Olympus 2-4 Screen

OM1234

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Ebay seller OlympusUSA has just got in 3 new 2-4 screens. I just bought one. If you want one I would contact him quickly.
 
Olympus 2-4 Screen

He only advised previous buyers of there availablity.

I actually ended buying all 3 available.

Another 2-4 became available on Ebay a couple of days ago and I was able to get that as well.

Four new 2-4's in one week, doesn't happen very often.
 
you're very dedicated.

before I got my own, if I had to buy one at market price I would have said Id just buy a F3 and a few Leitax kits for that price or just stick to a 1-4 in my OM-1.

but, having used one, if I had to replace it for that price I honestly would. I don't the 2sp/4 body that much (Im not really one for meters) but I use the 2sp now because the screen is sooooooooooo much better for off-axis focusing that I don't feel like I have a choice.
 
What makes the 2-4 screen so sought after?

it's very rare. John H said it available only as a replacement part for the OM-3. of course, the 2-13 could be bought in a camera, albeit an expensive one.

the 1-4 screen is one of the rarer OM 1 series screens and carries a significant premium over the 1-13.

as far as the screen itself goes, the brightness gain is nice but the real advantage is the HUGE increase in contrast that aids in focusing, especially off of the center area.

ultimately, I feel like the focusing screens are one of the weakest parts of the OM cameras. while the viewfinders are good and all, the screens themselves are lacking IMO. the 2 series rectifies this, and the 2-4 specifically does it without the annoying focusing aids.

again I put down my favored OM-1s to use a later camera that I otherwise dont like nearly as much because of the screen. YMMV.
 
I get along just fine with the 1-10 screen, plain matte with grid lines, in all my OM-1 bodies. Focus is determined by higest contrast, not brighest view. I also have the 1-4 plain matte but I perfer the grid screen.

I also do not care for either split wedge ot micro prism focusing aids. I find them distracting. My firsr SLR, in 1971, was a used Miranda with interchangeable screens. I tried the all matte screen and have been hooked since that time.

You know, that Miranda was pretty good little camera.
 
the 1-10 is certainly useful for it's intended purpose.

I actually grabbed my camera bag and checked; I have the following OM screens:

1-1 (multiples)
2
3
5
10
13
2-4

very stupidly I had a chance at a reasonable 1-4n and passed it up. I actually have the same number of focus screens as I have lenses lol.

Im currently using the 2-4, 1-5 and 1-1.
 
As someone who has two 2-4 screens and three 2-13 screens, I can attest that they are incredible focusing screens in terms of brightness and contrast. The view through them, when in focus, is every bit as clear and bright as one's own eyesight.

If one focuses very slowly in one direction, it can be initially tricky to get spot-on focus, as one can prematurely think that the image is in focus, as the view can look as clear and bright while still slightly out of focus as many focusing screens when they are in focus. But as you continue turning the focusing ring, the view becomes sharper and sharper. Thus, the best technique for focusing with these focusing screens is to use a quick back and forth focusing action. Using this technique, it is easy to get spot-on focus, even in pretty low light.

However, as great and as rare as the 2-series focusing screens are, $230 apiece is alot of money! I paid about $65 each for the first three, and paid about $85 and $95 each for the last two, which were bought within the last two years. Guess I should be happy with the rising prices, as I don't plan on buying any more of these screens and could make a bundle if I ever decide to sell any (although I have no plans to).
 
My favourite screen is the one that has a plain fresnel circle in the centre with no split image focusing ... that one lives in my OM-1.
 
I picked up a 2-13 and 2-4 screens recently, and the difference in brightness is quite obvious. These can still be found fairly easily in Japan, but they are getting more pricey.
 
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