Olympus non OM-1 film advance. Is it really that much worse?

[Tijmendal]

I've got 3 OM-1's, I used to have an OM-2 and I've got an OM-4 and OM-4ti.
I barely use SLR's anymore, but when I do, it's always an OM.

I love the OM-1. Simple and elegant. Mine operate all really smoothly.
The OM-2sp I used to own I thought definitely needed some servicing (or so I thought). It shot just fine, but the film advance was like grinding gears through sand. Uneven and just painful to do.
Then I got the OM-4ti; in very used condition. The film advance for this camera is also pretty rough. I considered having it serviced, but decided not to.

I just bought a recently CLA'd OM-4 for a good price, because I really wanted a technically advanced camera that did run smoothly. It was CLA'd by Zuiko.com last year and I figured it would run smooth as butter. But alas, this camera, too, is nothing compared to my OM-1's (let alone any Leica).

Is this normal? I'm a little bummed out and like to think the camera should run more smoothly than it does.

EDIT: Also, the shutter-speed adjustment ring is very 'clicky' instead of the smoother motion on the OM-1, which slides instead of 'jumps' and has much softer clicks. This is the same on my OM-4 as it is on the OM-4ti

Thanks.

 

[zuiko85]

"Is this normal?"
Short answer, yes.
I've had an OM-2sp and have a near pristine OM-4Ti and both have that funny 'hand coffee grinder' advance. If you notice their shutter release noise is also more involved than the OM-1/2 cameras. Something about that submirror operation I suppose. I've come to ignore it, just part of the operation of the camera.
The OM-1 winding is a different mechanism if I remember. A smooth edge brass disc caught by a sharp steel claw (this all from dim memory).

The OM-1 advance can finally wear in such a way that frames start to overlap. Then that disc has to be removed and worked to present a smooth edge surface to the claw again to fix that problem.

PS: John Hermanson of Zuiko.com is a master OM system repair person. If it came into his shop, rest assured, it was done right.

The shutter speed adjustment on the OM-1 actually changes things in the mechanical shutter but the OM-4 shutter is electronically governed so Olympus might have made the detents stronger in the OM-4 for some reason.

Sorry if this is bad news. I don't like the advance either but my OM-4Ti is still a great camera otherwise.

 

[Merlijn53]

It is normal. Film advance in the OM-1 (I bought mine new in 1974 and its still working fine after 41 years) is the smoothest there is. In the other om cameras it's just normal, like any other camera.
Just a remark: you don't have to send your camera's to the US to have them serviced. In Hamburg is OM-Doktor. He used to work for Olympus for over 20 years. He is fast and reasonable priced. Sent my OM-3 there on a wednesday from NL and got an email it was ready and on it's way on saturday.
Frank

 

[Dwig]

It is normal. Film advance in the OM-1 (I bought mine new in 1974 and its still working fine after 41 years) is the smoothest there is. ...

... but that smoothness comes at a price. In the case of the OM-1, that "price" is primarily the longer throw on the wind lever. The later models have a shorter throw which increases the load on the lever thus magnifying any irregularity in the wind, whether from the transport itself or from the film and cassette.

If you want to experience a really smooth transport, check out a Leica M3 DS (read: double stroke.)

 

[zuiko85]

..

If you want to experience a really smooth transport, check out a Leica M3 DS (read: double stroke.)

For a SLR, the smoothest advance I've seen is Minolta's XE-7
I would think the early Leica R series would be similar, I think Leitz shared technology with Minolta during that time frame.

 

[Austintatious]

For a SLR, the smoothest advance I've seen is Minolta's XE-7
I would think the early Leica R series would be similar, I think Leitz shared technology with Minolta during that time frame.

I will second that ! The XE-7 wind on is like butter and the camera is a pleasure to use.

 

[shadowfox]

I appreciate smooth mechanisms.
But I won't let it get in a way of my using a great camera.

OM-4 is an excellent camera when it comes to producing nice images. The metering is fun to use.

 

[Tijmendal]

Thanks for all the answers guys! Good to know it's supposed to be that way, because I feel like I'm ripping the camera's innards apart...

Also, I managed to open the camera up and make the clicks a lot softer. Feels much, much better now.

 

[CMur12]

I have my mother's old OM-1, which originally had an exceptionally smooth film advance. My mother forgot the camera at a hotel in Switzerland in 1979, but managed to arrange for them to mail it to her.

When she got the camera back, the film advance was quite rough. I sent it to a local technician who was supposed to be pretty good, hoping to restore the wind to its original condition, but I got it back unchanged.

I have always wondered if this could, in fact, be repaired.

- Murray

 

[John Hermanson]

The 2S, 3 and 4 wind mechanisms are completely different from the OM-1/1N, 2/2N. They will never be as smooth as the OM-1. They are also difficult to service in that when they start to slip, replacement is required and they are not available new.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

My OM-1 and OM-2N advances feel exactly the same. They are used pretty regularly.

 

[-fp]

God I love the Om-1. I always lusted after an OM-4, could never afford one. Just seen I can get a super clean black on for £54! If only I had a darkroom.

 

[Uncle Bill]

I got two OM-1's due to go in for an overhaul with a local tech, who knows his Olympus, one of them an "N" has the slippage with the overlapping frames. As much as I want to ship them off to Zuiko.com, the Canadian dollar isn't worth as much as it was two years ago.