Olympus OM-4 vs OM-4Ti

[mehguy]

Hello,

I was just wondering what the differences between the OM4 and OM4Ti were, other than the battery drain issue present in the OM4 and the fact that the body is made out of titanium for the 4Ti.

There is a nearly 2x price difference for the 4Ti and I was just wondering if these were the only two things that made up that price difference, or there was more to it.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[wiltw]

The body isn't titanium, the top and the bottom plate are titanium in the OM-4Ti. In addition to the different main circuit, the body in the Ti has improved resistance to water entry. And the OM-4Ti supports super FP (Full Sync) flash with the Olympus F280 flash unit, allowing for flash sync at all shutter speeds up to 1/2000s, whereas the OM-4 is limited to 1/60s.

 

[MattKing]

FWIW, the OM4Ti is badged as OM4T in most of the world - but they are one and the same cameras.

 

[mshchem]

The body isn't titanium, the top and the bottom plate are titanium in the OM-4Ti. In addition to the different main circuit, the body in the Ti has improved resistance to water entry. And the OM-4Ti supports super FP (Full Sync) flash with the Olympus F280 flash unit, allowing for flash sync at all shutter speeds up to 1/2000s, whereas the OM-4 is limited to 1/60s.

Wow, I'm not sure if I had heard about the flash sync feature. That's impressive!

 

[baachitraka]

Wow, I'm not sure if I had heard about the flash sync feature. That's impressive!

Its restricted to only one flash. This feature is handy but delivers less power...

 

[wiltw]

Its restricted to only one flash. This feature is handy but delivers less power...

'it delivers less power'...just like every modern flash for digital cameras with the High Speed Sync function. Instead of a single powerful brief burst of light output, the flash emits a whole very rapid series of lower powered light emissions that mimics continuous light output, as the focal plane shutter slit (when shutter speed is faster than X-sync speed) moves across the film plane.

 

[mshchem]

'it delivers less power'...just like every modern flash for digital cameras with the High Speed Sync function. Instead of a single powerful brief burst of light output, the flash emits a whole very rapid series of lower powered light emissions that mimics continuous light output, as the focal plane shutter slit (when shutter speed is faster than X-sync speed) moves across the film plane.

 

[omtech1]

Hello,

I was just wondering what the differences between the OM4 and OM4Ti were, other than the battery drain issue present in the OM4 and the fact that the body is made out of titanium for the 4Ti.

There is a nearly 2x price difference for the 4Ti and I was just wondering if these were the only two things that made up that price difference, or there was more to it.

Any advice is appreciated.

The only parts in the 4T/Ti made of titanium are the top & bottom cover and the trim plate behind the shutter speed dial. MAin body casting of OM-4/4T/4Ti are cast/milled aluminum. Original 4s have not aged well, and ones I've seen often have spot functions that don't work. The original 4 has elevated battery drain issues unless it has had a new style circuit board installed. 4T/Ti have battery drain but it is much, much lower than the original 4. T/Ti will do flash sync up to 1/2000 with the F280 flash.

 

[ChrisLLUK]

FWIW, the OM4Ti is badged as OM4T in most of the world - but they are one and the same cameras.

Not really. In Europe, Asia and most other markets it was the OM4Ti. OM4T was mainly just in the US. No idea why.
Interestingly, in the US the naming changed to OM4Ti in 1997.

 

[omtech1]

US market had special top made for them marked as OM-4T. The rest of the world had 4Ti top. When the factory ran out of 4T tops, Olympus USA deemed it too expensive to make more, so USA started selling 4Ti as well. Other than that, camera are identical inside.

 

[MattKing]

Not really. In Europe, Asia and most other markets it was the OM4Ti. OM4T was mainly just in the US. No idea why.
Interestingly, in the US the naming changed to OM4Ti in 1997.

OM44T was the designation in Canada.
My understanding is that people in the USA got it as the OM4Ti.
Around that time there may have been a lot of grey market inventory around, which would have confused the issue.
EDIT: @omtech1 would definitely be the one in the know about the USA!

 

[omtech1]

The only parts in the 4T/Ti made of titanium are the top & bottom cover and the trim plate behind the shutter speed dial. MAin body casting of OM-4/4T/4Ti are cast/milled aluminum. Original 4s have not aged well, and ones I've seen often have spot functions that don't work. The original 4 has elevated battery drain issues unless it has had a new style circuit board installed. 4T/Ti have battery drain but it is much, much lower than the original 4. T/Ti will do flash sync up to 1/2000 with the F280 flash.

OM44T was the designation in Canada.
My understanding is that people in the USA got it as the OM4Ti.
Around that time there may have been a lot of grey market inventory around, which would have confused the issue.
EDIT: @omtech1 would definitely be the one in the know about the USA!

USA distributed the OM-4T. Any 4Ti that came in for service in NY service center was considered gray market.

 

[FredR]

Is there any significance to the OM-4Ti being marketed as the Black model? Was there a change in the finish or coating that rendered their top and bottom covers darker than the charcoal appearance of other titanium models?

 

[Chuck1]

I've only seen om3t's in charcoal .
I think they reformulated the paint because paint doesn't like to stick to titanium.
Om4t was available in chrome and black.
3 and 3t was only black (i think)

 

[MattKing]

My OM-4T is in champagne....

 

[Chuck1]

My bad

 

[tcolgate]

My OM-4T is in champagne....

I have a OM-4Ti in champagne. If it's good enough for Bond, it is good enough for me! That film wind though? Like putting pebbles in a coffee grinder! I like the meter in the 4ti for actiony stuff, but if I'm going slow and easy, I stick with my om1n for the smooth film wind.

 

[Chuck1]

Pebbles in a coffee grinder is normal?
I feel much better about my 4t

 

[tcolgate]

Pebbles in a coffee grinder is normal?
I feel much better about my 4t

Mine is pretty crunchy, and there's a spring in there that 'rings' after firing. I love the camera, but the film wind isn't its strong suit.

 

[omtech1]

Pebbles in a coffee grinder is normal?
I feel much better about my 4t

Normal. Wind mech is completely different from OM-1 through 2N.

 

[MattKing]

FWIW, the very different wind mechanism doesn't bother me.
It never feels to me that it is weak or malfunctioning.
It feels more like some of my medium format cameras, where different portions of the wind are doing different things - like cocking shutters, moving mirrors and re-setting counters, while also moving the film.

 

[Richard Man]

I still have my 4T that John serviced again last year. I bought it around 86 / '87 in Massachusetts at the Lechmere store (RIP long gone). I don't know when they switched over, but my says 4T

 

[tcolgate]

FWIW, the very different wind mechanism doesn't bother me.
It never feels to me that it is weak or malfunctioning.
It feels more like some of my medium format cameras, where different portions of the wind are doing different things - like cocking shutters, moving mirrors and re-setting counters, while also moving the film.

I agree, it doesn't feel wrong as such, it just isn't smooth, or audibly particularly nice. The meter, diopter. shutter speeds etc, all more than make up for it when you need them. It's definitely an underrated camera.
The om3 is my dream 35mm camera, if I ever win the lottery I just might get one.

 

[FredR]

US market had special top made for them marked as OM-4T. The rest of the world had 4Ti top. When the factory ran out of 4T tops, Olympus USA deemed it too expensive to make more, so USA started selling 4Ti as well. Other than that, camera are identical inside.

Strange, that. Was there ever a reason shared with staff at the Olympus repair center? Perhaps there had been a trademark conflict concern in the litigious USA, similar to the M-1 issue, but later deemed not an issue by the time the OM-4T tops ran out. Or something more intriguing! The mystery could use a solution, just to end the speculation.

 

[omtech1]

There is no mystery. The 4T tops were made for Olympus USA by Olympus Japan to differentiate US sales from gray market and that is the only reason. No conspiracy or drama.