Olympus OM-10 issues

Justgallant1 · Mar 25, 2020

Hey guys,

Not sure where to post for help but my Olympus OM-10 has issues with the mirror sticking up, it has brand new batteries.

When i go to take the batteries out the mirror clicks back down, when i put them back in i can click the shutter but the mirror will stick with the shutter open until I remove the batteries.

Any advice for a novice with an old camera? Thank in advance!

BobD · Mar 25, 2020

The OM-10 has an electronically controlled shutter so it is likely that an electronic component has failed.
Repairs would likely cost far more than simply finding another, working OM series body.

nsurit · Mar 25, 2020

I would look for a single digit OM. OM 1, 2, 3 or 4. I like the OM 2S, however they can have circuit problems.

Buzz-01 · Mar 25, 2020

I have no personal experience with OM-10's so this is purely from what I've read online: I have read that a lot of them suffer from a sticky electromagnet which controls the shutter and mirror. There are videos online of how to clean that.
Not sure if it would fix your issue though, as you state that removing the batteries will release the mirror, that would point into the direction of an electrical issue rather than sticky grease.
Does leaving the batteries in and then flipping the camera over or softly tapping it with the palm of your hand also not release the mirror? If it does, then cleaning the magnet might fix this for you.
Did you measure the voltage of your new batteries?

If you decide to get another camera, the OM-1 is a great full-manual camera that also operates without batteries, the OM-2 is more like your OM-10 in terms of operation, as it features manual and aperture priority (auto) mode. The OM-2 does require batteries to work though. I own both and I can only confirm that they are greatly built and are very durable, but like I said I don't have experience with any OM-10 so I cannot compare.

Horatio · Mar 26, 2020

Invest in a working OM-1. Much cheaper option to an OM-10 repair. You can reuse the lens.

Jesper · Mar 26, 2020

This is a very stupid question but do you have a lens cap on?
It has been many years since I used an OM10 but I still remember that the time it took for the shutter to close without light was a lot longer than expected and long enough to be convinced that it was stuck.

Buzz-01 · Mar 26, 2020

Jesper said:
This is a very stupid question but do you have a lens cap on?
It has been many years since I used an OM10 but I still remember that the time it took for the shutter to close without light was a lot longer than expected and long enough to be convinced that it was stuck.

Oh that's a good one! It's very likely that the OM-10 in auto-mode (so without manual adapter) has off-the-film metering, like the OM-2!

In that case, if you shoot with the lens cap on, and/or without film in the camera, shutter speeds might become veeeeery long!
Like tens of seconds to minutes. Well, that's what happens on the OM-2 when shooting in dim light without film inside the camera.
On the OM-2 you can test the camera without film by pressing the shutter in a normally-lit room with the back of the camera open, allowing light to come in from the back of the camera. You could try this on your OM-10 as well, provided that you don't have film loaded ofcourse...

wiltw · Mar 26, 2020

Do you have film loaded? The camera relies upon the reflectivity of light off the film surface, for the meter to accumulate light and allow the shutter to close and the mirror to drop.

Horatio · Mar 26, 2020

wiltw said:
Do you have film loaded? The camera relies upon the reflectivity of light off the film surface, for the meter to accumulate light and allow the shutter to close and the mirror to drop.

Seriously? Just for kicks I tried this in my OM-10, which suffers from the defective mirror reset. Didn't work, as I expected.

Don't waste a good roll of film.

MattKing · Mar 26, 2020

If you test an OM-10 in auto without film loaded the shutter will take much longer to close than if film is loaded.
But I think the OP is describing something quite different from that.
The problem could also be due to degradation of the light seals.

Horatio · Mar 26, 2020

MattKing said:
If you test an OM-10 in auto without film loaded the shutter will take much longer to close than if film is loaded.
But I think the OP is describing something quite different from that.

Well, I learned something new, thanks. I assume this only applies to functional cameras.

MattKing · Mar 26, 2020

Horatio said:
Well, I learned something new, thanks. I assume this only applies to functional cameras.

The off the film metering which determines when the shutter is to close depends on the light reflecting off the film. The pressure plate reflects much less light than film does.
But yes, that only works when those functions in the camera are functional .
Those systems might be independent from the mirror in certain circumstances, and in certain ways.

wiltw · Mar 26, 2020

Horatio said:
Seriously? Just for kicks I tried this in my OM-10, which suffers from the defective mirror reset. Didn't work, as I expected.

Don't waste a good roll of film.

SERIOUSLY!!! If you do not want to use film, open the back and insert a white piece of paper the width of the film so it covers the pressure plate.

MattKing · Mar 26, 2020

wiltw said:
SERIOUSLY!!! If you do not want to use film, open the back and insert a white piece of paper the width of the film so it covers the pressure plate.

At one time, and at least with certain models, the OTF metering OM models came with a grey card inserted in just this way. That allowed store clerks and new purchasers the opportunity to try the cameras out after unpacking them without having to load film.

Horatio · Mar 26, 2020

MattKing said:
At one time, and at least with certain models, the OTF metering OM models came with a grey card inserted in just this way. That allowed store clerks and new purchasers the opportunity to try the cameras out after unpacking them without having to load film.

Ok. I now recall reading about OTF metering, a long time ago. There’s a lot I’ve forgotten over the years. Never realized this would affect the shutter.

Justgallant1 · Mar 26, 2020

Hey all,

Thanks so much for the solid amount of info i was really struggling to work it out especially with these lockdowns! I tried with the lense cap off and unfortunately worked out it wasnt working after id put the film in.

Going from this information i contact ebay for a refund and they gave it really quick.

I am wondering whether to try another OM 10 or try the OM2 instead of the om1 because I am a true novice and think i need the automatic apeture priorty.

Any thoughts on the better of the two as the better beginner film camera?

Thanks again legends really loving this site!

MattKing · Mar 26, 2020

Justgallant1 said:
Any thoughts on the better of the two as the better beginner film camera?

Legends????

Both are good choices, although an OM2 (or even better, an OM2n) is definitely a more capable camera.
An OMG/OM20 is probably a better bet than an OM-10 if you are considering the lighter weight, "amateur" models.

wiltw · Mar 26, 2020

The OM-10/-20 is a more 'amateur snapshooter' camera, while the single-digit models were made to be more suited to the pro shooter or real enthusiast.
One example is there is a Manual Adapter (optional) which allows the user to set the shutter speed. Without it, your control is the aperture ring only and exposure compensation dials. The manual adapter is often not provided with a used OM-10 because the original buyer never found they wanted to take the camera of 'Auto'; what the Manual Adapter does is what is fundamental capability of OM-1/-2/-3/-4 bodies.
As i recall, the OM-10/-20 develop problems more often than any OM-1/-2/-3/-4. A search with Google would find issues.

MattKing · Mar 27, 2020

The OM-20/OM-G is in many ways an OM-10 with many of the OM-10's design issues worked out. It also has the manual function built in - no adapter needed.
It also has the best implementation of a self timer I have ever used on an OM body!
I used to sell the OM-10, but I've never owned one. I've owned two OM-Gs, along with a bunch of the other models, including all three versions of the OM-2, two versions of the OM-1, and the OM-4T. I'm now down to an OM-G, an OM-2s, an OM-2n and an OM -4T.

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