Olympus OM-2 SP: Shutter Lag?

KidA · Feb 26, 2016

A while back, I purchased an OM-2SP body. Everything seems to work great but there's a lag between the time I press the shutter, and when it actually fires. The mirror slaps up instantly, sounding like any other SLR but the shutter doesn't open until about 1/10th of a second after that. Put it this way: Every exposure from 1/15th of a second or shorter, always feels like a 1/8th-1/10th shutter speed. Shutter speeds (exposures) are perfect. This body was a little older (it was very cheap) and I thought perhaps something was wrong with it, so I decided to try another one which was in better condition, and the EXACT same thing happened. I now use these as my 'tripod' or slow-action cameras.

Just wondering if any of you with these bodies ever felt the same thing? All my other OMs (non of which are OM 2SPs) fire instantly, or at least instantly enough.

GarageBoy · Feb 26, 2016

It's a known "issue" with those - it takes time for the secondary mirror, etc to flip outta the way

KidA · Feb 26, 2016

GarageBoy said:
It's a known "issue" with those - it takes time for the secondary mirror, etc to flip outta the way

Ahh I see. The OM4 seems to have a very similar (if not identical) mirror system, but doesn't suffer from this problem. Thanks for the clarification.

thuggins · Feb 27, 2016

Keep in mind that the OM4 offered a number of refinements over the OM2SP, which is no doubt why the OM4/4T were popular and successful cameras while the OM2SP had the reputation as something best to steer away from.

MattKing · Feb 27, 2016

If you have a working OM2s/OM2SP they are very nice cameras to actually use. Their implementation of (partial) spot metering along with off-the-film flash or ambient metering was quite remarkable given their price point.

I've never noticed any shutter lag with mine (bought new in the early 1980s), but then I've never been a sports photographer.

I've had many OM bodies over the years (OM-1, OM-1n, OMG, OM2n and OM2s), but I think my OM2s remains my favourite.

I've shot a lot of film through my OM2s, including my last roll of (properly processed) Kodachrome.

baachitraka · Feb 27, 2016

Agree OM-2SP is one fine camera in terms of technology they put in it esp., all time spot-metering in manual mode but there are few engineering mistakes associated with it.

- No ON/OFF switch
- No low voltage indication to change batteries.
- Eats lots of batteries(If this is not there then it would have been my all time camera).

wblynch · Feb 29, 2016

I would make sure you have fresh Silver Oxide batteries in there. If the batteries go dead you can lock up the camera which is a pain.

It could also be hardened lubricants slowing things down. Maybe some more exercise will free it up?

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 29, 2016

wblynch said:
I would make sure you have fresh Silver Oxide batteries in there. If the batteries go dead you can lock up the camera which is a pain.

It could also be hardened lubricants slowing things down. Maybe some more exercise will free it up?

Bill,
If the batteries go dead, you can use the mechanical speeds of 1/60th and B on the -2SP.
If the mirror locks up due to the dead battery, you can free it up by turning to the mechanical speeds.
Until now mine has worked that way.
It was one of the improvements over the -2N and borrowed from the -4.

KidA · Feb 29, 2016

Ricardo Miranda said:
If the batteries go dead, you can use the mechanical speeds of 1/60th and B on the -2SP.
If the mirror locks up due to the dead battery, you can free it up by turning to the mechanical speeds.
Until now mine has worked that way.
It was one of the improvements over the -2N and borrowed from the -4.

This has saved me a few times! But it's still so aggravating to have to depend on only one shutter speed setting (I believe ALL cameras should have mechanical B by default). Man, I wish I could afford an OM3. The only thing I think it lacks is a self timer, which I make use of quite a bit. I do always carry a cable release at least. The OM1 remains my 'Canadian winter' camera.

BMbikerider · Mar 4, 2016

You will find Olympus SP's can have a voracious appetite for batteries, especially in cold weather even if shut off. What can help after it is shut off, is turn the shutter speed ring as far as it will go after the 'B' position this disconects all electrics

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 4, 2016

BMbikerider said:
You will find Olympus SP's can have a voracious appetite for batteries, especially in cold weather even if shut off. What can help after it is shut off, is turn the shutter speed ring as far as it will go after the 'B' position this disconects all electrics

Nope, it actually doesn't.
It has been explained to me that the -4, -2SP and -40 all have a high drain even with the speed ring in "B".
You can test it with a multimeter.
The only way is to remove batteries while not in use.

Olympus OM-2 SP: Shutter Lag?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency