Reading mode: Light Dark

OM-1 Joystick failure

Go to last post
A

arc56

New member
Messages
5
Reaction score
5
In April 2023 I purchased a new OM-1 – my most expensive camera yet and was generally pleased with it’s performance. I’d never had a camera with a joystick controller and I found it to be very ‘notchy’ or ‘sticky’ to move and difficult to use. I didn’t use it much and concentrated on learning all the other stuff. Early in August 2024 I attempted to use the joystick to position the focus point and it broke off. In no way did I use any unreasonable force – the damn thing simply broke off.

Has anyone else had this happen? I’ve never had any camera fail in such a way and I’ve had quite a few.

Because it’s out of warranty Olympus offered to assess the camera via their Portuguese repair hub and will charge £568.89 to repair. I can’t find a third party option because they don’t provide parts for that.

Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Pay 50% of it’s value for the repair and learn a lesson re sending a camera back within warranty if anything is remotely iffy?

Plug the hole and try and find an alternate way of moving the focus point (grateful for any advice) and maybe buy a used EM1mk3 with the repair money!

Bin and sell the glass and try a different brand!
 
I understand the frustration. This is certainly the sort of experience that would lead someone to switch brands.

I think I heard of one other person have the same problem, so I think it’s rare but not unprecedented.

The only thing I could suggest is to see if you can find a non-working camera body being sold for parts, ebay or similar. Then a 3rd party shop could cannibalize it to replace the joystick. It’s just a piece of plastic. Conceivably a replacement could even be 3d printed.

Good luck…
 
Never heard of that one.
One would think a knob falling off a toggle, a minor matter. However, the price they want for a fix, clearly says it's major. I know nothing about EU consumer legislation but a major issue so soon after expiration of the warranty shows the camera was not fit for purpose when sold. In my country at least, you would be able to make a good case for having this former flagship camera replaced. Of course, it's easy for me to say but you are the one that has to do it.
 
arc56 said:
In April 2023 I purchased a new OM-1 – my most expensive camera yet and was generally pleased with it’s performance. I’d never had a camera with a joystick controller and I found it to be very ‘notchy’ or ‘sticky’ to move and difficult to use. I didn’t use it much and concentrated on learning all the other stuff. Early in August 2024 I attempted to use the joystick to position the focus point and it broke off. In no way did I use any unreasonable force – the damn thing simply broke off.
Click to expand...
That sucks
arc56 said:
Has anyone else had this happen? I’ve never had any camera fail in such a way and I’ve had quite a few.
Click to expand...
Nope
arc56 said:
Because it’s out of warranty Olympus offered to assess the camera via their Portuguese repair hub and will charge £568.89 to repair. I can’t find a third party option because they don’t provide parts for that.
Click to expand...
Yikes
arc56 said:
Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Pay 50% of it’s value for the repair and learn a lesson re sending a camera back within warranty if anything is remotely iffy?
Click to expand...
Not an option. Usually returns are within 30 days, not a year+
arc56 said:
Plug the hole and try and find an alternate way of moving the focus point (grateful for any advice) and maybe buy a used EM1mk3 with the repair money!
Click to expand...
Maybe just a drop of glue?
arc56 said:
Bin and sell the glass and try a different brand!
Click to expand...
All brands can have such issue.
 
My joystick failed also, within warranty though - it would stick in an off-centre position, and of course keep scrolling the focus point...

OMDS uses an independent shop for warranty work in Canada. They kept the camera for a long time (10 weeks, I think) claiming parts were back-ordered. When it was returned I was told they had replaced not only the joystick, but also the back panel as a precaution. Apparently they had repaired a number of the joysticks.

I got the camera back in January this year, it's worked okay since.

It might be worth a further conversation with the people in Portugal.
 
As "Stu CC" pointed out, all UK sourced Olympus cameras have a 2 year warranty, 30 months if you register the camera on My Olympus. So what's the problem with the repair? Was it a grey market item?

Alternatively you can move the focus point with the Arrow Pad.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the responses thus far. The minimum repair cost is fixed for any repair to that model. I have unearthed other similar failures of this nature. I'm seeking confirmation of the warranty period in the UK. If the warranty is only one year, I'll cry a bit and then look at other ways of moving the focus point and probably live with the defect but I can't help feeling unhappy with Olympus. I had problems initially with the cash back interface and like everyone I have loads of accounts for stuff these days and despite advancing years have not struggled before. It just didn't feel customer friendly and the £568 price for any repair for kit failure rather than accidental damage doesn't enamour me to the brand.
 
If you purchased from OMDS in the UK, there is a default 2 year warranty. If you registered your purchase on line, you get an extra 6 months.

So , if you purchased new from an authorised UK dealer you are OK. Or OMDS direct.

Cheers and good luck again.
 
Last edited:
I would think you could move the focus point using the rear touch screen.
 
If it were me, I'd try politely being more insistent about this being a fault. Probably initially via the retailer and, if necessary, the OMDS support channels (email, phone, ...).
 
arc56 said:
In April 2023 I purchased a new OM-1 – my most expensive camera yet and was generally pleased with it’s performance. I’d never had a camera with a joystick controller and I found it to be very ‘notchy’ or ‘sticky’ to move and difficult to use. I didn’t use it much and concentrated on learning all the other stuff. Early in August 2024 I attempted to use the joystick to position the focus point and it broke off. In no way did I use any unreasonable force – the damn thing simply broke off.

Has anyone else had this happen? I’ve never had any camera fail in such a way and I’ve had quite a few.

Because it’s out of warranty Olympus offered to assess the camera via their Portuguese repair hub and will charge £568.89 to repair. I can’t find a third party option because they don’t provide parts for that.

Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

Pay 50% of it’s value for the repair and learn a lesson re sending a camera back within warranty if anything is remotely iffy?

Plug the hole and try and find an alternate way of moving the focus point (grateful for any advice) and maybe buy a used EM1mk3 with the repair money!

Bin and sell the glass and try a different brand!
Click to expand...
"Olympus"? Well, there's your problem. You sent it to the wrong place.
 
Will Rose said:
Trolleyman said:
I would think you could move the focus point using the rear touch screen.
Click to expand...
Yes absolutely. But some people have that disabled because it annoys them due to accidental activations with their nose or otherwise.
Click to expand...
I changed the setting to offset on my GX9, that almost completely eliminated the accidental movement.
 
After trying to get your camera repaired perhaps live with the minor fault and press on regardless since you are happy with your lenses. Maybe in the next three years the camera will spring another surprise rendering the camera virtually useless. OM Systems with flat charge for repairs; so then you can get two repair jobs done at the same time for the price of one repair. Play their game. Finding a lens without any optical defects usually presents an even bigger challenge?
 
craigwell47 said:
After trying to get your camera repaired perhaps live with the minor fault and press on regardless since you are happy with your lenses. Maybe in the next three years the camera will spring another surprise rendering the camera virtually useless. OM Systems with flat charge for repairs; so then you can get two repair jobs done at the same time for the price of one repair. Play their game. Finding a lens without any optical defects usually presents an even bigger challenge?
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good idea to wait until the flat fee repair price comes down. My E-M5 ii suffered from the useless EVF that cannot withstand sunlight and now has the spotty issue. They will sort that out and anything else that needs doing at a one off cost of £190.

Presumably that much cheaper because its an older model, I still didn't bother for now though. Got a few other little niggles, but I'm waiting until something major renders the camera inoperable before I stump up the cash.
 
As Stu CC says, the warranty should still be active. Perhaps say where you bought it from. if not from an authorised dealer then the warranty will have run out. If you failed to register it and have bought from an authorised retailer then you should still be ok as you can register it in retrospect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
  • Question Question
Joystick issues OM-1 and OM1-MK2?
Replies
0
Views
4K
harryf1
H
M
OM-3 D-pad
Replies
7
Views
29K
Emerald Slick
E
Dori C
My OM-1 Mk2 Repair Experience
Replies
5
Views
2K
JNK 100
J
Q
Pleased with Warranty Repair by OM Systems (UK)
Replies
10
Views
1K
Dan
D
A_Mist
From London to Lapland (OM-3 and OM-1 II)
Replies
6
Views
2K
A_Mist
A_Mist

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top