OM question

[adresaba]

Hello
I have OM2 with few nice zuiko lenses which I use a lot, I also have flashes T32 and T20. I dont use flash often but recently I decided to change that and I realize that eiher of these flashes often dont fire. For example last night I was shooting in a room with little light and on the first shot it fired but later it did not. Camerea was on auto, flash sync on X, shutter showed 1/8, batteries are new,...
If anyone have an idea why this happens please tell me...and excuse for my English 😀

 

[farlymac]

First, make sure the Ready light is on before taking another shot. If it is, then maybe the trigger circuit is going bad. Check all functions off camera first, and if they are working fine, then you have a camera problem.

PF

 

[Dwig]

First, make sure the Ready light is on before taking another shot. If it is, then maybe the trigger circuit is going bad. ...

PF

True about waiting for the ready light, but it is vastly more likely that from one shot to the next with appropriate Olympus flash units (as the OP was using) the OM2's battery weakened (near the end of its life) than that the trigger circuit went bad for any other reason.

The OM-2's trigger circuit requires that the body's battery be in very good condition. In fact, a battery that is too weak to operate the trigger circuit properly can still provide enough power for proper metering and shutter function for several more rolls of film. In the decades that I ran camera specialty stores I saw the situation a number of times and it happens with both dedicated flash units and with simple flashes connected via the PC terminal.

 

[wblynch]

Also make sure the flash shoe is attached tightly (not too tight - don't want to crack it) and make sure the contacts are clean.

For OM-2N there are additional contact pins. Check they aren't bent.

 

[adresaba]

Thanks guys, seems like weak batteries, they had drain fast

 

[Keith]

Be sure to use silver oxide batteries in the camera (SR44) ... alkaline ones taper off as they deplete and effect the camera's metering. Silver oxide batteries don't do this and were recomended for the camera by Olympus.

 

[adresaba]

Thanks Keith, I use silver oxide batteries exclusively for the same reason

 

[John Hermanson]

Silver oxide batteries are the only correct batteries for the OM-2/2N. Alkaline and lithium came out after the camera was designed and cause meter errors and shutter lockup. As to the flash not firing, a loose shoe or dirt inside the top cover contact can cause that ALSO if shutter speed is above 1/60th, x contacts do not fire at all. John