OM System

If you want to use Zuiko lenses and have the speed dial on the top of the camera you could always use an Olympus OM-2000 body - if you could find one. But it is probably heresy to make the suggestion in this thread!!!!
jesse
 
I think it's just me.

But speaking of the placement of the shutter speed control ring, the design of OM-4T is worse for me, because the numbers are hidden by the protruding prism housing (where the name OLYMPUS is printed). On the OM-1 you can glance straight down on the camera to see the shutter speed, but on the OM-4T you have to tilt the lens quite a bit toward you before you can see the numbers. It's just one of those minor annoyances that make the cameras so endearing.

But when you look through the finder the shutter speeds are shown as well? If the problem is when the camera is hanging from the strap, you have to hold it anyway for a clear view, so a bit of tilt shouldn't be the problem? I don't "see" the problem, but I have always found all other cameras awkward :)

iwert
 
But there is one thing that I can't seem to get used to, and it's the shutter speed ring. It's simply very difficult for me to change shutter speeds. I'm used to dials, and the ring just doesn't seem to be working for me. I find it very difficult, and it slows me down considerably.

Difficult how exactly? unless you shoot with one hand, your left hand would already be near the shutter ring and aperture, it's more intuitive than having to use your right index finger or worse, reach to the top of the camera to change the shutter speed.

Furthermore, both OM-2 and OM-4 displays the shutter selection in the viewfinder, no? So the only thing you have to remember is which way to slow or speed-up the shutter.

And I love Nikkormats because they use the same design.
 
I think a part of this shutter ring problem has to do with it's action if not maintained ... one OM I bought from eBay had a real shocker. The lubricant had dried out in the ball and detent mechanism and the whole thing was quite unpleasant in it's action. After I pulled it apart, cleaned and relubed it, it was fingertip pressure only!
 
But when you look through the finder the shutter speeds are shown as well? If the problem is when the camera is hanging from the strap, you have to hold it anyway for a clear view, so a bit of tilt shouldn't be the problem? I don't "see" the problem, but I have always found all other cameras awkward :)

iwert

iwert, I believe you have totally solved this complaint/problem I had with the OM-4T. :eek:
 
I'For me, the genius of the OM controls is that you can control both aperture and shutter speed with the same hand, leaving the right hand to just shoot and wind.

My first SLR was an OM-1, so it took a LOT of getting used to the shutter speed on the top deck!

Like I mentioned somewhere, I used to walk around all day guessing exposure values, and then checking them w/ the SLR.
 
If you want to use Zuiko lenses and have the speed dial on the top of the camera you could always use an Olympus OM-2000 body - if you could find one. But it is probably heresy to make the suggestion in this thread!!!!
jesse

I took a look at the bottom of one just now, and it has the same chassis as the Bessa R series, as well as the Cosina Voigtlander SLR, as well as...
 
Difficult how exactly? unless you shoot with one hand, your left hand would already be near the shutter ring and aperture, it's more intuitive than having to use your right index finger or worse, reach to the top of the camera to change the shutter speed.


I have trouble finding the lugs, then when I go to turn the dial, it rarely goes to the speed that I want it to on the first try, and I usually fumble around with it, screwing up the focus. That's why I say I feel like I'm all thumbs ( and I do feel that I'm actually fairly dexterous ).
 
I think a part of this shutter ring problem has to do with it's action if not maintained ... one OM I bought from eBay had a real shocker. The lubricant had dried out in the ball and detent mechanism and the whole thing was quite unpleasant in it's action. After I pulled it apart, cleaned and relubed it, it was fingertip pressure only!

There definitely may be something to that - something to check out. Not sure that I'd want to pull it apart myself, though.
 
I have been using an OM-1 since 1979 and, frankly can't imagine doing things differently. I love how big the shutter speed ring is and that you can turn it without taking your eyes off the subject. Great when you bracket. Nuts, I got on this forum to decide if I should buy an M2 and now you've got me extolling the OM-1 again. Aaargh.
 
I have an OM3 which seemed fine when I bought it. By the end of the first roll, the shutter ring had seized up. It's been for a CLA and is fine now.
 
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Reading this thread about the OM system I decided to get one for me. Yesterday I bought an OM 10 Quartz with a 50/1.4. OK, I know that the OM 10 is not the best one... but, damn, it was so cheap.
 
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