pggunn
gregor
Hi Trius,
I posted before I saw your comment on the OM4 vs OM4T/i. It's like I said, I've still got a lot to learn. I'm lucky there are so many knowledgeable OM people here.
And Dan,
The three primes you mentioned are what I'm starting out with. And I'm grateful for the bright viewfinder as well. I should have listened to my mother when she told me I'd ruin my eyes reading so much in dim light!
Take care guys and thanks for the info.
Greg
I posted before I saw your comment on the OM4 vs OM4T/i. It's like I said, I've still got a lot to learn. I'm lucky there are so many knowledgeable OM people here.
And Dan,
The three primes you mentioned are what I'm starting out with. And I'm grateful for the bright viewfinder as well. I should have listened to my mother when she told me I'd ruin my eyes reading so much in dim light!
Take care guys and thanks for the info.
Greg
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
Here is a shot with 50mm/1.4

shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Skip the OM-3 and get an OM-4 or 4Ti. The OM-3 is disgustingly overpriced due to collectors hording them. The OM-4 and 4Ti do everything the 3 does, plus autoexposure if you want it. Even if you never use auto, you can leave the 4 in manual mode and it is a far less costly camera than an OM-3.
Hey, watch it! I'm no collector and I got the OM-3 fair and square through being patient and some successful trades.
Don't ever give up working your way to get the camera that you really want. There is a will, there is a way, they say.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
135/{2.8,3.5} ...
Hmm... I'm pretty sure this is not the first time we are considering a common lens
Which one would you pick if you can only get one, the f/3.5 or 2.8? and why.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Hmm... I'm pretty sure this is not the first time we are considering a common lens
Which one would you pick if you can only get one, the f/3.5 or 2.8? and why.
I have the 3.5 and it is TINY, sharp, and cheap. The 2.8 is bigger and costs a lot more for a half-stop of speed. I have not shot one so I do not know if the image quality is better or worse, but the 3.5 is good.
nightfly
Well-known
OK, you guys got me. What's a good starter body? Black preferably. Meter and hot shoe optional. My dads got an old OM2 I could borrow think it just needs a battery to function, but would want my own body. He's got a 50 1.4 too I'd like to play with.
D.O'K.
Darren O'Keeffe.
The OM1n.
Excellent ergonomics, very bright lifesize-magnification viewfinder, simple (purely mechanical save for the meter), elegant: the absolute classic.
Moreover despite all this (and more) OM1n bodies are amazingly plentiful and cheap.
The proper mercury battery for the meter is no longer obtainable, but a variety of suitable alternatives are available for modest cost (e.g. the CRISCAM adapter, weincells, or a simple "repair" job to modify the body for modern batteries).
Regards,
D.
Excellent ergonomics, very bright lifesize-magnification viewfinder, simple (purely mechanical save for the meter), elegant: the absolute classic.
Moreover despite all this (and more) OM1n bodies are amazingly plentiful and cheap.
The proper mercury battery for the meter is no longer obtainable, but a variety of suitable alternatives are available for modest cost (e.g. the CRISCAM adapter, weincells, or a simple "repair" job to modify the body for modern batteries).
Regards,
D.
BillBingham2
Registered User
Om-1.
B2 (;->
B2 (;->
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
OK, you guys got me. What's a good starter body? Black preferably. Meter and hot shoe optional. My dads got an old OM2 I could borrow think it just needs a battery to function, but would want my own body. He's got a 50 1.4 too I'd like to play with.
+1 for OM-1n. I have two and going for another one or two. It has everything you need, still serviceable, perfect mechanical beauty in a tiny tiny package.
And 50/1.4 is a very nice lens to start off. Very dreamy, superb character, a bit longer than 1.8 but still very compact. (1.8 and 1.4 both are good lenses.) The flower shot in the previous page is with 50/1.4 silver nose.
Chris101
summicronia
I just bought an OM collection, mostly lenses, some new, some very lightly used. Some of these were used in Olympus VIP loaner program, some have small ID numbers etched into lens hood or filter ring. 350 2.8, 180 f2, 180 2.8, 24mm shift, 35-80 f2.8, 35-70 (om-2000 version), 70-210mm (cosina), 24 f2, 28 f2, 80mm f4 auto macro etc. ...
John, you are making my palms itch!
ferider
Veteran
Hmm... I'm pretty sure this is not the first time we are considering a common lens
Which one would you pick if you can only get one, the f/3.5 or 2.8? and why.
I had both and kept the 2.8. Really great for portraits. I did once a 1:1 comparison against the 135/2.8 Elmarit, and the signature is practically identical.
Cheers,
Roland.
DanOnRoute66
I now live in Des Moines
Although the 1N was the first OM I bought, I have found over nearly 30 years of using the system that the OM-2N is the most versatile. It can do everything the 1N (except work without batteries) does plus has the choice of aperture-priority auto exposure AND a great TTL flash system. I think the 2N is your best choice for a first OM.
ColinW
* Click *
Will, I only have the 3.5 and agree with everything Chris says, but sometimes I could do with a little more aperture.
Nightfly, never had one myself but I reckon the OM1 would be your best bet for a starter.
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
Ok. This whole love of Zuiko glass and OM bodies simply has to stop...its getting out of hand! I've only just got into using my new ( to me ) OM4Ti and my OM2SP (which I've had for a bit longer) and now everyone is buying the lenses I want right from under my nose

Having said that I did manage to snaffle a 24mm f2.8 and a 135mm f2.8 yesterday from ebay. Giving me a nice kit including a 35mm f2.8 and the MIJ 50mm f1.8.
Having said that I did manage to snaffle a 24mm f2.8 and a 135mm f2.8 yesterday from ebay. Giving me a nice kit including a 35mm f2.8 and the MIJ 50mm f1.8.
Spyderman
Well-known
Another long time (about 5 years) Zuikoholic here.
I started with OM-2000, then about 3 years ago jumped directly after a OM-4Ti (my first ever purchase on ebay), then the number just somehow grew...
The brassy OM-1n had a difficult disease, but now works just fine.
Here's a bit outdated family portrait:
Outdated, because I've already sold the 2SP - it kept eating the batteries.
Just a few weeks ago I bought my second 85/2 (the first was a dog) for about 80 GBP and I find it a great 2 lens kit with 35/2.8. If I want 3 lens kit, I take 28, 50 and 100. My current favorite body is the brassed 4. It ages much nicer than the 4Ti...
Maitani-san is dead, long live the OM system!
I started with OM-2000, then about 3 years ago jumped directly after a OM-4Ti (my first ever purchase on ebay), then the number just somehow grew...
The brassy OM-1n had a difficult disease, but now works just fine.
Here's a bit outdated family portrait:
Outdated, because I've already sold the 2SP - it kept eating the batteries.
Just a few weeks ago I bought my second 85/2 (the first was a dog) for about 80 GBP and I find it a great 2 lens kit with 35/2.8. If I want 3 lens kit, I take 28, 50 and 100. My current favorite body is the brassed 4. It ages much nicer than the 4Ti...
Maitani-san is dead, long live the OM system!
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OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
Anyone had, or got, the 135 2.8?
I bought it because I used to like that length as a kid with my dad's old Minolta SRT-101. No idea how it will stack up but it was a good price....and I felt I needed it
I bought it because I used to like that length as a kid with my dad's old Minolta SRT-101. No idea how it will stack up but it was a good price....and I felt I needed it
BillBingham2
Registered User
Just a few weeks ago I bought my second 85/2 (the first was a dog) for about 80 GBP and I find it a great 2 lens kit with 35/2.8. If I want 3 lens kit, I take 28, 50 and 100. My current favorite body is the brassed 4. It ages much nicer than the 4Ti...
Maitani-san is dead, long live the OM system!
My three lens kit was 35/2.8, 85/2 and 200/5 it was small and did everything I needed it to.
B2 (;->
pggunn
gregor
Kermal,
Love that seascape! Excellent!
Coelacanth, that's a good one too. I majored in horticulture and landscape design. Taking photos of plant materials and project sites was one of the major ways I got involved with photography.
Love that seascape! Excellent!
Coelacanth, that's a good one too. I majored in horticulture and landscape design. Taking photos of plant materials and project sites was one of the major ways I got involved with photography.
FrozenInTime
Well-known
Isn't it great the digital revolution - we can now pick up unwanted things that were rare and impossibly expensive in their heyday
and for less than the cost of a plastic DSLR zoom 
Found a mint black OM1n a few months ago (it's my first and only Olympus film SLR) then a 50mm f/1.2 to put on it :
This lens has the most amazing, never really sharp, glow when used full open: I need to use it more often.
Donald.
Found a mint black OM1n a few months ago (it's my first and only Olympus film SLR) then a 50mm f/1.2 to put on it :

This lens has the most amazing, never really sharp, glow when used full open: I need to use it more often.

Donald.
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kemal_mumcu
Well-known
I used the 28/2.8 on this one. I think around f 5.6 or f8 but I can't remember too well now. I used Portra 800 and I think that film is what did it for this picture.Beautiful shot. Which lens?
You can use Zuiko glass on a 5D with an adapter. Not a direct mount but people get nice results.
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