Once upon a time OM

marcr1230

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In 1987, after 7 years in the desert, I bought an OM-4t, followed soon after by an OM-3. over a year or so I acquired Zuiko glass, ending up with 50 1.4, 85 2.0, 100 2.5, 28 2.8 even got a 200mm
I used the kit for years, just love the 85mm.
When I stumbled into RFF. I had stopped shooting film, and was using a digital P&S. Over the past 2+ years I have been a GAS hog, acquiring Nikon S2 , Contax IIa and finally a Leica MP. If also had an S3 reissue and a Nikon FM3a. I got a slew of lenses and shot a lot of rolls on a lot of cameras
Today, I took out the beloved OM-4t and 85 2.0, and went out for a walk with my lady down Southport in Wrigleyville/Lakeview Chicago
The skies were grey, we went into a cafe and then the clouds opened up and it poured. Afterwards we walked back, the evening light so warm and sharp. I shot almost a roll. Love the OM, the finder is bright and full, focus is crisp and the wind and shutter satisfyingly mechanical, even if not as smooth as the MP.
Beautiful light, great equipment, great company, what's not to like?
Come home and the Hawks score 3 in the first period. I even developed 2 rolls this morning, life is good.

OM is awesome.

I finally figured out why we have so many shots of cups of coffee in RFF, they don't move, easy to focus :)
 
I recall seeing and holding an OM-1 soon after it came out nearly four decades ago. Impressive little fellow. Everything done right: except the shutter speeds put in the "wrong" place.

I no longer have a manual focus SLR. Those are what I found easier to focus than RFDR cameras when the subject was moving.

The heads of coffee drinkers oscillate at 21 to 73 cycles a second, depending on caffeine intake. Bad subjects.
 
the om-system is superb. lovely feel to it, smooth focus yet precise and exact. lovely easy to reach shutter speeds and aperature with one hand as you hold the camera steady with the other.

one more thing about them, viewfinders. they have amazing viewfinders and exchangeable matte-screans.

ohh, and another thing, maybe the most important thing. zuiko lenses. they are truly great. here a shot with the 85/2 short tele lens:
4275920375_cde461f4ab_b.jpg

tri-x 400, f2
 
The OM is a great system. To keep your GAS going, try the viewfinder of the Pentax LX - the only camera I've found with a viewfinder bigger and brighter than the OM2. Or better yet, keep having fun with the OM. :)
 
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