olympus om1n

nobbylon

nobbylon

Veteran
Local time
6:09 AM
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
although I really dont need another 35mm camera and the fact that I should be selling some not buying! can some of you olly chaps tell me how the om's feel to use? what are the lenses like say 28, 35 and 50 compared to M, R, nikon or canon glass? I'm really having a GAS attack so if anyone has a nice black om1n for sale then let me know, regards j
 
the lenses are second to none, for the price they go for these days. Out of the more affordable OM's, i think the 2N is the best buy, as the older ones usually have pretty poor battery life, and the 2N and 2S/P have better meters. The odd-numbered OM's are manual only, and the even ones have AE as well- not sure if you knew that, but you might take that into consideration.

I found the OM2N a joy to use. It's a very small and graceful little SLR, really doesn't feel like most SLR's- more of a zen experience with the huge finder and quiet mirror/shutter.... but for some strange reason, i enjoy the mechanical "umph" that my FE2 seems to have about it, over the OM2N i had- the FE2 just feels more masculine i guess?
 
The OM single digit lineup are wonderful cameras, and a firm favorite of Leica and other RF users.

The Zuiko lenses are first class.

Maitani (the designer) was every bit as committed as Kobayashi is with his Voigtlander cameras.

At the prices they seem to go for now on eBay it's a good time to get a camera and a few lenses. For me the star lens is the wide angle zoom 28-48mm.
 
With the om-1 and om-2, be aware of the 'prism foam problem' .
Said problem is well discussed on the interwebnet.
The later 2s and others didn't have the foam.
An om-2(n) with just the stock common 1.8/50 is a wonderful combination, often to be had for around 50 dollars..
How much is a 39mm Leitz hood?
 
I've got an OM1n and an OM2n and I love them (I've also had an OM2S, which is also nice - having spot metering especially - but I sold it because it was a very heavily used and bit creaky). They fit really nicely in my hands (I've got quite small hands) and just feel right. If you were going to get either, I'd probably recommend the OM2n, mainly because it uses SR44/LR44 batteries - the OM1n uses a mercury battery that you can get any more (I've had mine converted to use SR44s, but it cost me about £50 - $100). But on the other hand, the OM1n has a mechanically timed shutter and the camera will work with no battery (you just won't have any metering).

I've also got a bunch of Zuiko lenses (24/2.8, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.8, 50/1.4, 100/2.8, 35-70/3.5-4.5, 75-150/4, 100-200/5), and I've had and sold others (21/3.5, 24/2, 200/4, 35-70/4, 35-70/3.6, 35-105, 65-200 - I settled on my chosen kit by just buying stuff, deciding what to keep, and selling the rest), and they're all superb - I reckon they're every bit as good as contemporary Nikon and Canon lenses, and they can be had pretty cheaply. And I prefer the feel to the feel of Nikon and Canon lenses, because they're more compact - and I like the fact that they have the aperture ring at the front.
 
thanks for the replies, and thanks to Sitemistic I'm hoping to be trying an OM2 out soon. If it's as good as everyone says it will be going to Nepal with me in October! regards all J
 
We've got to quit telling people OMs are nice cameras. They're not. In fact, they are total crap. Crap I say! If you have one, sell it (cheap!)

Heh. Actually they are fine cameras, but I'm afraid they will attain collector status and soar to Leica style prices. I will put my OM1n up against a Leica for photo quality, durability and camera handling any day, and imho come out ahead.

But remember, if anyone asks, they are nearly worthless! ;) ;)
 
Om-1's seem to be in that limbo stage of becoming a little bit pricey and collectable. I've been searching eBay for one for a while now and spotted one that had just been listed with a 1.8 Zuiko for $59.00 BIN ... I clicked the button straight away because I have seen them going from $50.00 up to $200.00 and was getting sick of being constantly outbid!

This example seems to be going for the high end. A while ago I saw a black one with a lens advertised for $49.00 BIN ... I went away, thought about it for five minutes and came back to act and it was gone! :bang:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...m=290154402165&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019

I think they will keep going up in value as people come to realise what a unique SLR they are ... size and performance wise! :)
 
If it's as good as everyone says it will be going to Nepal with me in October!
Click to expand...
Nepal is a wonderful place to take a camera - I have some photos I took there in 1985 here (taken with a Spotmatic, most with a Takumar 28/3.5).

Do show us your photos when you get back.
 
Oh yes, I also have two friends who are learning photography and who I'm giving a bit of occasional coaching to, and they've both settled on an OM2n (they promise me it's not just so they can use all my lenses :rolleyes: )
 
I carry my fugly black OM-1 along with me every day, with a RF. Compared to my RFs (except the barnack) it feels like a little bulldog, the way the hand wraps perfectly around the short body. The wind on is big so I tend to double stroke. It's a little slippery and the 1.4 makes it somewhat heavy (what a beautiful hunk of glass), so i keep my thumb wrapped around the lever. BTW has anyone ever taken their bottom plate off? I did recently to fix a stuck shutter (an escapement(?) had worked itself out of position). It is easy and a mechanical feast for the eyes.

And hey, did anyone see that older all-metal 1.4 that sold on ebay a couple days ago. It looked pretty wild.
 
Can I hi-jack this thread for a moment and get some lens advice? I've had my OM-2 for a month or so now and love it of course ... how could you not ... and I have an OM-1 on the way which should be here in a week or so. Both cameras have 50mm Zuikos and I would like something else of course.

I understand the 28-48 is a very good lens and I'm not averse to good zooms so would maybe consider two more ... the 35-70 and the 75-150. That would give me three lenses to cover most situation right? I spotted a 75-150 on eBay for $59.00 BIN which seems cheap and I was wondering if the other two sizes are in the same ball park price wise? :)

Oh yes ... and are they all good lenses? :)
 
I've got the OM-1n (black) with 24mm 2.8 and 50mm 1.4 and think it's superb. The lens quality is excellent and I used to consider this my RF until i got my CLE. Nicer to handle than my D80 with a light, slim body. Would like a flatish pancake type lens to make it more pocketable but don't think there is such a thing. I even have a few mercury batteries for it although I tend to us it manually with my Digisix meter mostly. All I can say is get one.

Paul
 
Chambrenoire is correct that the Zuiko primes rule.

The 21mm comes in moderate and fast apertures. The fast one is pricey.

I don't ever buy zoom lenses. Usually. But the 28-48 is stunning if you're in narrow streets or small interiors.

I think I paid about £100 for my 28-48, but that was fifteen years ago and the price may well have gone up or down since then.

I've also got a 50mm lens (you have to have that one don't you?) and a 135mm lens that sees very little use.
 
35-80mm f2.8 is the famous and pricey Olympus zoom. One of the best things about Zuiko lenses is the primes. They are so small and light. Modern zooms are amazing and often better than their fixed focal length cousins since those are often older designs. I think the optics and aperatures are better with fixed. You can afford to get one of all the major focal lengths if you are not concerned about getting all the fastest ones...

Ultimately, I like low-light photography. I think I'll eventually get rid of my OM-1 because there is too much camera shake with the mirror. I have trouble hand-holding the camera under 1/60th and that is enven tough. The Leica's can be hand held up to 1/15th if I am careful. I've seen good shots held at 1/8th even. I think there is a reason that the shutter speeds for 60th and slower are a different colour than the higher ones on the OM-1.

I haven't sold it yet because I like firing the shutter and looking through the viewfinder on my 28mm! It's a simple pleasure but you'd be surprised how much I enjoy it! Gawd, I'm a camera geek...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom