EM1 Preemptive Repair

Greetings All. Slightly new angle to the "should I... EM1" topic. Ordered one in EX+ condition and called Olympus to get a verbal ballpark estimate to 1) reinforce the lugs, 2) check/replace dials known to fail, and 3) check shutter to avoid stickiness.
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Background: after having an EM5 II, EPL7, and EM10 II... I (an a GX7 too) have to get the EM1 experience out of my system because of the tilt screen, viewfinder, light(er) weight compared to newer models in the line and phase detection.
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Question: Is it worth trying to get these potential issues addressed before they happen even if they don't? I can spare a couple of hundred bucks for a camera that has so much going for it.
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Any guidance welcome and thanks in advance!

I have 2 E-M1, both bought used in excellent conditions. I have no issues so far. But this is only my experience and I am not suggesting it is the norm or anything.

Your question whether it is worthwhile to do preventive maintenance is highly subjective. If it makes you feel better, that may just be enough of a reason. On the other hand, I never buy extended warranty but I do have an insurance policy on photographic equipment. I am more concerned with theft than anything else.

You do not indicate your country of which E-M1.  If it is the E-M1.1, then I think the cost of your preemptive repairs combined with your purchase price would be very close to the current $899 USA price of the E-M1.2 which does not have any of those problems.

Most E-M1.1 users (including me) never had a problem with the strap lugs.  The rear dial was a problem for many of the cameras, but was probably repaired on many of the available used cameras.

My E-M1.1s shutter was replace at 175,000 activations due to a sticking shutter (repaired under the extended warranty).  I have never had any similar problems with my E-M1.2 (far more use) or the E-M1.3.

thatnormguy wrote:

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Question: Is it worth trying to get these potential issues addressed before they happen even if they don't?........

NO!!! Better put the money towards that lens you always wanted.

You did your research, and you know what the most common items to fail are for your model. But that does not mean that your camera, or indeed many cameras of the same model, will necessarily suffer these same problems. It is far far more likely that your EM1 will eventually die from another reason, obsolescence, old age or an accident. And you never experience the problems you mention.

Since you know the lugs are a weak point, regularly keep an eye on them and stop using the strap when they become the slightest loose. Try to be gentle to the dials. Else just use your camera normally as you would any other camera. Should it fail a few years down the track, it's probably not worth fixing, look what a new EM1.2 costs today.

Reinforce it how?

Probably using stuff that was invented for that purpose, a threadlocking adhesive like Loctite 243.

@Tom - Thanks for sharing your experiences. The camera isn't coming with a neck strap installed. I read that Advance Camera had a bulletin out on being able to use Loctite to do the reinforcement. Great point on the dials, I didn't think of it from that angle. Probably saved me some money I don't need to spend... yet. On the stickiness, I've read about it on MKI EM1's in a few different forums but it seems to be more prevalent on high-mileage EM5's. I'll most definitely check for sunburn on the EVF, thankfully I can return it if it's not up to snuff.

@Space - The inclination to do a preemptive strike on repairs is likely more emotional coming from a place of trying to eek out whatever is left in this copy of the body. An insurance policy is a great idea... might be able to add a rider to the home & property plans.

@Rick - Thanks for the reassurance and for walking me back from the ledge. I'll do all sorts of tests and can't wait to start using it.

@drj - I am presuming it's a USA model, but I don't know yet. I'm starting to get a sense that pouring too much into the body might not be a good idea when compared to a newer model without the issues. To @Tom's earlier point about the camera being this far down the track the dials will probably work for a while if they're still working now - will have to put some faith into it.

@TheEye - Yep, I understand that the screws that hold the lug in place from the inside can be reinforced with threadlocker; perhaps "reinforce" isn't the right word for it. More like "secured more." Thanks for sharing the pics to illustrate what I was referring to.

@cba_melbourne - Sage advice, for the most part I have the collection of lenses I want/need at the moment after having bought and sold more than I'd like to admit. I'll be using a Gordy's wrist strap, so I'll definitely keep an eye in that fashion on the lugs.
@Danielvr - Thanks for the clarification!

All of your responses are very much appreciated and are extremely helpful. We shouldn't forget that the enthusiasm that users have for this format can make or break the ownership experience aside from design, build, and performance alone.
Thanks for the guidance!

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Danielvr wrote:

Reinforce it how?

Probably using stuff that was invented for that purpose, a threadlocking adhesive like Loctite 243.

There is some disassembly required to access the screws. I would not recommend doing it as a preventative measure. Only if it becomes loose.

There is also the chance that the factory itself has been applying a threadlock compound on the last production batches. They surely had a feedback procedure on such problems in the field.

Reinforce it how?

Probably using stuff that was invented for that purpose, a threadlocking adhesive like Loctite 243.

There is some disassembly required to access the screws. I would not recommend doing it as a preventative measure. Only if it becomes loose.

You may have missed from the opening post that he wants Olympus to perform the repair. I don't think it's a bad idea, it would be one less thing to worry about.

Which version of E-M1 are discussing here? Orinal, Mark II of Mark III?

The repair history is different for different versions.

Mark 1.

I don't see a reason to preventively fix something that isn't damaged yet, unless by doing so you prevent a potentially bigger damage. Since it's not the case, I don't think it's a good idea to spend money for something that might not happen at all. I would send the camera for repairs only if it's broken.

Given that you already have an E-M5II and EM-10II which were released in 2015, I wonder if you are really going to see much improvement in the E-M1 which was released in 2013.

Mostly the phase detection, I think.

The dynamic range of the E-M5II and EM-10II us actually slightly better than that of the E-M1.

I think your money would be better spent on the more reliable E-M1 II whichwas released in 2016 and has a better sensor than all of the above which brings a noticeable increase of dynamic range.  The E-M II also bringse the high resolution mode and improvement in autofocus.

In the US, the minimum charge to do anything on my em1m2 was $330. Perhaps you will face the same type of minimum. Of course, you still have an old camera after the repair that may not be worth much more than the minimum charge.

If possible, I'd explore getting a second unit used rather than doing some preventative repair on the one you have.

Eric Nepean wrote:

Given that you already have an E-M5II and EM-10II which were released in 2015, I wonder if you are really going to see much improvement in the E-M1 which was released in 2013.

Mostly the phase detection, I think.

The dynamic range of the E-M5II and EM-10II us actually slightly better than that of the E-M1.

I think your money would be better spent on the more reliable E-M1 II whichwas released in 2016 and has a better sensor than all of the above which brings a noticeable increase of dynamic range. The E-M II also bringse the high resolution mode and improvement in autofocus.

A solid suggestion. I didn't gel with the fully-articulated screen when I had the EM5 II. Great camera, but my fingers felt cramped and actually fatigue over excursions with lenses that weigh over 300g. The other less-pronounced reason is that the EM1 was as heft as I wanted to go. It's not as big as the EM1 II, which is a classic in its own right.