Thinking of adding another OM body; which one?

[Jeremy Z]

I have my grandpa's OM1N. Great camera. I had an OM4 in the past, and it was brilliant. OM3, OM3T and OM4T models are out of the budget, which is < $200 US.

I'd like to add another body with at least semi-automatic operation.

On the radar:

• OM2N - Pro series, aperture priority w/ exposure compensation
• OM2S - Pro series, adds spot metering and Program modes to OM2N
• OM PC - Amateur grade, A and P modes. Nice ergonomics
• OM4 - Pro grade, Aperture priority with multiple spot metering averaging and highlight/shadow adjustments

On that note, if anyone has a good OM body at a fair price they're looking to move to a new home, let me know by Private Message.

 

[Jeremy Z]

Here's an entertaining write-up of the OM PC. 🙂

http://www.peterferenczi.com/blog/2018/11/27/the-olympus-om40-om-pc-casual-review-tall-dark-and-ugly

 

[santino]

Om 4ti. Its titanium 🙂

 

[Richard G]

OM2n. Always on (even when set to OFF) capacity for correct exposures in good light. Good battery life. Simple to use. I didn’t get my OM4 refurbished because it is clever, but complex and mine drains batteries. Unless you make the OM4 your main camera I doubt the complex metering would be used.

 

[p.giannakis]

I have both the OM4 and om2n. Go for the 2, it is more trouble-free from what I read on the internet. Mine both work fine but the viewfinder is brighter on the 2.

 

[Richard G]

Here's an entertaining write-up of the OM PC. 🙂

http://www.peterferenczi.com/blog/2018/11/27/the-olympus-om40-om-pc-casual-review-tall-dark-and-ugly

So glad I read that. Wonderful.

 

[Jeremy Z]

OM2n. Always on (even when set to OFF) capacity for correct exposures in good light. Good battery life. Simple to use. I didn’t get my OM4 refurbished because it is clever, but complex and mine drains batteries. Unless you make the OM4 your main camera I doubt the complex metering would be used.

Yes, most of the time, pointing the camera down a bit to meter for backlighting works. When it doesn't, some judgment from experience usually works. So it's a complex, yet precise solution to the mixed lighting situations.

OM2N sounds great. A member PM'd me with a generous offer we're working on now for an OM PC. If that falls through, I'll look for an OM2N.

 

[zuiko85]

OM2n will be the closest in operation and handling and still offer auto when you want or need it. Seems the logical choice. Still very reasonable price.

 

[p.giannakis]

Out of curiosity, why is the OM-10 not an option? They are plentyful and dirty cheap. It is like a scaled down Om-2 if you get one with the manual adaptor.

 

[Doug]

Not sure why it would not be suggested, but FWIW the OM-10 is the price-leader model made for Olympus by Cosina so the controls are a bit less Olympus-like! 🙂

 

[james.liam]

None of you mention the OM 3Ti. Why?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

None of you mention the OM 3Ti. Why?

not exactly within the OP's stated budget of $200. Here's the cheapest one on Ebay..... for $1200.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Excellent-...744063?hash=item443f98a37f:g:OSgAAOSwPD5dCPxw

 

[james.liam]

Ah! Messed that. Never mind...

 

[Peter de Waal]

OM2S - unreliable electronics
OM4 - same, perhaps more so. Renowned for eating batteries, main circuit board NLA, was $500...
OMPC same as OM10-20-30-40: not a pro grade shutter, finder not as good

leaving... OM2n the winner!

OM2 (no 'n') has better long exposure capability, but older...

 

[Beemermark]

Having had (or have) most of them I agree with Peter, the Om-2n is the best built and most reliable, even more so than the Om-1👎. The Om-10, Om-G Om-PC were cheap cameras and tended to fail, The 4 and 2s were unreliable, the 3ti & 4ti are great but have way more features than needed and are way too expensive.