Olympus om2n - strange behaviour

[wojtek]

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Hey guys.

I've got myself a very nice Olympus Om2n on a local Sunday market; a beautiful condition body with clean and nice Zuiko 50mm lens. I always wanted to have one, so I bought it, especially because the price was minimal.

First thing I've noticed was that the foam was all rotten and turned into goo, so I've replaced both film chamber seals and mirror dampers (thank you Jon Goodman and your foam!

Then, I've put new batteries (silver-oxide, as it says in the manual) in. And... The camera works beautifully at all shutter times. But only when there's no film in! When I am putting the film in and shooting, sometimes the mirror gets jammed in the upper position. And it stays there. This is so strange - and it happens randomly. No pattern to it at all, neither a single typical shutter speed. It can happen both on 1/1000 or on 1/30, etc. Very frustrating. When it happens, the only thing I can do is to cock the shutter again (which is strange on its own) and then turn the knob to "Reset" when B is selected. The mirror falls off then.

That's really sad as I love the big viewfinder of this camera and I'd love to use it.

I've read something about possible fail of shutter magnets; can this be an issue? Or maybe there is something else getting in the way... Any ideas?

I'd appreciate all your help.

Best regards
Wojtek[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Pickett Wilson]

OM-2's can go bad in a couple of ways. You are experiencing one of them. If you know the batteries are fresh, you have problem likely not worth repairing. I've got a beautiful black one that behaves the same. And a chrome one that only works in manual. And a couple that work perfectly. Sweet cameras, but getting along in age now.

 

[wojtek]

I was actually afraid that this may be a thing - to forget about it. Oh, well.

 

[hans voralberg]

You might want to give Keith Leedham a call, he's among the best for Olympus in the UK http://www.klcamerarepairs.co.uk/, he's not expensive either and will always ask and give costs before fixing anything.

 

[jesse1dog]

I too will give a 'thumbs-up' for Keith.
Fixed my OM-2SP and was very helpful in getting the speed ring 'clicking' to my satisfaction. If your camera is cosmetically good its probably worth trying to get it sorted. Can be very disappointing to get a 'bargain' and then it turns out to be something rather than that.

jesse

 

[newspaperguy]

The OM-1n and OM-2n are generally noted as the "most repairable" SLRs.

Your problem might be as simple as sticking damper foam.

Don't give up too soon.

 

[Trius]

Yes, I would say investigate having it set right.

 

[wojtek]

I've changed all the seals and dampers - still the same. I know how to do it, as I did it with quite a few cameras before that. Well, at least I know it isn't an issue.

I have emailed Keith and he said that from what he understands it may be fried circuit board... And that the repair isn't economically viable. I'm thinking sending it for closer inspection, but then... I owe a lot of Pentax equipment which I use efficiently, so I am not sure if that makes any sense - to push another £100 or so into the repair of something I am not going to use extensively. Maybe it's just better to sell it for parts.

I have to make my mind about it. Anyway, thanks guys.

 

[Trius]

In your situation, I would likely sell it for parts.