What's the best Olympus OM?

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I mentioned a couple of items and thought a picture, even as bad as this, might be better.

On the left at the front is a hot shoe for the OM-1 but not for the OM-1N. There's a thumb wheel under the word "fix" and the screw thread is one of the clues as they come in right or left handed.

Beside it is another fitting in place of the hot shoe that has a plug socket for using the flash well off camera.

These gizmos that screw into the top of the prism are made of black plastic that often cracks and inside it has two thin rubber or similar pads to protect the camera. Usually one of the pads will be missing. And the cracks may be very fine. Be very careful when buying. Take the camera body and check to avoid grief.

And behind them is a gadget that goes into the hot shoe and raises it a few inches. Very useful at parties to avoid red-eye and without the silly flashes beforehand. You can find these dirt cheap as no one knows what they are.

Talking of dirt cheap I'll repeat what I said earlier; an OM10 is a very cheap way of getting a back-up body with an OM system lens (often for the opening bid on ebay). And they have a hot shoe fitted and as the OM10 is part of the OM system I shouldn't need to say more...

Regards, David

 

[Keith]

I'm surprised anyone would bother to ask this question ... OM-1 without hesitation. 😀

 

[BardParker]

I have the OM1n that I bought from Jon Goodman, (resealed and with a Varta Mercury battery still going strong). I also have the OM-4T with the updated circuitry (beep turns off in battery check mode after 30 seconds). Both are great, but I like the OM-1n better for its smooth as silk winder and fully mechanical operation. If you spot meter a lot get the OM-4T. You will like any model, and will probably end up with more than one...

Kent

 

[Keith]

The OM-3 is probably the most remarkable of the series IMO ... center weighted and spot metering, 1/2000 shutter speed, yet fully mechanical like the OM-1.

Crazy prices though!

 

[Monz]

I like both OM1n and OM3:


Yoshi's Children by *monz*, on Flickr

Click on photo for more info.

 

[GWT]

Hey, thanks guy's for your input!!!

I'm sort of thinking that something which doesn't rely on batteries might be the way to go, but a OM 2 could be an achievable route also.

I'm wanting to trade some of my equipment at my local camera store for a OM and I know for sure that they have both OM 1's and some 2' in stock - not sure about 3's or 4's.

So I'm slightly restricted as to choice due to what they have in stock and I want to trade rather than spend cash.

I was looking at a OM 2 they had there some months back and as David mentioned that also had a cracked flash mount - definitely something to look out for!

 

[kanzlr]

I like the OM-2Spot most, even more than the 4Ti and 1.

 

[wblynch]

My short answer is: 1) OM-1, 2) OM-2, 3) OM-3

If I were to choose only one, I would have a overhauled OM-1.

The OM-1 does have its inherent problems. The well known prism grunge, foam seals and the 1.35v battery. But these are easily solved with a full overhaul and once that is done they won't be coming back.

Going by your parameters, of the two available, I would chose the one in better condition and not worry about the cracked shoe, they can be replaced.

 

[flip]

Given that everyone's gonna say something 1-4, might as well make this a poll.

 

[steveclem]

If money was no object an OM3 (or Ti) would be the one but I have a lovely black user OM1 c/w 50 1.8 costing a total of £33 delivered next day so it's that one that takes first place.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

OM 4

Electronically timed shutter, 1/2000 top speed, spot and average metering, meter reading averaging, very long metered exposures in AE.

Ergonomics enhanced with accessory grip. For my hands I find this still too small, the Power Winder 2 is an excellent grip and the cycling rate is reasonable, not so fast that one must pull off the release and shake the camera, fast enough for a quick follow shot.

The OM4 must have the updated electronic circuit to interest me, I don't care to bother with meter batteries only lasting a day or so. The OM4T is newer and all have the updated circuit, I don't care for the titanium finish, the basic black of the OM4 is fine by me.

The OM-4T is available in black (actually the black ones are more common!)

 

[Ade-oh]

All the single digit OM's are good, robust cameras. depending on what you want, manual or automation, there's plenty of choice. Personally I have Om-1's and OM-4ti's but I've also owned OM-3's and OM-2's and they've all been fine.

No better than the equivalent Nikons, Canons, Pentaxes etc, but different.

 

[robbeiflex]

The black OM2n I have in the classifieds is the best one, obviously. 😉

Actually, and more objectively, I like the OM2n because of its large and bright viewfinder, and I hear the 1 variants are the same.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[filmfan]

OM 4

Electronically timed shutter, 1/2000 top speed, spot and average metering, meter reading averaging, very long metered exposures in AE.

Ergonomics enhanced with accessory grip. For my hands I find this still too small, the Power Winder 2 is an excellent grip and the cycling rate is reasonable, not so fast that one must pull off the release and shake the camera, fast enough for a quick follow shot.

The OM4 must have the updated electronic circuit to interest me, I don't care to bother with meter batteries only lasting a day or so. The OM4T is newer and all have the updated circuit, I don't care for the titanium finish, the basic black of the OM4 is fine by me.

+1 (ten characters)

 

[pdh]

Will the OM-2/OM-2n function without a battery at all?

I'm presuming not, or that it is limited to a single shutter speed with no (or dead) battery, but I can't seem to track down a definitive answer 🙁

 

[gustavoAvila]

The OM-2 does not function with a dead battery.

 

[burancap]

I had already posted here ... Having 1's and 2's already.

Thanks to this thread, I have an itch for a 3 and maybe a 4 as well to "round things out."

Do both the early 3 and/or 4 (pre T) suffer from the battery drain issue? Is this only caused by the battery check not canceling after 30 seconds? Is there a serial number cutoff to watch for? Is there a fix, DIY or perhaps at zuiko.com for the drain?

Thanks in advance!

 

[giellaleafapmu]

If you want to induce envy, 3.

Are you trying to say that something I own could induce envy???? 😱

😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

GLF

 

[Frontman]

I've been shooting a lot with the OM3Ti, and so far I am having a lot of fun with it. I had an OM4Ti in the past, and I enjoyed shooting with it, the aperture-priority automatic mode makes quick shooting easy. The OM3Ti has a brighter screen, and the mechanical shutter is a great feature, I have had the batteries fail in my OM4Ti more than once.

Last year I had a nice M1 with an M-system 55/1.2 lens, a rare combo that I sold to a collector. I am working on another M1 now, it's very nice, but the prism is deteriorated.

The most interesting OM camera I have is an OM4Ti fiber-scope kit, which has a fiber-scopic lens like an endoscope. An interesting camera which is generally used by contractors, but which is also useful for nature photography in tight places.

For the ultimate user, the OM3 is probably the best choice, but the OM3Ti is the best OM camera.

 

[Armoured]

Do both the early 3 and/or 4 (pre T) suffer from the battery drain issue? Is this only caused by the battery check not canceling after 30 seconds? Is there a serial number cutoff to watch for? Is there a fix, DIY or perhaps at zuiko.com for the drain?

I think it only affects the 4s, but please double check. As far as I know, there is no fix except replacing the circuit board, which would likely be more expensive than getting one without the problem. Offhand I dont know about serial numbers, but I'm sure there's a resource out there.

The easiest solution is to get an OM-4t which all had the new circuit board. If you can check the camera physically you can do the battery test check.

I haven't used an OM-3 but think the 4 is just about the perfect feel in hand, and the metering system lovely. My 4t is on the way.