ampguy
Veteran
Hi Keith, unless something's changed, F3's are very very inexpensive. I have a beater that I will probably try to sell as a parts camera when I get around to spring cleaning. It works fine and takes great photos, but it's in such ugly shape, that I'd rather just sell it "for parts" I also have the F3 WLF and a bunch of accessories. The F3 has taken all of my F lenses, non AI, AI, AIS, any old lens with an aperture ring on it, but the non AI's do require stop down metering if I recall. Also, this one, like many is not the "P" version but one that locks up on 1/80th until you load some film in it. so no dry metering testing.
hans voralberg
Veteran
Duh Keith, put Zuiko glass on the D700, go to Leitax.
nobbylon
Veteran
Keith,
I did exactly this. I had quite a collection of OM gear. 2 bodies, most of the good lenses and ended up never using them once the D700 arrived.
I sold the lot and started off with an F2 for lens mount compatibility.
I ended up getting a few more including F3's and an F4 and started accumulating the nice primes but to be honest they didn't and don't get used a lot.
I've sold a lot of it now and just have an F (never use) a couple of F2's (never use) an F3 non HP which I use and prefer above all other F's.
Primes I have left are the 28 2.8 AIS (use quite a bit on D700 and F3) an H 50 f2 (never use) and a 105 2.5 Ai (used to use but don't now).
I use Leica R primes on the D700 and F3. 35 and 50 Summicrons and a 90 Elmarit 2.8 and they produce pictures that I like.
My holiday and one lens solution is a 24-70 2.8 AF. Best lens I've ever had for convenience, bokeh, sharpness etc. A little bit bulky though.
I've never regretted selling the OM's.
PS I had an F100 and although it was nice to use it just didn't do it for me.
The F3 is great to use in A mode and feels small after using the D700!
regards J
I did exactly this. I had quite a collection of OM gear. 2 bodies, most of the good lenses and ended up never using them once the D700 arrived.
I sold the lot and started off with an F2 for lens mount compatibility.
I ended up getting a few more including F3's and an F4 and started accumulating the nice primes but to be honest they didn't and don't get used a lot.
I've sold a lot of it now and just have an F (never use) a couple of F2's (never use) an F3 non HP which I use and prefer above all other F's.
Primes I have left are the 28 2.8 AIS (use quite a bit on D700 and F3) an H 50 f2 (never use) and a 105 2.5 Ai (used to use but don't now).
I use Leica R primes on the D700 and F3. 35 and 50 Summicrons and a 90 Elmarit 2.8 and they produce pictures that I like.
My holiday and one lens solution is a 24-70 2.8 AF. Best lens I've ever had for convenience, bokeh, sharpness etc. A little bit bulky though.
I've never regretted selling the OM's.
PS I had an F100 and although it was nice to use it just didn't do it for me.
The F3 is great to use in A mode and feels small after using the D700!
regards J
FTography
Contains Sarcasm
I think I couldn't part with my OM gear ever. They are such nifty things. I, too, am fascinated by the capabilities of a d700. In my book it's probably the finest DSRLs currently on the market.
My question to you would be: Why?
As it stands, you do have two systems which are distinctively different and serve their own purposes. Even if you got a compact Nikon film body, the Nikkors won't shrink in size and weight.
I remember reading that you've been shooting with the OMs for a very long time. Isn't your emotional attachment to that system greater than the desire to merge your gear into one SLR system?
Because it does not really seem as if you had technical reasons or a lack of capabilities that push you towards the Nikons.
My black OM-1 is one camera they will have to take from my cold dead hands!
Please excuse my quoting you. :angel:I love my black OM-1 ... seriously! Maybe more than my M3!
As far as risks are concerned, Nikon is still in the full frame business. Lenses can be had new or relatively unused. Service is still around.
With each year the amount of working OM gear is decreasing.
I can only see prices going up in the future - and digital adoption of the Zuikos is not helping prices either.
From a financial perspective it might be wise to hold on to your OM gear. And if you keep it, you can use it anyhow!
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Leitax has replacement mounts to convert your OM lenses to Nikon mounts (reversibly). Around 60 EUR per mount, or around 90 if you want a chip with it for EXIF data and focus confirmation (and light meter operation on low-end Nikons) Stop-down metering only. But it's easy to get used to on a Nikon, I use my 85/f1.5 that way.
Currently they support at least the following lenses:
Check out their site (http://www.leitax.com/OlympusOM-lens-for-Nikon-cameras.html).
Currently they support at least the following lenses:
Leitax site said:
Check out their site (http://www.leitax.com/OlympusOM-lens-for-Nikon-cameras.html).
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Brian Legge
Veteran
Haha - I restarted photography with a Nikon SLR about 4 years ago. Since then, I picked up a bunch of AI/AIS primes with the expectation of eventually going digital full frame.
And now, after handling a friends OM2n, I find Olympus really tempting. So far I've managed to stick with one SLR system though so I don't see myself swapping any time soon. Its still a bit silly as I now have way more Nikon lenses than I use on a regular basis since I'm shooting primarily rangefinders and medium format cameras now.
And now, after handling a friends OM2n, I find Olympus really tempting. So far I've managed to stick with one SLR system though so I don't see myself swapping any time soon. Its still a bit silly as I now have way more Nikon lenses than I use on a regular basis since I'm shooting primarily rangefinders and medium format cameras now.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Leitax has replacement mounts to convert your OM lenses to Nikon mounts (reversibly). Around 60 EUR per mount, or around 90 if you want a chip with it for EXIF data and focus confirmation (and light meter operation on low-end Nikons) Stop-down metering only. But it's easy to get used to on a Nikon, I use my 85/f1.5 that way.
Currently they support at least the following lenses:
Check out their site (http://www.leitax.com/OlympusOM-lens-for-Nikon-cameras.html).
I had a good look at the Leitax site a while ago and it's interesting to see that lens on a Nikon body. The only drawback I see is having to remove the Olympus mount to fit the Leitax replacement and then having to switch it all back to use the lens on an OM again.
I currently have three OM bodies and about twelve lenses so I'm pretty heavily invested in the OM system ... not that this represents a huge amount of money!
Maybe I should take earlier advice and look around a for a user F3 and see how it sits with me. I've never actually used or really had a good look at a Nikon F but it is the one Nikon that I do like the look of and the specs do match up to what I want from a camera. If hated it I could always sell it I guess!
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braver
Well-known
Oh dear ... I did say those things didn't I!
Dude, don't do it man, hang on to the OM. Nikon has nothing that is as nice as the OM1, everything from bodies to lenses is at least 1.5 times as large and nowhere near as smooth. The entire OM system is one of a kind, truly the Leica of film SLR's and you will regret selling it big time. Like you said, in money terms it isn't actually worth that much, anyway.
hugivza
Well-known
I have just sold all of my Nikon (F, F2, F3, F4, F5 + 26 lenses of varying vintages) and Canon FD gear to go Leica. Some would consider that to be a journey from darkness into the light, but for me it is just practical - getting rid of stuff that I no longer use or wish to use.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I do have two Nikon bodies ... an N90s that I bought ages ago and an F70 that was given to me recently but I find that when I do use an SLR I want it to be fully manual aside from a meter. I tried the N90s for a while with one of my ZF's on it but to me it seems like a harsh beast and I never really enjoyed using it. At least if I get an F3 and hang on to the Oly gear I'll actually have a manulal body to mount my 35mm and 50mm ZF's on when I want to go Zeiss via the SLR route! It still leaves me pretty short of options for the D700 but a Leitax adapter could improve that I guess.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Keith,
Yes, makes sense -- as long as you don't make a habit of it! About 35 years ago I went from Petax to Nikon, and have never felt the need to change again. Then again, I use SLRs alongside Leicas (which I've been using since I was 19; started with the Pentax at 16).
What I've never understood is using Nikons for two or three years . . . then Canon . . . then OM . . . then Pentax . . . then back to Nikon again . . . There's plenty as does it!
Cheers,
R.
Yes, makes sense -- as long as you don't make a habit of it! About 35 years ago I went from Petax to Nikon, and have never felt the need to change again. Then again, I use SLRs alongside Leicas (which I've been using since I was 19; started with the Pentax at 16).
What I've never understood is using Nikons for two or three years . . . then Canon . . . then OM . . . then Pentax . . . then back to Nikon again . . . There's plenty as does it!
Cheers,
R.
Ade-oh
Well-known
My first camera was an OM-1 bought when I was about 15 and over the years I acquired various lenses, accessories and an OM-4. When I changed career and became a writer and journalist, I sold all the Olympus stuff (except my original OM-1 and a 50/1.8) to buy a Nikon F4, a couple of zooms and an SB-24 flash. For work use, I still use my Nikon gear (although I moved on to F5's and also have a DSLR), but for my own personal fun photography, holidays, travel etc etc, I use Leica, Pentax 67 and - surprise, surprise - a whole bunch of Olympus OM stuff which I have slowly but surely reacquired over recent years. Why? Because it is much cheaper than Nikon and Leica stuff; it's small, compact and handy; and it's great! Now I take the view that nobody is going to make any more of this stuff, and prices are only going to go up, so whatever happens, I'll hang on to it. BTW, I also have an F3 (with MD-4) and I have to say that an OM-4ti with Motor Drive 2 is better - so there!
gavinlg
Veteran
Buy a beater f3 and keep the OM's, trust me - (and most people here have the same opinion it seems!) nothing nikon makes can replace the OMs, both in lenses and bodies.
pixelatedscraps
Well-known
I am currently debating the same thing but deciding between swapping my OM kit for a Leica R kit. With R prices so cheap its suddenly become a realistic possibility.
I would lose out on weight and possibly gain image quality. But then there's something special about the OM-1 and OM-2...
I would lose out on weight and possibly gain image quality. But then there's something special about the OM-1 and OM-2...
dave lackey
Veteran
Keith,
Life is too short. If ya got a hankering go with it!
Loved my F3/T and had it alongside the S3 2000. Lost my job and sold the S3 2000 (wish I still had it). Kept the F3/T for a little while but it was gone too after a couple of months. The M3 was that much better for me.
So, if you want a nice SLR, the F3 will do nicely. It will complement any Nikon DSLR and, in my opinion, offer more satisfaction than anything digital. But complementary cameras in a single bag make life a lot more fun!
Life is too short. If ya got a hankering go with it!
Loved my F3/T and had it alongside the S3 2000. Lost my job and sold the S3 2000 (wish I still had it). Kept the F3/T for a little while but it was gone too after a couple of months. The M3 was that much better for me.
So, if you want a nice SLR, the F3 will do nicely. It will complement any Nikon DSLR and, in my opinion, offer more satisfaction than anything digital. But complementary cameras in a single bag make life a lot more fun!
ZeissFan
Veteran
Keep these two words in mind: seller's remorse.
dtcls100
Well-known
Keith:
Sounds like you're having another bout of the wandering eye. Keep the OM gear. You've already had a failed fling with Nikon -- you realized the FM3a just didn't feel the same as an OM. The F3, while a very fine camera, won't feel give you the same satisfaction using it as an OM either. While OMs aren't everyone's cup of tea, if one is the type who loves how OMs handle -- as you are -- nothing else really can replace them. Just think about the viewfinder, the light weight yet solidity, the intuitive control placement, and the tactile sensation of using an OM. Nikons feel downright clunky in comparison. Remember, you said that you use a film SLR for fun/pleasure. Do you really think using an F3 will give you as much pleasure? Also, when you come to your senses on this point -- a second time -- how long will it take you to replace what you've given up?
Sounds like you're having another bout of the wandering eye. Keep the OM gear. You've already had a failed fling with Nikon -- you realized the FM3a just didn't feel the same as an OM. The F3, while a very fine camera, won't feel give you the same satisfaction using it as an OM either. While OMs aren't everyone's cup of tea, if one is the type who loves how OMs handle -- as you are -- nothing else really can replace them. Just think about the viewfinder, the light weight yet solidity, the intuitive control placement, and the tactile sensation of using an OM. Nikons feel downright clunky in comparison. Remember, you said that you use a film SLR for fun/pleasure. Do you really think using an F3 will give you as much pleasure? Also, when you come to your senses on this point -- a second time -- how long will it take you to replace what you've given up?
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