OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

My experience buying at KEH is that you need to read their descriptions of their ratings. E.g., their description of BGN can apply to a pretty banged up piece of hardware.
 
I got this from a recent post abt KEH:

On a different note, I bought a Bgn grade lens from them last week and it was major ugly!! I know many have had good experience with Bgn grade stuff but this lens could have been graded Ugl instead! It works but the glass is marked and the cosmetics are awful. I have bought many items from them over the years but this was my first attempt at Bgn grade gear. I know they will take it back but I was hoping for a true bargin.....FYI.

Very disappointed!

Sounds pretty disturbing indeed. makes me think twice.
 
dacookieman said:
I got this from a recent post abt KEH:

On a different note, I bought a Bgn grade lens from them last week and it was major ugly!! I know many have had good experience with Bgn grade stuff but this lens could have been graded Ugl instead! It works but the glass is marked and the cosmetics are awful. I have bought many items from them over the years but this was my first attempt at Bgn grade gear. I know they will take it back but I was hoping for a true bargin.....FYI.

Very disappointed!

Sounds pretty disturbing indeed. makes me think twice.
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I don't want to harp on this, but I'm not sure I understand. KEH's description of BGN grade says "May have dents, dings and/or brassing and finish loss. Glass may have marks and/or blemishes that should not affect picture quality."

So, it shouldn't be a surprise if a BGN is dented, has a lousy finish, and the glass is scratchy.

I''m sure people sometimes get lucky with a BGN purchase, but you can't count on luck.
 
but with keh, you can return it

i've got 28 (3.5 and 2.8), 35 f2.8, 50 (1.4 silver nose and 1.8 mij), 100 f2.8, and 135 f3.5. i think i'm done. 😉
 
"So, it shouldn't be a surprise if a BGN is dented, has a lousy finish, and the glass is scratchy.

I''m sure people sometimes get lucky with a BGN purchase, but you can't count on luck."

Exactly, I've made many purchases & sometimes have been pleasantly surprized & at other times disappointed with the grade of my purchases. The thing is that I have had MANY more experiences of being thrilled with the quality of my purchases than being disappointed. In used camera gear, KEH is it for selection & warranty of that gear.

Speaking of the OM system, it sounds like to me (from what I have read on this thread) that I am in for a severe GAS attack after I receive my OM2n. The selling point for this purchase to my wife was the relative low cost of both camera & lens. But, if I have to start buying more of these "inexpensive" lens
& can't stop... 😉
 
mynikonf2 said:
"So, it shouldn't be a surprise if a BGN is dented, has a lousy finish, and the glass is scratchy.

I''m sure people sometimes get lucky with a BGN purchase, but you can't count on luck."

Exactly, I've made many purchases & sometimes have been pleasantly surprized & at other times disappointed with the grade of my purchases. The thing is that I have had MANY more experiences of being thrilled with the quality of my purchases than being disappointed. In used camera gear, KEH is it for selection & warranty of that gear.

Speaking of the OM system, it sounds like to me (from what I have read on this thread) that I am in for a severe GAS attack after I receive my OM2n. The selling point for this purchase to my wife was the relative low cost of both camera & lens. But, if I have to start buying more of these "inexpensive" lens
& can't stop... 😉
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Ah... I see, because whenever KEH is mentioned, people seem to have high praises for BGN items such that one might believe that BGN is actually very conservative, akin to EX in evilbay standards? I guess its still safer to go with EX i guess. lol
 
dacookieman said:
Ah... I see, because whenever KEH is mentioned, people seem to have high praises for BGN items such that one might believe that BGN is actually very conservative, akin to EX in evilbay standards? I guess its still safer to go with EX i guess. lol
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I've never had a bad experience with a BGN grade lens from KEH. In fact, I often buy expensive lenses in UG condition on KEH, because often (not always, but often) it's a relatively minor blemish (small fungus spot, minor cleaning marks, etc). I've also been really lucky and bought UG condition lenses that had nothing wrong with them, as far as I could tell.
I got a high serial number Zuiko 50/1.4 in BGN condition from them, and the aperture ring had plenty of wear, but the lens is optically perfect and works great.
It's certainly not as nice as being able to handle the lens at a brick and mortar store, but it's much less of a crap shoot than ebay.
 
My new warrior OM-2n just arrived. I've got two OM-1n (black&chrome) but this is my first AE OM. Looking forward to some street portrait action with my most favorite Zuiko: 85/2.
 
coelacanth said:
My new warrior OM-2n just arrived. I've got two OM-1n (black&chrome) but this is my first AE OM. Looking forward to some street portrait action with my most favorite Zuiko: 85/2.
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An OM-2 with AE and the 85mm f2 is a great combination for what you describe. I don't use my OM-2 in AE setting very often but when I do the results impress me.
 
For me , OM really shines in B/W. I can't seem to get color right , maybe it's because I only have access to cheap color negative films.
 
reiki_ said:
For me , OM really shines in B/W. I can't seem to get color right , maybe it's because I only have access to cheap color negative films.
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Have you tried Ektar 100 or Portra VC? These are pretty good film🙂

Here's one with Ektar 100 and OM1/50mm f1.8 @ 1.8:

3948221602_dc2a66633c.jpg
 
Thanks , I will try some Portra VC , but I've been doubtful since I mostly shoot people and some architecture.
 
reiki_ said:
Thanks , I will try some Portra VC , but I've been doubtful since I mostly shoot people and some architecture.
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To make Porta VC more vibrant with more pop, you and rate it lower around 320 and try to overexpose a stop, some say the effect is that the colours are more vibrant.

I accidently overexposed Portra 400VC thinking it was 160 asa, but the results were not too bad🙂
 
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