OM Users, help with OM-2 please.

[illuminati_02]

Just received a beauty of an OM-2, 313xxx serial, complete with a minty 35/2. I was able to pick it up for a really nice price due to it's "not working." Well, the mirror was locked up and the shutter was locked, but fresh batteries and a reset fixed that. First impression is that it is extremely quiet, love it! However, still one issue with it that hopefully you guys can help with. The film advance lever was resistant at first, and after some use the advance feels decent now, but it will not return on it's own and it requires more effort to pull it back than it does to advance. Any tips?

 

[John Hermanson]

3xx,xxx series OM-2 are from the late 70's. By now, it sounds like yours has at least dried grease in the wind mechanism and perhaps a broken return spring. I'd be happy to overhaul yours if you decide to send it. John

 

[trip-xa]

+1 for sending to John Hermanson

 

[Paul Luscher]

Re sending to John Hermanson: second the motion. The man has done a primo job of restoring three OM-2ns, a 24mm and a 135mm lens, into fighting shape for me.

Welcome to the of the "rangefinder SLR," as I call them....

 

[kg4nih]

And another +1 for John. He's done both my 1-n and 2-n. Both work "as new." Worth every penny and the turn-around wait.

 

[Chris101]

There seems to be a pattern forming here. Just do it.

 

[Keith]

A trip to John's 'Oly Rehabilitation Centre' is well worth the money IMO.

He turned my sad black OM-1 with film advance and meter problems into my most cherished SLR.

 

[carlb]

Postage restrictions sending cameras to the US??

Postage restrictions sending cameras to the US??

I was looking at the Australia Post website yesterday prior to sending an OM 4 to John and photographic equipment was on a list of prohibited items, so presumably US customs (or the US postal service) aren't accepting cameras for delivery in the US. Unfortunately there weren't any more details so I'm not sure if this is a blanket ban or whether it relates to something else entirely

Does anyone know anything more about this, or have I misinterpreted what I read ?

 

[Keith]

I was looking at the Australia Post website yesterday prior to sending an OM 4 to John and photographic equipment was on a list of prohibited items, so presumably US customs (or the US postal service) aren't accepting cameras for delivery in the US. Unfortunately there weren't any more details so I'm not sure if this is a blanket ban or whether it relates to something else entirely

Does anyone know anything more about this, or have I misinterpreted what I read ?

That's news to me ... I just checked the site and items listed as Prohibited are below! WTF!

* Alcoholic beverages
* Animals and animal products
* Animal or vegetable fats/oils
* Arms and ammunition
* Cereals
* Coffee and tea
* Chain letters
* Cork and articles of cork
* Dairy produce, birds’ eggs; natural honey
* Fruit, nuts and citrus peel
* Fertilizers
* Furs
* Inorganic and organic chemicals
* Lottery tickets or related advertising
* Lac, gums and resins
* Mineral fuels and oils
* Measuring, medical or surgical instruments
* Meat and fish products
* Optical, photographic, cinematographic products
* Printed books, newspapers, pictures- offensive by nature
* Pharmaceutical products
* Preparations of meat, fish or crustaceans
* Tobacco and tobacco products
* Vegetables and vegetable products
* Wool, animal hair
* Wood and articles of wood
* Wine
* Wheat products.

Is this a new thing or a rule that just gets ignored where cameras are concerned?

 

[Chris101]

Looking at the other items on the list, I would think it's talking about chemicals, not cameras.

(I would hope, anyway, because otherwise, it just doesn't make any sense. And of course everything our government does makes sense ... (riiight.)

 

[John Hermanson]

I get cameras from Australia on a somewhat regular basis. Not illegal, afaik. Thank you all for the great endorsements. John

 

[illuminati_02]

I have heard a lot of endorsements for John already, and I will definitely be sending my cameras to him. (I picked up an OM-1n, paired with a 50/1.2, as well.) I have to stop looking for, and finding, lenses so I can send them out. I would really like a OM-4T as well. I should be good with a couple nice two lens kits that I put together to fill my needs... a 28/2 & 50/1.2, and a 35/2 & 85/2.
However... I am sure there is a 24/2.8 calling my name somewhere...