Quiet and Small SLRs

[navilluspm]

One more thing about the Pen FT. I never owned a Leica, but I did hold my father-in-laws M3. That M3 felt perfect in my hand. The Pen FT has a similar feeling for me in hand. Yes, the metering system is stupid (but works) and the viewfinder is not the brightest, but the Pen Ft has a rangefinder feel when holding it.

I read that there is a reason for this: Maitani liked Leicas. He wanted his Pens to be a cameras that a Leica owner would own as a second camera, and so he designed the cameras with that in mind. If you look at Pen Ft, you will some Leica styling influences. The feel is similar too (from the little that I have held a Leica).

Anyway, just my ramblings.

Here is a quote from him from this website: http://www.geocities.com/maitani_fan/maitani_pen_2.html

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Maitani:
"I didn't want to make it a toy camera. So I made it a secondary camera of Leica camera which I used privately."[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]"The Leica III f shutter button was ideal. One of its charms is the superb feeling you get when you place your finger on the shutter ring and press down so that the pad of your finger swells, and the action lightly clicks. Since the Pen was designed as a secondary camera for the Leica's user the timing goes wrong unless it has the same feeling."[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Akiko Takehara writes in Diary of Unique Finds-Olympus Pen, AXIS Jan-Feb 2001:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The reason I'm interested in the Olympus Pen is its shutter button. The excitement I get when I have my index finger on the button, waiting for a chance to press it, rivals what I feel when I'm about to look at the photographs just back from the developers. That's why the response the instant I push the shutter is so important. The distribution of force when you click the shutter is similar to the Leica.[/FONT]

 

[Gid]

Thanks again guys.

Having done a bit more research, I'm concerned about the OM battery problems - are they really that problematical?

Contax Arias appear to be quite rare - I've seen two, but in iffy condition.

It seems (shutter noise aside) that the Nikon FM3A is pretty well sorted - being able to use it in manual without a battery is a bonus - and it isn't that old (in terms of most recent production runs).

Time for some more research.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Not quiet? I thought mine was. I guess I've never used a really quiet SLR, then.

/T

Even my Nikon F is quieter than my FM3a (the F2, on the other hand, easily out-louds it 🙂). The OM2N and F also have a much smoother feel to the shutter release, though this may just be because they've had all those extra decades to wear in.

 

[Muggins]

Having done a bit more research, I'm concerned about the OM battery problems - are they really that problematical?

As far as I'm aware the only OM with a battery issue is the 1/2 (sorry - forget which, not using one myself!), which needs a 1.3V cell for the meter. The OM10 is light, probably because as a consumer model it has less "gubbins" inside, and takes SR44s, so no problem there.

If you want quiet, avoid the Nikkormat ELW - every time the shuuter goes, I keep waiting for the thud as the head falls into the basket...

Adrian

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Olympus OM (single number) not just for the camera but also for the lenses.

I occasionally use an OM2 SP.

The 28-48mm wide zoom lens is especially useful in some situations.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The OM-1 uses mercury batteries, all the rest use easily obtainable silver-oxide cells. Some OM-4 and OM-2sp cameras have a problem with short battery life. The OM-4T corrected that, and is the best OM body in my opinion.

 

[oftheherd]

Look at the Minolta XG1. It is small, quite, and aperture priority. Although I prefer my 35 year old SRT101; the improver metering system and light weight of the XG1 is also welcome.

Tom

Those are compact cameras, especially with the 40mm lens. I don't think they are as quiet as the Fujica ST 901. I will have to try that and report back.

 

[oftheherd]

Another vote for the OM system ... good to see that certain people never give up on trying to get us all to switch to Fujicas! :angel: 😛

...

PS. I also used a Fujica ST801 in the 80s, but its been so long I can 't really remember how loud it was. Nice camera though.

Check it out Keith! There are others with discerning tastes. Besides, someone has to educate newbies and the unwashed masses. 😀 😀 😀

Seriously, it has gotten me curious. I'm going to have to dig out my 801, 901, and XG1, and try them together, along with my Yashica FX 103, Electro X, and an old Pentax. All un-CLA'd to see how they have held up over the years. I won't try my Yashica TL Super, that thing was built like a tank and sounded like one when shooting. 😛

 

[Fred]

I have the Nikon F80 and over the years it never failed and it has been used in all weathers. With the exception of an old Chinon CE4 it's the quietest film SLR I've owned although part of that would be down to the F80 film motor. It is true though that it isn't that small but it does handle very well. If size is primary I'd have to vote for the old Pentax MX but it's not overly quiet but once again from my experience is incredibly reliable. I can't comment on the OM as I've not owned one.

 

[Ken Ford]

Thanks again guys.

Having done a bit more research, I'm concerned about the OM battery problems - are they really that problematical?

The OM-1 and 1n use an obsolete battery but are easily converted. Here's a page from John Hermanson's Camtech site describing the situation: http://www.zuiko.com/index_030.htm The battery type is commonly changed during a CLA, which is highly recommended on OM series bodies anyway due to gummy foam disease. An overhaul will get you 20 more good years out of an OM body.

OM2 and 2ns already use the modern battery and do not need to be converted. They still would benefit from the overhaul, however.

I'm an OM fan from way back - I had OM gear for "off duty" when I was shooting Nikons at the papers. It was lighter, smaller and didn't remind me of work!

 

[mh2000]

nope, the Rebel G is quieter.

Of course, the Pentax A110 trunces them all ;-)

 

[mh2000]

I had no problem using hearing aid batteries in my OM-1... and if they went dead the cameras still work perfectly fine.

 

[splitimageview]

Olympus Pen FT. It's not the quietest nor does it have AE, but I am having a blast with my Dad's old Pen FT. It is small and just fits perfectly in my hands. The lenses that I have (20, 38, 150) are all fine - especially the 38mm. I really like the portraits I have been making with that lens. It has got a certain look that I can't describe. I think I like the look better than my Sonnar 85 portraits for my Contax SLR - which used to be my favorite portrait look.

From what I hear, the 60mm and 70mm are great for the Pen FT as well as the 28mm.

All the Pen lenses are really, really good. And tiny. The camera is about the size of a Barnack. The lenses make OM lenses look kinda big; Nikon lenses look huge by comparison. But it's not quiet. And the slower lenses make for a somewhat dark view; the 40/1.2, 40/1.4, and 60/1.5 brighten things up considerably. Even with the slower lenses I have seen no real problem focusing.

 

[szekiat]

a bit cheeky but i have a mint om2sp with 50mm lens and flash that's been collecting dust. It works great and is indeed small. But its no where as quiet as my hexar af so its collecting dust most days. The SP has the added value of a spot meter that works. Anyone looking for one? The US/GBP exchange rate today is horrendous for brits. I just want to clear some desk space!

 

[Jason808]

Since I haven't seen it yet, I'll put in a vote for the Nikon FE. Small, manual focus, inexpensive these days, not necessarily the quietest, but a great little camera. I've had mine since '84.

Another vote for the FE. It was "quiet enough" and a great little cam. You still get 1/90 (or is it 1/125?) w/o batteries and you can use non AI lenses. I'm may pick one up again one day if the price is right. The FE and a crappy off-brand 28/2.8 spent a lot of time in my backpack in college, but it was great for those chance shots around campus, friends, parties, etc. A $20 Vivitar auto flash did about everything I wanted for many years. I miss that kind of simplicity these days.

 

[shadowfox]

Gid, succumb to the OM-ness...

😀 😀

 

[whitecat]

I believe I am now one with the Olympus..........OMMMMMMMMMMMM

 

[Gid]

Gid, succumb to the OM-ness...

😀 😀

Nice. The OM3 I like - its not AE though is it? Does it work without batteries?

The battery problem I eluded to earlier was related to the power drain. I know it was fixed in the 4Ti, but what about the others?

 

[Micky D]

The battery problem I eluded to earlier was related to the power drain. I know it was fixed in the 4Ti, but what about the others?

With the 2sp and 4 you need to turn the shutter ring to "manual 1/60", or B when not in use.
This lessens the drain, but can't stop it completely.

It's worth living with. These are great cameras!

 

[Chris101]

... Having done a bit more research, I'm concerned about the OM battery problems - are they really that problematical? ...

No. I used mine with an alkaline and it was usually within a stop of other meters. Using a Zn-air, Wein cell it was spot on. Finally I had the electronics redone at zuiko.com and it's not been a problem at all.

It seems (shutter noise aside) that the Nikon FM3A is pretty well sorted - being able to use it in manual without a battery is a bonus - and it isn't that old (in terms of most recent production runs). ...

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