OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

hausen said:
Have read a number of pages of this thread with interest because I have been looking at an OM-4 with 50/1.4 on KEH. My question is that I have a Minolta XD-7 and series of lenses and wondered if anyone here had used both XD-7 and OM-4 and had an opinion on whether there was a marked difference between the two? Shoot mainly MF with my Mamiya 6 but want a small walk around 35mm and have recently dusted off my XD-7 and have really enjoyed it. Exited my Leica M6 to go MF and have been looking at a CL here in NZ but remembered this thread and wondered if I should also become a Zuikoholic?
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I have an XD-11. That's one cool camera. My favorite lens to use with it is the MD-Rokkor 35/1.8. I care little about the much-touted shutter-priority mode, but I do like the shutter sound.

I'd say go ahead and pick up an OM, they are different enough in actual use. While the XD feels like a no-nonsense feature-filled body, the OM series feels more graceful and nimble (rangefinder-like).
 
Is the Leica R4 not basically the Minolta XD7 electronics and shutter with a new cover and R mount ?
I seem to remember a tear apart comparison in popular photography in the '80s.
 
hausen said:
Have read a number of pages of this thread with interest because I have been looking at an OM-4 with 50/1.4 on KEH. My question is that I have a Minolta XD-7 and series of lenses and wondered if anyone here had used both XD-7 and OM-4 and had an opinion on whether there was a marked difference between the two? Shoot mainly MF with my Mamiya 6 but want a small walk around 35mm and have recently dusted off my XD-7 and have really enjoyed it. Exited my Leica M6 to go MF and have been looking at a CL here in NZ but remembered this thread and wondered if I should also become a Zuikoholic?
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If you're in the market for an SLR and you like the way Leica M bodies feel then an OM is always a good acquisition and they're not exactly expensive. the best thing with these bad boys is that you can sell them for what you buy them for if you're a careful buyer and they don't float your boat.

To all zuikoholics who own Ms:

how often have you been out with the OM for a while, then pick up an M body and go to look through the viewfinder only to find yourself eyeballing the silver in the middle of the back section of the top plate :D

it's happened to me already and i've only run a couple of rolls through my OM!!
 
NathanJD said:
how often have you been out with the OM for a while, then pick up an M body and go to look through the viewfinder only to find yourself eyeballing the silver in the middle of the back section of the top plate :D

it's happened to me already and i've only run a couple of rolls through my OM!!
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I do that very often, both ways. :D
 
Thanks guys have pushed the button on the Om-4 at KEH and should get it on the 30/8. really looking forward to it now. Thanks again.
 
hausen said:
Thanks guys have pushed the button on the Om-4 at KEH and should get it on the 30/8. really looking forward to it now. Thanks again.
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Congrats ... I'm sure you'll love it! The spot metering and the extra shutter speed would be a bonus IMO.

There's currently a reasonably clean OM-4 on eBay for $99.00 US BIN that I've been watching for a few days ... I'm surprised no one has grabbed it! It has a little paint gone and the motordrive cover is missing but seems good otherwise.
 
Keith just be aware of the battery drain issues that some of the om4's have. They were fixed with new electronics in the om4t/ti.
 
fdigital said:
Keith just be aware of the battery drain issues that some of the om4's have. They were fixed with new electronics in the om4t/ti.
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Yes ... I've read about that issue. If I get an OM-4 at some stage it'll likely be heading off to John to get sorted if it's original! Apparently you can remove the batteries when not using it for a short term solution but that would be kind of annoying!

Anyway ... I need another OM like I need a hole in the head! :p
 
The OM-4 is great toy indeed! I haven't been shooting with anything else since I got mine.. And I don't think it'll get any better, since I have the 85/2 on it's way... :)

4920755676_f26101f545_z_d.jpg
 
NathanJD said:
how often have you been out with the OM for a while, then pick up an M body and go to look through the viewfinder only to find yourself eyeballing the silver in the middle of the back section of the top plate :D

it's happened to me already and i've only run a couple of rolls through my OM!!
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I've never done that, but one thing for sure, when I plop the 85/2 or 135/2.8 Zuiko on the OM, I still get to see those big, bright viewfinder even with farther subjects. So nice.
 
With regards to the battery drain issue: This is due to a faulty circuit board. New, replacement circuit boards are no longer available, as far as I know. So I've been thinking about this problem: Didn't someone invent a flower petal battery cover for the Leica M6 ttl (some of which also had a battery drain problem) that could be rotated to connect/disconnect the battery, acting like an on/off switch? Someone should come up with the same solution for the OM2 and OM4.
 
shadowfox said:
I've never done that, but one thing for sure, when I plop the 85/2 or 135/2.8 Zuiko on the OM, I still get to see those big, bright viewfinder even with farther subjects. So nice.
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Yes, it is pretty nice.

Is there an inherent limitation in the design of an RF that prevents the field inside any frameline from expanding to fill the viewfinder? Or, do we owe those shrinking framelines to market pressure to maintain tradition?
 
ferider said:
It's been done, Bill. In the Contax and Hexar AF, among others .... It is easier with an autofocus camera.
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Actually, I don't mind the dual RF VF approach a'la Barnack bodies. I was surprised how easy it is to focus using the magnified RF then seamlessly switch to the plain VF.

Then a modern version could potentially have a several magnification for the VF that is triggered by mounting different (focal length) lenses.

I have an old external viewfinder that can do that albeit manually operated, so technically it must be possible.

... or just use your OM :D
 
New OM User

New OM User

hey there everyone. I purchased a lot on the 'bay and in it was a OM-1 with a Auto S 50 1:1.4 lens. It has the add on hot shoe but it's not in good condtion. The camera has been around the block but it's a worker.

It needs CLA. But I still tested with a few rolls. I like it alot-I'm hooked. But used OLY lens prices are too rich. Some off brand lenses will have to do if I find them resonable.

Recently, purchased on g'will a lot containing an OM-1 black and OM-10. Just the bodies. Both had/have stuck shutters. So using a repair guide and my working OM as a visual guide I removed the bottom covers and manually switched the shutter. I did this several times and the OM-10 started working without assistance. I don't know where to add oil or lighter fluid so I will leave it alone for now.

However, The OM-1 was literally falling apart in my hands. The battery contact fell out of it's chamber and is now lost. The pressure plate came off while I was turning the camera every which way with the film door open. And I never got the shutter to release on it's own. Not sure what to do about this basket case.
 

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Don't know your budget, Ranger Copy, or the focal lengths you want to play with, but have you looked at bargain grade lenses at KEH?
 
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