Olympus OM-4Ti - silly question!

[jesse1dog]

Were the black OM-4Ti bodies supplied as standard with 'chrome' battery and winder caps or did some come with matching black ones?

The body I have just picked up has caps in chrome, both present, but cosmetically I think it would look better with black.

Can anyone help me out with a couple of black caps?

jesse

 

[nikku]

Were the black OM-4Ti bodies supplied as standard with 'chrome' battery and winder caps or did some come with matching black ones?

The body I have just picked up has caps in chrome, both present, but cosmetically I think it would look better with black.

Can anyone help me out with a couple of black caps?

jesse

Good luck finding a black MD cap. I looked for a long time and finally had to settle for a chrome one.

 

[ernstk]

I have an original OM4 in black. It came with chrome caps.

Ernst

 

[jesse1dog]

Just checked my OM-2SP and that has chrome caps too, but my black OM-1n has them in black. And I know someone will now suggest I do a swap but the 1n is in far better cosmetic condition and I have had it from new - a bit of sentimental feeling about it!
jesse

 

[kbg32]

My black OM3 and OM1n have chrome caps. Mine came this way and I bought them new.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Chrome. Early OM-4 bodies had black but they often had electrical problems caused by the paint insulating the circuit. The OM design uses the bottom cover as part of the electrical circuit.

 

[leica M2 fan]

My OM 4, non Ti Black, has black covers on the bottom. They were painted in a glossy paint.

 

[Dean Cho]

Chrome. Early OM-4 bodies had black but they often had electrical problems caused by the paint insulating the circuit. The OM design uses the bottom cover as part of the electrical circuit.

Agreed. I have an OM-4 (with an updated 4Ti circuit board) with black bottom caps that started having problems with its metering display fading out and acting erratically. I thought the circuit board was shot and that the camera would be effectively non-repairable. However, a similar thread alerted me to the problems with painted battery caps. I removed the paint from the cap and the problem with the metering display disappeared. What a relief!

On another positive note, I was also having some problems with a Motor Drive 2, with the unit acting erratically, sometimes not working and the digital display fading out and re-setting spontaneously. I thought the motor drive's circuit board was shot and this would render the unit a paperweight. However, I recently noticed that the base of the single shot/sequence mode dial on the control pack 2 (battery unit) had unscrewed slightly. After screwing it back tightly, the problems have disappeared. Another relief!

 

[John Hermanson]

hi Dean!

hi Dean!

Black battery caps should not be used. The factory determined that tiny dots of black paint on the threads caused all kinds of weird electrical problems. Black caps are fine on the md port though. John

 

[ruben]

Black battery caps should not be used. The factory determined that tiny dots of black paint on the threads caused all kinds of weird electrical problems. Black caps are fine on the md port though. John

Paint residues in my motorcycle fuel tank threaded throat led me to a Holywood type of road accident.

But as for my new from the box OM4T it came with chrome caps - thanks John for the explanation

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[jesse1dog]

Not such a silly question after all!
I suspect that the black paint formulation or application changed over the years, or I must be lucky with my OM-1n with its black caps. Never had problems with this and its electrics.
Thanks John for the definitive reason for chrome caps.
jesse

 

[kshapero]

Could this be a problem with other rigs? I know a lot black cameras come with chrome caps, then folks black paint them.

 

[jesse1dog]

Just checked - good gracious - your right!!
Never knew that because I've never taken off drive caps!
Learn something every day on this forum.
Thanks DanOnRoute66.
jesse

 

[John Hermanson]

The black battery cap problem affected ONLY the 2S, 3, 3Ti, 4, 4T, 4Ti. OM-01 thru 2N were not involved. Original OM-4 all came with black battery caps. If they were serviced after the factory directive, they would receive chrome battery cap as part of the overhaul. Every OM-4 overhaul I do now, supplying chrome battery cap is part of the repair. John

 

[gliderbee]

I think I understand now why my black bessa's, black FM3A and black OM-40 have chrome battery caps; I always thought it was a bit of a poor design ...

Stefan.

The black battery cap problem affected ONLY the 2S, 3, 3Ti, 4, 4T, 4Ti. OM-01 thru 2N were not involved. Original OM-4 all came with black battery caps. If they were serviced after the factory directive, they would receive chrome battery cap as part of the overhaul. Every OM-4 overhaul I do now, supplying chrome battery cap is part of the repair. John

 

[Richard Ross]

I have a black OM-4 with black caps. It's always worked perfectly and still does, and doesn't eat batteries unlike my OM-2SP. Is this unusual?

 

[rodt16s]

I actually have a brand new still in the box Black 4Ti (don't ask) and they are Chrome, but my others are Black (with Silver coloured threads) to my knowledge they never gave any weird problems. But it would make sense as Anodise and paint are insulators.

 

[George S.]

Could this be a problem with other rigs? I know a lot black cameras come with chrome caps, then folks black paint them.

I would imagine you could paint only the bottom of the caps all you want, just don't get paint on the threads or the inside of the cap.