how to brighten viewfinder on OM1

BetterSense · Jan 25, 2015

I love my OM1 cameras and think that the viewfinders are great with either the F2 or F1.4 lenses. However, I lucked into a like-new Pentax ME Super and with the SMC Pentax F1.4 lens, the brightness and clarity of the Pentax is way brighter and contrastier than my OM1s. I really feel like the Pentax finder is somehow brighter than real-life. I would like to know if this is by superior design, or just because my OM1 cameras have been heavily used. Is there a way I can clean my OM1 focus screens? Would buying NOS focus screens help, or was the ME Super finder just better?

Bill Burk · Jan 25, 2015

I think you can buy a Beattie Intenscreen for OM

snapguy · Jan 25, 2015

Sounds

It sounds to me you have a problem with the OM. All the ones I have seen have exceptional, big, bright viewfinders. Not familiar with your model of Pentax but they are very fine cameras, too.

BetterSense · Jan 25, 2015

Well, I have 2 OM1 bodies and used to have an OM2n. The finders are big and bright but the Pentax is just contrastier. Since the Pentax is near-mint my current theory is that the OMs just are starting to get haze on the mirror, focus screen, prism, or all of them. It really becomes clear (heh) in a back-to-back comparison .

I have been told not to try to clean SLR mirrors, is that really true? Is there a safe way to clean them?

Xmas · Jan 25, 2015

No there is not.
You might want to clean the bottom of the prism after removing the screen if you don't have two left hands.
But it is all to easy to damage the screen getting it in and out.
I have a collection of SLRs with damaged mirrors and screens.
Never clean them myself.

darinwc · Jan 26, 2015

First, there are a number of things that can contribute to a poor viewfinder experience..

Some of the early Zuiko's used thorium glass, wich can yellow over time. What is the serial number of your f1.4 zuiko?

What screen do you have? Coarser screens will 'pop' into focus faster but finer screens are smoother and may be brighter. -So it is not necessarily better to have a brighter screen.

You can use compressed air to clean dust the mirror and bottom of the screen. Do not ever touch either.
Silvered or aluminized glass of the mirror is extremely soft and easy to scratch. (really, if there are minor scratches from cleaning, I dont think it will be noticable.)
The bottom of the focussing screen is a plastic frensel. This is very delicate and can be scratched with a slight nick of your fingernail. Use plastic tweezers to remove. the screen type is a number printed on the tab.

Note that the OM1 shows 97% of the image, whereas the ME Super only shows 92%. This may be a minor difference, but it may contribute slightly.

-though quite honestly, even the newer zuiko's seem to me to be a 'warmer' than the smc takumars. It may be that the SMC coating, which I beleive is applied to all surfaces, may be better than Olympus.

-One thing that will make a big difference is to get a eyecup. It makes it much easier to see into the viewfinder without extraneous light.

Hilo · Jan 26, 2015

If you think your OM1 is dirty inside, have it serviced. This I would always do anyway, regardless of which screen you use, Olympus or Beattie.

I have a Beattie screen in my OM1 and it is like going to the cinema. Very bright. It is probably correct that it "snaps less into focus", but I never have a problem to focus and I much prefer the very bright viewfinder. I also have a ME Super with a 50/2 and I believe I have a Zuiko 50/1.8 somewhere, so I will compare for you.

When you install the Beattie screen you need to adjust the lightmeter on the OM1. I used to have this done by someone, but these days I just change the ASA button . . .

My favorite combination: OM1 and 40/2 Zuiko - I think that lens hasn't been taken off in 15 years

gone · Jan 26, 2015

Cleaning the mirrors is easy. Just get you a little kit w/ the red plastic bottle of fluid, tissue and blower brush. Take a tissue, and wet it a little w/ the fluid after giving the mirror a quick blow and brush. Then quickly wipe the mirror off. Have a dry tissue standing ready, and wipe it off quickly and easily w/ that. Never harmed a mirror, and I've done this on probably hundreds of cameras. The problems are usually w/ the focus screen (don't do this to them, just blow and brush), and the internal prism silver deteriorating.

BetterSense · Jan 26, 2015

I'm not concerned about the meter, because I don't use it anyway.

My Zuiko 1.4 is an old silver-nose model. It's not terribly high-contrast on film, whereas the SMC 1.4 is. So maybe the magic is the SMC 1.4. I wish I could mount it on my olympus to test the theory.

I rarely use the olympus 1.4 and usually prefer a 1.8 because the 1.4 is not worth the weight.

I would like to know more about the "kit with red bottle of fluid".

Hilo · Jan 26, 2015

I just had a look: my OM1 and 50/1.8 with Beattie screen is a LOT brighter than my Pentax ME Super with 50/2. It's also a larger finder, very noticeable.

But I am sure the OM1 with it's regular screen should not be dimmer than the Pentax ME Super.

John Koehrer · Jan 26, 2015

Like momus said the mirrors can be cleaned. I use a different technique though.

I use a q-tip thingy but with a 6" handle. Dampen it with the lens cleaner or alkyhol and without pressing
on it clean the surface. Sometimes a second dry one is needed to finish it up. There may be a wisp of cotton
left, just pluck it off.

Les Sarile · Jan 26, 2015

It's too bad but I don't believe viewfinder brightness was ever listed in product specifications. They typically list viewfinder magnification, coverage and in some cases eye-relief, but not brightness. We can compare relative brightness with others in our collection but who is to say it hasn't deteriorated after all these years.

For instance, I am puzzled by how bright my Pentax LX and Nikon F3 finders are even though the mirror allows a percent of light to pass through the transmissive mirror.

lxdude · Jan 27, 2015

Les Sarile said:
It's too bad but I don't believe viewfinder brightness was ever listed in product specifications.

No, but Olympus and some others sure talked about it in their advertising!

lxdude · Jan 27, 2015

BetterSense said:
However, I lucked into a like-new Pentax ME Super and with the SMC Pentax F1.4 lens, the brightness and clarity of the Pentax is way brighter and contrastier than my OM1s. I really feel like the Pentax finder is somehow brighter than real-life. Is there a way I can clean my OM1 focus screens? Would buying NOS focus screens help, or was the ME Super finder just better?

The ME Super finder is remarkably good. It's large, bright, and the contrast is excellent. It's a well-known quality of the camera. It's like the eye just takes to it. I prefer a plain matte or microprism spot screen, but the ME Super's viewfinder is so nice, I happily put up with a non-interchangeable screen of a type I don't prefer.
I like the OM-1 finder as well. It seems to me that it is less contrasty, though. I think the screens are so fine grained to increase brightness that contrast and focusing snap is reduced.

darinwc · Jan 27, 2015

examples

This may clear things up, or more likely add to the confusion.

Here are two images I took with my NEX through the viewfinders of these two cameras. It was very hard to get good clear examples. I set the camera on manual and used the same settings on both.

these clearly show the Olympus with the 'brighter' screen (using the 1-13 screen).

Note, however that the ME Super seems to my eyes (not the pictures) to be a bit clearer or perhaps a tiny bit more contrasty.

-On the other hand, the olympus is easier to see the screen from slightly off angles, whereas the pentax I have to look straight into the viewfinder or the edges will darken. (maybe this is why the image of the pentax appeared dark)

*So I would give these two cameras a tie. But for better screens, there are may other cameras to choose from.

lxdude · Jan 27, 2015

darinwc said:
This may clear things up, or more likely add to the confusion.

Thanks for those pictures. They convey pretty well the impression I get from each.

darinwc · Jan 27, 2015

Oh the Pentax had a SMC-M 50mm f1.4 lens, and the Olympus had a 50mm f1.4 MC in the 800,000 range.

I dont know when exactly Olympus switched away from thorium glass, but many of the chrome-nose 50's use it.

Xmas · Jan 27, 2015

BetterSense said:
I'm not concerned about the meter, because I don't use it anyway.

My Zuiko 1.4 is an old silver-nose model. It's not terribly high-contrast on film, whereas the SMC 1.4 is. So maybe the magic is the SMC 1.4. I wish I could mount it on my olympus to test the theory.

I rarely use the olympus 1.4 and usually prefer a 1.8 because the 1.4 is not worth the weight.

I would like to know more about the "kit with red bottle of fluid".

It is for scratching mirrors with.

Your silver nose is single coated the SMC multi...

A Nikon pre AI /1.4 is heavy...

Ulrich Drolshagen · Jan 27, 2015

The silvering on the pentaprism of the OM is ok? If the camera hadn't been serviced already the coating may be deteriorated.

thuggins · Jan 27, 2015

I've got a Beattie on my OM-4T and there is a slight, but not significant, difference from the stock screen. The main reason is because the stock screens on OM's are VERY bright. Mirrors can be cleaned with care; use a microfiber lens cloth and alcohol or lens cleaning fluid. Never try to clean the focusing screen.

If the OM has never been serviced it certainly deserves some professional attention.

how to brighten viewfinder on OM1

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