30 years to get back to where I started. The Olympus OM1n and I.

[John Bragg]

Hi all. So 30 years ago I bought an Olympus OM1n brand new in black and got into the system with the addition of another second hand chrome body and several lenses and two winders all housed in a Billingham bag. I found the OM1n such an intuitive tool to use but fell foul of the temptation to use other cameras. Long story short, my OM system has been dormant for over 10 years and has been overlooked in favor of my Leica and Nikon cameras. This week I took the Olympus cameras out of mothballs and ran the first film for ages through them. What struck me most was how much the OM1n suits me and just fits me and how I use a camera. I really wonder how I was able to ignore them for so long. The up side though, is that my original camera is still like new after all that time. My Billingham bag has been like a time capsule with the contents preserved. Do others here have similar stories of once favored equipment that has lain dormant to be rediscovered and re-appreciated ? The Prism foam was removed years ago and I resealed the chrome one back in 2008. Apart from that, to my shame, they have been un-used and eagerly awaiting my attention.
My 30 year old Olympus OM-1n by John Bragg, on Flickr

 

[blockend]

The OM1 was the first SLR I bought with my own money in the 1970s, and is still responsible for most of my best shots. It is a very intuitive tool, but I was never convinced it was up to the kind of physical high jinx I needed it to be, and sold it on for a Nikon F. Fact or perception, I don't know.

The OM's best feature is weight saving, because without a range of pancake lenses all SLRs have a roughly similar footprint. These days I need a lightweight camera more than I did back then. The OM lenses are up with the best.

 

[Les Sarile]

The OM's best feature is weight saving, because without a range of pancake lenses all SLRs have a roughly similar footprint.

 

[Frank53]

I bought my OM1 in 1974, so 42 years ago.
I had it serviced a few times and it's still working like new.
Frank

 

[ciniframe]

I've been a fan of the OM system for years. But, like you there have been many draws away from using mine, too many cameras, too little time (and way too little talent). My personal favorite is also the OM-1 or 1n with a 1-10 matte screen with grid lines. I also like to leave the hot shoe off the camera. Although a small accessory, leaving it off makes the body feel so much more sleek. In the last few years I've also rekindled my love for the Pen F system and have acquired a modest selection of original Pen lenses. A OM to Pen F adapter allows use of my OM Zuiko's on the Pen. (An expensive adapter that, cost more than I paid for most of the Pen lenses) Last year I fell into a real bargain on a OM-4Ti, at a second hand store. Only $35 because it was "jammed", of course taking it home and putting in a couple of S76 batteries cleared the jam. I have a natural aversion to battery dependent cameras but the operation and features of this body are breaking down that prejudice. This thread has made me want to use my OM system more.

 

[nolanr66]

I bought an OM-1 in the mid 70's and liked it a lot. I used it for about 6 years and lost it on a camping trip. It was my fault. However I drifted around in the camera brand market for years trying different things. However these days I shoot B/W with 3 different Nikon models. The FM2n which is being serviced, an FG that I am using today and a F100 that I have owned for quite a long time.

 

[wiltw]

I started with a new OM-1MD about 1975/76, purchase an OM-1n in 1981 when my OM-1MD jammed while on a trip. I eventually sold the OM-1MD but still have the OM-1n. And with my OM-4, my kit consists of these OM lenses: 24 f/2, 24 PC f/3.5, 50 f/1.4, 50 f/1.8, 35-70 f/3.6, 135 f/2.8 as well as a few third party lenses (20 f/2, 90 f/2.5 macro., 28-270 f/4) .

Small size and less weight are so much the attraction for me!

58/50mm both f/1.4 ...

135mm f/2.8 v 135mm f/3.5 v 100mm f/2

Maitani was a real design genius!

 

[MattKing]

I too started out in the 1970s with an Olympus OM1 - the version before the MD.

I too really enjoy using my current Olympus brood.

I too have a few other cameras as well.

I wonder whether starting with something like an OM1 tends to cement your preferences - i.e. if I had started with a Canon Ftb would I prefer larger cameras?

 

[John Bragg]

I find that although the small nature of the OM series suits my hand size, the addition of a Winder 2 makes the handling even better. This accessory is often overlooked these days but the Olympus model is amazingly well built and sells for peanuts.

 

[blockend]

That confirms my "roughly similar footprint" observation. Lenses from a given era with the same focal length and maximum aperture are about the same length. There's only around 15% difference between the OM, Pentax K and Canon FD. The 1960s Minolta, Nikon and Canon have about 10% between them.

The OM1 and MX/ME offered the potential for a genuinely pocketable SLR, but few manufacturers provided more than a single pancake lens to unlock that potential, and some offered none. The compact body was usually accompanied by a full size lens, which defeated the object except for overall weight.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

All those decades ago (it's going on nearly 40 years for me) owning a black OM1N was considered having reached the pinnacle of excellence in camera engineering, and it was then, as it still is, a respected name with a huge following. Besides which, the OMs fitted small hands beautifully. I progressed from a Zenit E in 1977 (which my father loathed and demanded it be returned to the store, refunded and to "immediately go out and buy a proper camera!"; Dad absolutely hated anything Russian...), OM10, then OM1N, OM2N, OM4, T90... then somewhere I switched camps to Nikon then to Canon, but I digress...

We devout bicycle tourists of the day would lovingly cart our OMs around on the big OEM Olympus neckstraps (I can recall at last 4 club members who owned OMs — either OM1N or OM2N), and click them into their red velvet-lined never-ready leather cases, popped into either left or right low rider front pannier (common) or in my case, a bobbing, bouncing Karrimor handlebar bag. I toured solo great swathes of coastal Australia like this, often cursing the weighty 20 blocks of Kodachrome 200 on which which the camera was sitting! No wonder I rode with 100psi in my front tyre...

I agree with the foregoing posts that the handling of these little beauties is even more improved by the addition of a winder. Something didn't quite feel comfortable with the cameras holding them vertically.

My only regret with the OM system was not the OM glass or cameras per se, but trading off two perfect OM lenses for early Tamron Adaptall mount lenses. Truly awful things (two small zooms traded for 3 primes). In later years I actually built up 4 or 5 OM lenses before moving to Nikon and lastly Canon, which I have remained with since 1989). All of my travel photography from 1977 to 1995 was on Kodachrome 200. And I see how young I look in those days!

 

[Les Sarile]

If you can believe it Yoshihisa Maitani didn't even want to develop yet another 35mm SLR except that he felt the cameras on the market were too large and heavy. Been a few years since I was in Tokyo and I can appreciate that perspective especially when you have one on a neckstrap.

 

[ColColt]

Now, there's one camera I nearly bought over the Nikon F2, the F-1. I didn't realize it was that much bigger than the Nikon. Still, a great camera. I've never owned a Minolta or Olympus, however.

 

[bergytone]

Just picked up an OM2n from KEH after finding a worn out OM2 with a full set of Zuikos on craigslist . I've been shooting a Nikon FM for a while, but I'm so impressed with the metering on the OM2n that I'm going to make it my go-to SLR for a while. I guess I'm a new fan, rather than a returning fan. It is one great, lightweight, feel good SLR.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Do others here have similar stories of once favored equipment that has lain dormant to be rediscovered and re-appreciated ?

Sure. Sorry, it is not about Olympus or even SLR.

I borrowed my parents FED-2 around 30 years ago. Used it only with ORWO (DDR) slide film up to 1991 or so. At in 2012 started to use it again. This time with bw for first time. Not just one roll to write stories about. I took another FED-2 to delivery room later on same year. I have prints from negatives taken by this camera. It went for reassembly in same year (to Russia and back here), because I was not able to put it back together after I replaced its curtains. And just replaced another one in it few weeks ago after taking pictures at f1.5 under sun and at the snow on the ground. This time I put it together by myself and used it with another films, at f1.5 .
Here is 5x7 the print, picture was taken by this camera on previous weekend (f1.5).

I have tried SLRs, Olympus OM included, not my thing at all. But here is the picture taken by Olympus SLR, I liked the OM.Zuiko 50 1.8 lens.

 

[ciniframe]

What lens selection do the OM users here prefer? Going for small size and light weight my 6 selections are the small aperture Zuiko versions.
24mm f2.8
35mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
85mm f2 (well, only one choice here)
135mm f3.5
200mm f5
And one third party lens, only because it was cheap, a Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro that goes to 1:1
All, except for the Sigma, use 49mm filter size, economical and plentiful. For my 24 and 35 I bought a couple of used filters at a camera fair, took the glass out and used the rims to extend the fronts about 4mm. To me the glass on those lenses just seemed too far forward and unprotected.

 

[John Bragg]

What lens selection do the OM users here prefer? Going for small size and light weight my 6 selections are the small aperture Zuiko versions.
24mm f2.8
35mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
85mm f2 (well, only one choice here)
135mm f3.5
200mm f5
And one third party lens, only because it was cheap, a Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro that goes to 1:1
All, except for the Sigma, use 49mm filter size, economical and plentiful. For my 24 and 35 I bought a couple of used filters at a camera fair, took the glass out and used the rims to extend the fronts about 4mm. To me the glass on those lenses just seemed too far forward and unprotec

My selection of Zuiko lenses includes:-

28mm f2.8
35mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
85mm f2
135mm f3.5
And also a recently acquired 135mm f2.8 independent by Vivitar (Komine).

 

[Huss]

To be fair, the Pentax lens is wearing a filter, and the Minolta is the bigger 58mm lens, not the 50. And the Minolta 58 is also wearing a filter. And it is not focussed at infinity like the Olympus, but at 1.4-ish meters which makes it longer....

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

And the Pentax version is the smaller M series introduced in 77(?), not the earlier larger K version.
The OM 50mm /1.4 was introduced at the same time as the M-1, if I'm not mistaken.
Yeap, references to it here: http://olympus.dementix.org/M-1/index.html

My OM Zuiko Lenses are:
28mm /2.8
35mm /2.8
50mm /1.8
100mm /2.8
135mm /3.5
200mm /4
28-48mm /4
35-70mm /4
35-70mm /3.5-4.5
75-150mm /4
65-200mm /4

The ones most used are the 28mm and 35mm.

 

[baachitraka]

3xOM-1n/-2n/-sp see the world through,

-24mm f/2.8
-28mm f/3.5
-35mm f/2.8
-50mm f/1.8 & f/1.4 with reverse ring adapter for macro.
-85mm f/2.0
-135mm f/2.8

If I have some cash may add 21mm f/3.5, 100mm f/2.8 and 35-70mm f/3.6

Of the bunch, 28mm f/3.5 and 85mm f/2.0 are the most used.

 

[MattKing]

What lens selection do the OM users here prefer? Going for small size and light weight my 6 selections are the small aperture Zuiko versions.
24mm f2.8
35mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
85mm f2 (well, only one choice here)
135mm f3.5
200mm f5

My main selection:
24mm f2.8
35mm f2.0
85mm f2.0

I've a few others as well - the 50mm f/3.5 macro, a couple of 50mm f/1.8s, a 50mm f/1.4 and a 75mm - 150mm f/4 zoom - but the first three are the ones you are most likely to see on a camera (I have 4 bodies to choose from).

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

I have 4 bodies to choose from

Only 4? I don't know if to say lucky man or not!
I confess to have a few more.
This was the count 2 months ago:
WP_20160203_14_07_47_Pro by Ricardo Miranda, on Flickr

 

[Les Sarile]

Only 4? I don't know if to say lucky man or not!

I also only have 4 OM bodies.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

My name is Ricardo and I'm addicted to OMs.

 

[xtolsniffer]

It's funny this thread should pop up now as that's exactly what I'm experiencing now. My first ever proper SLR was an OM2n that I bought second-hand in 1985. It had various electronic problems so in the end I got it fixed and traded it for an OM-1 MD with a 50mm f1.4. Over the years I added another OM-1n and then an OM4 and used them extensively. However, just before a trip abroad (my honeymoon actually, in 2002), I had a total OM failure. The door catch broke on my OM1 MD, the meter on the OM1n started overexposing by two stops and the electronics died in the OM4. I had to borrow a Nikon FM plus a couple of lenses for that trip, and then bought that Nikon, and then added to it. I managed to get a warranty repair on the OM4, but it was never the same after that and always had unreliable spot meter buttons. So since 2002, the OMs have been sat in a box in the spare room. However, two weeks ago I got them out and really enjoyed playing with them. They are really beautiful machines, amazing viewfinders, so I bit the bullet and sent the lot (plus the 50mm f1.4) off for a service. The aim is to get back to basics, an OM1n, a 50 mm lens and just looking for photos rather than being obsessed by the next lens. I'll see how long I can resist adding to the system though!