Best OM SLR?

Hi peeps,

I've been using a couple of manual OM lens on a Samsung NX10 and really impressed with these lenses (24mm f2.8 & 50mm f1.8). It's got me thinking about getting an OM body to make use of the full 35mm frame. The problem is that I don't really know much about old manual SLRs- would any of you guys be able to recommend one?

Cheers!

Om 2 and OM4 were both great cameras. I would stay away from the OM10. I loved these cameras. I still have an Om2 and flash and bounce grips, winder etc. I havn't used them in years but I can't seem to bring myself to get rid of them. I used the same camera for 25 years. Boy have times changed!
--
Thanks, Mike
'Bear' with me!

OM-4 : (in working condition), preferably - updated to deal with the battery drain problem

OM-4T: Same as above but better, with resolved electronic glitches and already offering you the joys of FP flash in a camera 25 years old.

OM-3Ti if you are completely out of your mind, have a crapload of money, and want to shoot slides on top of the Everest (and snob the Nikon FM-3 at half the price) in all manual mode.

All iterations of the OM-4 are amazing cameras, with highly advanced electronics, a bright viewfinder and an excellent metering. You can't go wrong, and last but not least - they are good enough to be worth repairing and rebuilt to new when they break.

Thanks for posting the question > > > I had forgotten how great it was to use the old Olympus film cameras and this had the memories flying back in my mind once again -- what a great pastime photography has been all these years with Olympus around my neck.I must admit that using the OM4Ti was my best experience and once the camera controls became second nature to me there never seemed a shot I couldn't get. I have 4 old bodies and a multitude of lenses packed away and someday we may get together once again and visit.

OM-2n and Om 3Ti. Love the 100mmF2.0 and the 50mm F1.2 (1.4 also good).

OM-1 A good basic camera. If your batteries run out and you know the sunny 16 rule, you can still shoot. That's because the shutter is mechanical.
--

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I don't think they wanted me to say anything. It was just their way of having a bit of fun, the swines. Strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras.

OM-77/707 (somewhat clunky attemt at AF)
OM-88/101 (power focus)
OM-PC (Mine tended to eat batteries, lock up when used w longer lenses)

Also note the OM-1 used a battery that is no longer available, if it hasn't been converted, you can get an adapter for a battery that is still available (or use an external light meter... the battery only powers the internal meter)

OM-4 is a nice solid body, I really liked the multi-spot metering.

the T adds titanium chassis, the Ti adds flash sinc at all shutter speeds (with the right flash)
--
Art P
"I am a creature of contrast,
of light and shadow.
I live where the two play together,
I thrive on the conflict"

OM 1 its still afordable the 4t's and 3t's still bring in good money . I used a OM 1 30 yrs ago great camera easy to use. Boy do i mis it now. I had a OM PC auto manual camera for awhile not bad it had a rubber coating , it was a lazy mans camera. I used it mainly for vacations had a 28 - 80 mm Tokina zoom all around camera.

Like the others are saying stay away from the OM 10 junk camera also the OM G. OM 1 , 2 - 3 4Tt's stable cameras hell there still here after 25 - 30 yrs and still working.

amblepath said:

Om 2 and OM4 were both great cameras. I would stay away from the OM10. I loved these cameras. I still have an Om2 and flash and bounce grips, winder etc. I havn't used them in years but I can't seem to bring myself to get rid of them. I used the same camera for 25 years. Boy have times changed!

Click to expand...

Those were the days! Used my OM-2s for close to 20 years.

I blame the internet for our present sate of constant consumerism. Each day you get a fresh onslaught of information on new "advances", but how many are meaningful? As digital matures, maybe keeping a camera for 10+ years will make a comeback, but I doubt it.

As always, it's not the camera that makes great photographs, it's the talent level of the person behind the viewfinder.

--
Sailin' Steve

Art_P said:

Also note the OM-1 used a battery that is no longer available, if it hasn't been converted, you can get an adapter for a battery that is still available (or use an external light meter... the battery only powers the internal meter)

Click to expand...

For my OM-1, I use a 675 battery, which is a very common 1.4v zinc-air hearing aid battery, combined with a nonconductive shim that keeps the battery from shifting around inside the compartment. The meter is designed for a 1.35v battery, but I haven't noticed any exposure problems from using a slightly higher voltage battery.

You can also get a modern battery that fits the original PX625 battery form factor exactly, there's a 1.35v zinc-air and a 1.5v alkaline but the hearing aid option is going to be much cheaper and easier to source over time (since you can get this battery in quantity at any pharmacy).

Stay away from alkalines, because their voltage drops off rather constantly through the life of the battery leading to a more significant degree of inaccuracy. Zinc air batteries, on the other hand, keep a more constant voltage, but have a more limited lifespan, as their electrical output is governed by an ongoing chemical reaction with ambient air, that starts when you break the seal on the battery.

The adapter option, called the MR-9 adapter, is intended to be used with the common 386 1.55v silver oxide battery, and changes the output voltage to 1.35v. I haven't tried this option myself, but I think it would be very effective. Pricier to start with though, upward of $40 for the adapter.
--
http://www.photoklarno.com

Wow, lots of love for the old OMs! Thank you all for your comments.

Sounds like there's lots of nostalgia for the older OM1 and if you want the creme de la creme then the 4Ti is the one to go for.

I generally like things to be as simple and reliable as possible as I'm lazy and rubbish at fixing and maintaining things- perhaps the OM1 would be best for these purposes? Or would I be giving up too many of the extra features on the later models (not that I know what these are!)?

OM-4 has amazing spot metering never successfully replicated by any other system. I am quite surprised that Olympus incorporated spot / highlight / shadow into some of the ir digital SLRs in such a clunky, non-user-firnedly way when it was so naturally incorporated into the OM-4 / OM-4T / Ti.

I could never see the point in the OM-3 unless you want complete mechanical dependancy.

I once owned an OM-3Ti but sold it - another pointless overpriced camera if you ask me. OK for collectors but now getting to valuable for people to actually use.

I bought an OM-4Ti (champage finish which I prefer) and 50mm F1.4 for £225 in excellent condition. Can't go wrong with that.

I also own an OM2n which I bought new in 1981. Just been serviced for the first time ever and looks like it will last another 30 years now...

Malc

I started out with an OM2 and standard 50 f1.8 attached that I found for $25 on craigslist because the mirror was locked up and it didn't work. I put in new batteries, reset it, and it works fine.

The OM1 doesn't have this problem, but you are also less likely to find a cheap broken one that only requires a battery fix.

I was only ever able to afford the consumer level models, but I never regretted going Olympus from the start of my time using SLRs. Don't forget some of these. Of course they're not as 'good' as the OM-X series, but the OM-30 and OM-40 had a lot of great features that shouldn't be dismissed - the OM-30 was capable of rudimentary AF with a special adapter (no idea if you'd ever find one now).

I got going with a new OM-10 in 1984, with the 50mm F1.8. Eventually I built that up with the manual adapter, a Miranda flash, and for a birthday I got a Zeiss Jena 70-210 lens, as well as a Winder 2.

I had that for about 4 years, then sold it and bought an OM-40. I really loved that camera, and the combination of Zuiko 50mm and Zeiss 70-210 made a very useful setup.

Both cameras accompanied me on many a trip into the British mountains, and rugged terrains, in all sorts of weather, and neither ever let me down.

I had the OM-40 for just under 20 years, and now have sold on all the lenses too. It was still working perfectly well when I sold it in 2007.

I just wonder now, it's such a shame that we are so wasteful with products, especially when they carry their functions perfectly well. If it would have been cost effective, and technically viable, I'd have loved to have digitised the OM-40.

--
Andy Hewitt

My personal favorite is OM2n. To me the OM2n is the classic that defined the OM system, there's many bodies available used and they're cheap. Just make sure the meter works.

I bought those on Ali Expres ,pack of 6. 1.4V for 4$. Working well

Do you have any reference for this nonconductive shim? When I read it well, the combination with this shim and a regular 1.45 button battery should power my olympus om1?

Enjoyed my OM 4T. Sold it to help purchase something back when, can’t remember what. Sometimes think about buying another one.

I used the OM-30, OM-2 and later on the OM-3 and OM-4Ti.

for film photography I'd recommend the OM-4Ti, which I still have with some of my old manual Zuiko lenses.

It's a fantastic camera. The OM-4 suffered (at least some of them ) from battery drainage. That problem was solved in the OM-4Ti.

Happy photographing!

Jan