot on the lens was broken off. I passed on it.
Next thought was the Olympus OM. I found what the seller promised to be an original black-paint M1. Upon casual inspection, it did look original, with brass under the black paint. But I have seen a couple original black M1 cameras up close, and the serial number range is very low, and they are marked "sample" on the back of the top cover. This M1 had a later serial number, and no "sample" engraving.
After pretty much giving up for the day, I came across this beauty.
The price was too good to pass up, and the shop tossed in the lens for an extra 3000 yen. The price was low because the original 2-13 focusing screen was scratched up. I bought a non-working OM PC camera from the same shop for 1000 yen, and transplanted the screen into the OM3, it was a perfect match and fit.
I'm looking forward to putting this camera through it's paces this weekend, and seeing how it will do.
