O.T. - Olympus OM-4T

[mw_uio]

Today, I looked in a shop and found a Olympus OM-4T in champange in excellent shape, a slight dent on the prism. Inside super clean. The lens on it is a 50mm F1.4. Glass is super clean. The price on it for $400 USD. Is this a good deal, or is this high? It is so tempting, yet $400 on some film would go a long way also.....should I?

Cheers

Mark
Quito, EC

 

[zuikomatt]

I received my OM4Ti today, price was 177Euro
😀

 

[Trius]

Mark: How big or deep is the dent? It's not a totally bad price, and assuming the lens is in very good condition or better, that adds a bit of value. The champagne bodies don't bring as much as the black bodies, since the finish doesn't wear as gracefully as the black paint models.

I would see if they would take less. You are right that the $400 would buy a lot of film ... or be a good start on an RF. 😀

 

[zuikomatt]

After playing little bit with my new OM4Ti, I discovered, that I like it very much, seems to be a great camera.
My perception of it is little different from OM1 and OM2, not exactly shure why🙂
Is 400USD to good price? I think, is worth it, but you can wait and find better price,I'm shure you will.

 

[freeranger]

I'm just about to have a pair of OMs (1 and 2n) cla'd. Don't suppose you know anyone in B'lava, zuikomatt, who would do a competent job? From searching the web there is a guy in Hamburg who is well recommended, but if I could get it done locally I would. I'd love an OM-4. especially at 177 EUR. Mark, B+H have an OM4T in B+ condition for 700 EUR, so from a European's perspective, yours looks like quite a good buy.

 

[mw_uio]

The lens is mint, smooth focus. The dent on the prism is so minimal. It is a light camera compared to a F3. As you see my gear listed , I really do not need anything. My F3 is my favourite and I like all the features it has and the 80/20 metering I like alot. I really think some film would be better or a 50 for my F3.

Cheers

Mark
Quito, EC

 

[back alley]

or perhaps a rangefinder?

😉

 

[scottgee1]

I'll add my two pesos to the discussion.

Last year, I started a thread here based on the question "Which SLR is most like a rangefinder?" We had a lot of fun with it and I learned a lot.

First, Maitani, who designed the OM series, was an avowed Leica enthusiast and brought that sensibility to his products. See:

http://olympus.dementia.org/eSIF/om-sif/concepts.htm

for an overview.

I ended up acquiring an OM4T. It's a wonderful camera in many ways. With an Olympus '2' series or Maxwell screen, the viewfinder is splendid -- big, clear and easy to focus, even with eyeglasses! Yet the camera itself is quite compact. Spot and mult-spot metering can be done with the touch of a button. Or you can choose to set the highlight/shadow on a particular tone. In a hurry? Set it to automatic, choose your aperture and shoot away.

As to price, I certainly don't know the market in Quito. That would be a reasonable price for one in the U.S. in the condition you describe.

Have fun!/ScottGee1

 

[sevres_babylone]

The OM-4T is my favourite OM. I have the OM-1, and had an OM-2 till it broke. I can't say whether $400 is worth it. But I would not value the lens too highly, firstly because there tend to be a glut of 50s around, and secondly because there are variations in the 50s which Zuiko experts could describe better than me. I know I like my 1.8s better than my 1.4, especially a newer one I picked up for $39 new at one point, and there isn't that much of a speed difference. In other words, try and figure out you might be wiling to pay for a body, and don't sweat the lens. I would wonder what happened to the camera to get a dent in it. Maybe it was one of Eugene Richards'. I remember reading that he loved the OMs, but rugged as they are, had some problems when people slammed doors on them.

 

[grizzz]

I have an OM2n and love it. I would also love a 4. Since you have an F3 you and need a 50 I would suggest getting the 50 for it, buying a nice Canon Canonet and some film. Your F3 will be happy and you will have film for both 🙂.

 

[mw_uio]

Yeah that does sound better.....does a Canon Canonet have 'aperture proirity'
functionality? I am going to back off on the OM-4T, look for a 50 for the F3 possibly, but get some more film. I do know in a corner of the city that there is a black Yashica 35 Electo GT, but I need a adapter to put in a normal battery in it to test it.....will see what happens.....but in need of some film...more chrome.


Cheers 😉

Mark
Quito, EC

 

[rpinchbeck]

OK, really, really dumb question. Time sort of stopped for me with regards to the Oly system at the OM2sp. What is the difference between the OM4, 4T, and 4Ti?

Cheers,

Russ Pinchbeck

 

[rpinchbeck]

Material and color, basically. The T and Ti models have titanium covers.
The T is champagne, the Ti black. Om4 came only in black ? (not sure about
that).

Check out www.keh.com they have all three, currently (with pictures).

This is my T:

Got it last week as a sibbling to my OM-1 and 2.

Cheers,

Roland.

Thanks Roland,

Even though I am curious about the OM4/4T/4Ti, I'm still a OM2s kind of dude. No doubt the 4 has a whole bag full of usefull goodies, I just need the spot meter capability of the OM2s in manual mode. More than that would be just, well, folly.

Cheers,

Russ

 

[plummerl]

Material and color, basically. The T and Ti models have titanium covers.
The T is champagne, the Ti black. Om4 came only in black ? (not sure about
that).

...

Cheers,

Roland.

Actually Roland, to be accurate, the T version was only available in the USA. The Ti version was for the rest of the world. Both the T and Ti can be found in black and champagne. The only difference is the label.

 

[back alley]

i think my next body will be the 2s.
one spot reading is enough for me.

 

[Trius]

Differences between the OM-2S(SP) and OM-4:

"This camera can be regarded as a link between the OM-2n and the OM-4, or as a semi-professional, cheaper version of the OM-4 targeted at the serious amateur, because Program Mode and slower Motor Drive operation aren't exactly features professionals are waiting for. Compared to the OM-4 it misses the 1/2000 sec. shutter speed, the 4 minutes Auto Exposure (2 minutes on the OM-2SP) and the sophisticated multi-spot measuring. Spot measuring on the OM-2SP has been simplified to single spot measuring that is linked to Manual Mode operation. Center-weighted metering is not available in Manual Mode."

In addition, the OM-2S is regarded as a bit less reliable, long-term, than the OM-4.

 

[kshapero]

Actually Roland, to be accurate, the T version was only available in the USA. The Ti version was for the rest of the world. Both the T and Ti can be found in black and champagne. The only difference is the label.

You are correct but the T and Ti had better battery retention. So there actually is a real difference.
Had a Black OM4T. It was stolen in 1992. DRAT!

 

[Trius]

More than a few OM-4s were updated to the T/Ti circuitry, reducing battery drain to the same level as the T/Ti. On an OM-4, if you turn the battery check feature on (using fresh batteries) and leave it on, the check light will go out in 30 seconds if it has the updated circuit. The old circuit ate batteries even when not in use.

 

[shadowfox]

To further whet your apetite, here's one from my collection, both my wife and I use OM-4.

If you be patient, you can get a good OM-4 for around 200 dollars with the updated circuitry that doesn't drain the battery too quickly, but then again, a pair of Silver Oxide SR44 cost only 2.50 dollars.

 

[skipwilliams]

Unless it's very clean and has had a full CLA, I'd pass. Esp with a dented prism, $400 is too much, IMO. To me, the 1.4 is worth $40-50, but only if it's a high-serial number lens. Champagne bodies are getting pretty long in the tooth now and I wouldn't buy one unless it had had a full, and I mean full, CLA, with new seals under the prism, etc.

You should be able to find nice Champ. 4t's for $150, add $180 for a first class CLA. Factor in also whether it's got a 2-series screen, which would increase the value by $30-80, depending on your value of that screen.

Skip

Today, I looked in a shop and found a Olympus OM-4T in champange in excellent shape, a slight dent on the prism. Inside super clean. The lens on it is a 50mm F1.4. Glass is super clean. The price on it for $400 USD. Is this a good deal, or is this high? It is so tempting, yet $400 on some film would go a long way also.....should I?

Cheers

Mark
Quito, EC