What would you do?

[Colin G.]

I’m in the market for a 35mm SLR. I’ve narrowed my search down to three cameras as all three are local and I’ve inspected each of them. Each camera is in excellent condition and fully functional. The candidates are:

Olympus OM2n (Black) - 50mm 1.8 Silvernose, $140

Olympus OM4 (Black) (Revised Battery/Circuit) - 50mm 1.8 MC, $150

Pentax ME (Chrome) - 50mm 1.7 SMC-M, $50

Prices are in CDN dollars. The OM4 seems like the obvious choice, but I didn’t really care for the readout at the bottom of viewfinder. I preferred the OM2’s viewfinder more. The Pentax has fewer features than the OM’s, but it felt great in hand (the others did too), had a comparable viewfinder (OM’s still better) and at a third of the price, I could use the rest of the money on film. I use aperture priority 99% of the time. Please share your opinion...what would you do?

 

[mpaniagua]

I would go for the Olympus OM2n, although the OM4 spot reader is pretty handy if you ask me.

 

[helen.HH]

Hi there,
Don't know Pentax or the Om2n... but I Loved the OM1 and the OM4
I also had tbe 501.8 , beautifully sharp and lovely oof

can't go wrong with any 501.8
look at Jane Bown's work ...drool, magnifique

 

[robbeiflex]

OM2n is a wonderful camera. I have not used the others but I can recommend it.
Cheers,
Rob

 

[mpaniagua]

Just be aware that OM4 had a problem with battery life. They didnt last long event if you didnt use it. Ive both the OM4 and OM4t and OM4, even if not in use, ran out of battery before the OM4t. You should remove the battery when the camera is not in use, or insert a small piece of cardboard so the battery isnt wasted.

Agree with you about viewfinder. Never been a problem to me but OM4 viewfinder may seem a bit cluttered to some, so its a matter of taste.

 

[sreed2006]

While this may sound silly, I will caution that buying either of the Olympus cameras may cost you much more in the long run: if you are prone to buying lenses. See the "Help I've become a Zuikoholic" thread if you think I am joking.

P.S. - get the OM4 (and a few lenses).

 

[mpaniagua]

While this may sound silly, I will caution that buying either of the Olympus cameras may cost you much more in the long run: if you are prone to buying lenses. See the "Help I've become a Zuikoholic" thread if you think I am joking.

P.S. - get the OM4 (and a few lenses).

+1. There is a ton of great lenses and you can get most them for cheap 🙂

 

[Pioneer]

Get the ME. At that price you are getting an awesome deal. It was built to the same standard as its more famous MX brother but with electronic exposure. It is even smaller than the Oly cameras you are looking at.

Go buy the M40/2.8 and you will have an awesome street set. Set your aperture and go!

 

[David Hughes]

I'll second that and add that the ME super is worth adding to the list and at the top of the list.

If you are not convinced look up the price of an Olympus and Pentax f/2 85mm "portraiture" lens.

But I also think you should be looking at the OM-1 as it's a mechanical camera and you are not relying on electronics; great when they work but they do die a sudden death and that's that I afraid.

Regards, David

 

[Fraser]

Don't know about the Pentax, but have a couple of om2s and a few om4s and would find choosing between them very difficult, the om2 viewfinder is amazing it's got to be one of the brightest I've ever seen but the metering in the om4 is very good and it seems a good price considering it's got the updated electronics.
I think I would go for the om4 just because it's more modern and I like the fact that for the time it was an amazingly complex camera in a very small package.

 

[Tim Murphy]

I'll second that and add that the ME super is worth adding to the list and at the top of the list.

If you are not convinced look up the price of an Olympus and Pentax f/2 85mm "portraiture" lens.

But I also think you should be looking at the OM-1 as it's a mechanical camera and you are not relying on electronics; great when they work but they do die a sudden death and that's that I afraid.

Regards, David

Dear Colin,

To add to the comments of Pioneer and David I think you should be looking for a Pentax ME Super. It offers aperture priority auto exposure along with full manual control. The Pentax ME only offers auto exposure, but either one is a nice small camera that offers the opportunity to change lenses.

Another plus for the Pentax cameras is that they work on LR44 batteries which are both common and inexpensive.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Colin G.]

Thanks for the replies everyone. As I suspected, the OM's appear to be the best choice. A spot meter would be handy indeed...can it only be used it manual mode or when you press the spot button, does it override the center-weighted meter in both auto and manual?

I was talking to one of the people who work at a local shop earlier today and they were saying that the ME's and most of the Pentax cameras of that era have unreliable electronics. Does anyone have any anecdotal evidence to support or refute?

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Colin,

When you speak of unreliable electronics can I safely assume that you are speaking of the meter circuit and it's accuracy?

If you are, I can tell you that my Pentax ME and ME Super consistently read the same, or extremely close and well within tolerance of any other camera or hand held light meter I own on the same scene.

Maybe none of my meters are accurate but my pictures turn out OK exposure-wise. Content is a whole 'nuther story.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[Paulbe]

I'd got for the OM 4 IF---and ONLY IF--you know and can verify the battery circuit has been changed. Otherwise you'll go thru batteries like potato chips. Very frustrating, as the OM4 has an outstanding metering system and viewfinder.
Paul

 

[Doug]

...I was talking to one of the people who work at a local shop earlier today and they were saying that the ME's and most of the Pentax cameras of that era have unreliable electronics. Does anyone have any anecdotal evidence to support or refute?

That does not sound familiar to me... I have quite a few Pentaxes of that vintage +/- including two ME Super, two MX, three LX, a pair of K2, etc. Never had any trouble with the electronics, meter or shutter. In my experience they are very reliable... but that doesn't mean an individual out there dreamed his Pentax problem either! Still, Hendrickson can deal with any necessary repairs...

 

[it'sawhat?]

As a pentax lover I would love to say the ME at that price simply because the 50 sells for that easy. I have the ME super and use it 98 percent in AE wonderful results. But the om2n does sound tempting.

 

[Fraser]

You maybe already know this but the way to check if the om4 has updated electronics is to switch the battery check button on if it's the old electronics it will beep until the battery is flat if it's been updated it will only beep for 30 seconds ish.

 

[CMur12]

A deciding factor for me would be the presence of AEL (auto exposure lock), which I require in order for any form of exposure automation to be useful.

Do any of these cameras have AEL?

- Murray

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

If I was the owner of just one camera and used it a lot then I would vote for the OM4/OM4Ti although I can't comment on the battery problem as it hasn't happened with my OM4.

My 2d worth is that the OM4 etc is an unusual camera with a lot of facilities and you spend a lot of time looking at the instruction book until you've mastered them. Obviously, if you used no other camera than that would not be a problem and after a few films you'd get to know it.

The Pentax's strength is that it is a well thought out camera that is easy to use and so it's hard to screw up a shot. I'd be happy to leave it on auto for 99% of the time. I had my first plain ME when they were new and kept it for years. Currently I'm on my second ME Super and the advantages over the plain ME are real but hardly noticeable. (The first looked good but had been badly treated and went back after one film through it.)

I've used and owned a lot of SLR's since digital meant people were giving them away or selling them for pennies and my long term favourite in its class is the ME Super with a few primes. I think it's closest rival would be the Minolta X-300 or the OM10; they are all MF, auto and manual exposure and small and neat. And there are some well designed zooms to go with them all.

A plus point with the ME super is the VF display with its coloured LED's showing the shutter speed it's chosen.

My OM-1 and OM-2N are pleasant cameras, the metering is the needle in the VF variety and they are part of a wide, well designed system, apart from the hot shoe. So all my comments are based on using them and looking at the prints or slides.

And, FWIW, if I was rich enough I'd have only a Leica R5 and a few primes but I've owned one and know what they cost to bring back to the original spec and can say the same about the lenses...

Regards, David

PS (Edit) if you like the sound of the OM-2(N) and the OM-4(Ti) then you should also look at the OM-2SP which is a development of the OM-2N imo and cleverly thought out. Read about it here:- http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/om2sp/index.htm

 

[CMur12]

David, do any of these cameras have AEL?

- Murray