OM30 Chrome + 50mm F1.8

[castadivax]

hello folks

am about to get a 35mm SLR camera, full manual and I m looking at ffordes.com website and I came across a OM30 chrome+50mm f1.8

i cannot find reviews about this model, but before buy it i would like to know your opinion and if you would recommend to buy it .

also wondering if olympus only takes olympus lenses

 

[Danielvr]

One problem with these old SLRs is that the rubber gaskets that seal the inside from light have often turned to dust. So, that's something to keep in mind when buying one (or maybe you can replace the gaskets yourself if necessary - see here). Also check if there are no leaking old batteries inside.

Yes, OM system cameras only take OM lenses.

 

[castadivax]

thanks so much for your reply, in your opinion, would you suggest me to buy it or get another one? what type of 35mm would you suggest?

 

[phemy]

GBP29 for the camera with a 50/1.8 is a price that can't be beaten, but note the warning that the self-timer does not work. The OM30 is an electronic camera, and if one part of the electronics is bust, I suspect that the rest may be in danger of following. Note also how much value ffordes ascribes to the lens - an OM2SPbody is GBP99, or GBP119 with the 50/1.8. The lens is thus valued at GBP20. Subtract that from GBP29 for the OM30, ffordes values the body at GBP9!

The OM40 that ffordes also have for sale is a camera I could recommend, as it has a pretty sophisticated metering system - but it is susceptible to oil on the shutter magnets (easily fixed, but at a price). Like the OM30, it was not designed as a professional camera, and is probably well "past it".

Granted it's much more than your budget, I would recommend you to go for an OM1N instead - older than OM30, oldest design of any OM body, but fully mechanical, and pretty much bomb-proof - ideally check that it has been converted to use non-mercury batteries which power the exposure meter. The OM2SP and OM4 that ffordes have are both sophisticated bodies, with much better metering systems than OM40, but both are electronic cameras which will be costly to repair (and both may be unrepairable for lack of parts). OM2N would be my second choice after OM1, but if the battery dies on the OM2N, the shutter will stop working (as well as the exposure meter).

Good luck with your search, Olympus cameras and lenses will serve you well.

 

[Danielvr]

in your opinion, would you suggest me to buy it or get another one? what type of 35mm would you suggest?

I don't really have any recommendations but Phenny made some good points about an all-manual camera. But even when you get one of those, you cannot be sure that the light seals are still good and the shutter mechanism is still accurate. You'd have to see it for yourself before you buy it (or get it from a reputable seller who checks for these things). That particular OM-30 might be a good buy but it's hard to tell without actually seeing it.

Olympus, Contax, Minolta, Pentax, Nikon and Canon all made excellent SLR cameras in the eighties. There were wonderful rangefinder and compact 35mm cameras too (that are generally smaller and lighter) from brands like Leica, Konica and Minox. It would be great if you know someone who's familiar with cameras from those days so you could go out camera hunting!

 

[castadivax]

thanks, I am actually writing them about this to make sure that it is no light comes in before to buy,

maybe I wait to see if they have a pentax in store

 

[castadivax]

self-timer too important for me, if this camera don't have this feature i won't buy it

i love Olympus, but i can wait to see if I can find a Pentax, i am a bit suspicious that for this price something won't work

 

[JaKing]

I own an OM-1 (earlier than the OM-1n, which I also own). Modern batteries will work the light meter, but you need to compensate for the voltage difference which shows a lower reading for correct exposure (IIRC ... ).

My OM-1 was fully overhauled around 2000, and had the film advance cocking lever repaired - cost about AUD$ 200.

The seals on my OM-1n have disintegrated ...

Both cameras have self timers, and are fully mechanical, other than the TTL light meter.

Avoid all the later partially electronic models, starting with the OM-10 ...

 

[dt27348]

I have bought many items from Ffordes over the years and consider them to be a very reputable company. Their description of used cameras is usually accurate and in most cases comes with a guarantee but in the case of older equipment they clearly state if this is not the case. Very easy to deal with on the phone.

Dave

 

[castadivax]

so is the self-timer works? would I need a TTL to go along? also if you don't mind, can you tell what battery should I use with it and what type or 35mm would you recommend other that OM?

this company has all the classic, nikon, pentax canon leica

I was after a pentax p30N, but it is not in store at the moment

 

[JaKing]

so is the self-timer works?

The self timer is a lever set on the front of the camera under where the shutter button is. Rotate it anticlockwise by more than 90 degrees to **** it, then press the self timer button under the lever's original position to trigger it. Time to release the shutter is between 15 to 30 seconds.

would I need a TTL to go along?

TTL stands for Through The Lens light metering. Most cameras after 1970 had this feature, all of the OM series included.

also if you don't mind, can you tell what battery should I use with it and what type or 35mm would you recommend other that OM?

The original battery was a mercury cell, EPX625/PX625 with a nominal voltage of 1.35V. The camera uses one of these. The nearest you can get to this now is a 1.5V silver oxide. If you adjust the meter needle in the viewfinder to the uppermost point of correct exposure, this should give you a reasonably accurate exposure

this company has all the classic, nikon, pentax canon leica

The Pentax Spotmatic was also an excellent camera. I cannot recommend others because of my lack of detailed knowledge about them. AVOID any camera that has any electronics (i.e. uses anything other than a light meter battery). Even the OM-xx series should be avoided, as these have an electronically controlled shutter.

I was after a pentax p30N, but it is not in store at the moment

I don't know the specifics, but this sounds like one of their electronic models - see here:

Loading…

camera-wiki.org

 

[castadivax]

thanks that is amazing ,

xc

 

[Ragnar Jensen]

can you tell what battery should I use with it ?

The original battery was a mercury cell, EPX625/PX625 with a nominal voltage of 1.35V. The camera uses one of these. The nearest you can get to this now is a 1.5V silver oxide. If you adjust the meter needle in the viewfinder to the uppermost point of correct exposure, this should give you a reasonably accurate exposure

There is an adapter that is the size and shape of the old 625 mercury battery. It takes a silver oxide battery which it down-converts to 1.35V. No need to adjust the meter

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Adapter-Camera-Exposure-Mercury/dp/B00CTNZ9H0

 

[Hope1943]

Might want to take a look here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_OM_system for a little history about the OM film cameras.

Peace.

John

 

[Hope1943]

I have a small collection of Olympus film cameras - all in working order. I have an OM-1, OM-2n, OM-2SP, OM-4, OM-10, OM-20, OM-30, and an OM-4. i initially purchased an OM-1, mostly to get a couple of lenses to use with my digital cameras (with adapters). The OM-1 was pristine, and it just felt good in hand - so I kinda got hooked.

I know nothing about the seller in your case, but you have received good advice about the camera from others. I use #357 batteries in my OMs. They seem to work well in all of them. I would suggest you calibrate your meter with the first roll of film - shoot something of average tonality, bracket +/- at least 2 stops, with the ISO set to whatever native ISO of your film. Then after developing, decide which setting is most pleasing/realistic to your eye, and set ISO with that film to your preferred setting in the future. I have found the light meters of most of my OMs to still be pretty much right on.

Light seals are no problem. Find them on Ebay and replace them yourself, if needed. I have found the OM lenses to be quite good. I think the 50 f1.4 to be a bit soft wide open, and actually prefer the f1.8 version. Not much more to say. They are wonderful cameras IMHO. Other good ones are the Nikon FE and FE2, The Minolta XD11, the Pentax Spotmatics, and the Canon A-1 (my personal favorite Canon - never could warm up much to Canons).

With appropriate adapters most lenses of whatever brand can be adapted to m4/3 or Sony FE digital cams in full manual mode of course. Even if adapters exist, I don't see much point in adapting film era lenses to other brands of film era cameras. Anyway, ...

Peace. ...and Best Wishes.

John