Are classic SLR ergonomics comparable to newer bodies?

[Ricardo Miranda]

I wonder how many SLRs different to the OMs have Olympus die-hard fans used.

Flavio,
I've been in Photography for a long time.
I've had most of SLR systems from Pentax screw mount, K systems, K AF system, Canon FD and a lot of experience with EOS from the bottom 300 to the top EOS-1N. From Nikkormats up to a few Nikon F4 and from Minoltas 7000 to a Dynax 7.
Yes, the professional Nikons have very good viewfinders and are very tough. But, I have seen them going wrong from knocks to meters going AWOL. They also rust.

I was introduced to the OMs by an APUG member.
I hadn't consider the OM before, because of prejudice and I was happy with my Nikons.
But, there is something quite special when you hold one.

From the lens you have mentioned I only have experience with the 28 /3.5. The 55 /1.2 early versions were quite soft as well as the 135 /2.8. That's probably why you don't see them often on sale in the UK. The 50 /1.2 and the 135 /3.5 have excellent reports.

These are my OM-1 and some of my lenses from 21mm to 200mm:
WP_20160810_12_47_51_Pro by Ricardo Miranda, on Flickr

DSC_0838 by Ricardo Miranda, on Flickr

And this my everyday kit :
DSC_0833 by Ricardo Miranda, on Flickr

 

[frank]

Back in the day when the OM1 first came out, I was looking to buy a camera. It's silly and funny, but what turned me off of it was the huge dial just for setting ASA. Design is important to me, and I felt that this was an unforgivable fau pas at the time. Since then I've come to appreciate its positive qualities.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... These are my OM-1 and some of my lenses from 21mm to 200mm: ...

Give it to me.

Back in the day when the OM1 first came out, I was looking to buy a camera. It's silly and funny, but what turned me off of it was the huge dial just for setting ASA. Design is important to me, and I felt that this was an unforgivable fau pas at the time. ...

Likewise! That's why I like my OM-2n: the dial is now for exposure compensation.

 

[darinwc]

"Anyone know of someplace in the greater Bay Area that has a selection of old gear like this one could check out?"

-Lookup glass key photo. Great guys btw.

Regarding ergonomics of vintage cameras.. none that I know of were designed with builtin hand grips. Some had motor drives that added a grip and some just had accessory grips.
For example the pentax me, with the motor drive attached, feels really good in the hand.

But most of those cameras.. from the 70's era.. are are more modern that what I would call a 'vintage' camera.
Older cameras really did not have much use for a 'grip'.. consumer cameras tried to be small and simple. Pro cameras were expected to be used on a tripod.

 

[MattKing]

The OM-2s came with a little screw in finger grip.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

and quicker to use.

Regarding the F3HP, no if it is turned off.
Any of the OM is always ready to shoot. The Off position on the 2 only turns off the viewfinder indications, the camera still fires on Aperture priority even with the switch on OFF. The -2SP/-3 and -4 don't even have an off switch, they just turn themselves off after not been used for sometime.

 

[frank]

Never turn off an F3. The switch is a weak point that can/will break, and there's no battery drain when it's on because there is a timer for the meter.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Never turn off an F3. The switch is a weak point that can/will break, and there's no battery drain when it's on because there is a timer for the meter.

Maybe the F3/T is better. I turn the camera on before each exposure and turn it off afterwards. Just habit. I've been doing this since 1988! So, I've done this for thousands of exposures.

I use the fingernail of my middle finger to do this and I'm surprised the tip of the switch is still black - no wear whatsoever.

 

[flavio81]

Regarding the F3HP, no if it is turned off.
Any of the OM is always ready to shoot.

I never turned off my F3, battery last a lifetime and it is always ready to use, same with the F2, canon F1N and spotmatic.

 

[frank]

Maybe the F3/T is better. I turn the camera on before each exposure and turn it off afterwards. Just habit. I've been doing this since 1988! So, I've done this for thousands of exposures.

I use the fingernail of my middle finger to do this and I'm surprised the tip of the switch is still black - no wear whatsoever.

Stop!

 

[Sirius Glass]

While I was in college, I worked at camera stores selling cameras. I would always bring out only cameras that were for their size hands. By reducing the number of cameras to choose from, we could concentrate on the feature that they wanted. I found that if the cameras were comfortable for them to use, they would use the cameras more often, were happier with the cameras and came back to me to buy lenses and accessories.

 

[Alan Gales]

While I was in college, I worked at camera stores selling cameras. I would always bring out only cameras that were for their size hands. By reducing the number of cameras to choose from, we could concentrate on the feature that they wanted. I found that if the cameras were comfortable for them to use, they would use the cameras more often, were happier with the cameras and came back to me to buy lenses and accessories.

Smart!