Olympus OM-2n

peters8 · Oct 30, 2012

Hi guys!
I never had any Olympus cameras in my life!...Now I could buy an Olympus OM-2n (with a Zuiko 50 mm 1.4) for a good price (60 euro).
I'd like to know if this model is a good camera.
actually I'm using a Canon F-1 new:is the Olympus at the same livel?

Other question: Did Olympus make some professional camera (respected by professional users)?

Thanks

erikg · Oct 30, 2012

Short answer: great price. Yes. Yes, but different. Yes, all single digit OMs are pro models.

tkamiya · Oct 30, 2012

I can't compare with Canon because I've never used one.

Compared to just about everything else Japanese made, Olympus is a simple camera. Simple in a good way that is. It does what it is designed to do and does it very well in a small package. When OM-2 was new, it was a top of the line camera body. It incorporated aperture priority exposure scheme as well as manual. OM-1 (fully manual) and OM-10 (low cost amateur model) was its family of cameras.

As far as I know, Olympus just made one line of lens for all users, amateurs and pros. I *think* adoption by pros were relatively lower compared to Nikons and Canons but I don't have any statistics to back that up. I recall hearing somewhere, most newspaper guys used Nikon or Canon back then.

Back when these cameras were available new, I was in Japan and I owned an OM10. A very fine camera. I couldn't afford anything better back then and I wished I could have had an OM1 or 2.

One thing I really like about these older Olympus was that they had a shutter speed ring right where the lens mounts, and of course the aperture is somewhere on the lens itself. One could adjust one or the other by simply sliding hand just a little. A very elegant design, I thought.

If you can have one at reasonable price, I would highly recommend it. Because its off people's favorite list, lenses can be had for much less than say Nikon or Canon. That's a plus.

nsurit · Oct 30, 2012

Great camera. Don't expect huge price breaks on the faster lenses. Olympus made great glass. You will not be disappointed with the results. As you know the OMs are a good bit smaller/lighter than your F1-new. Theyare also very well made cameras. Bill Barber

Excalibur2 · Oct 31, 2012

The only serious complaint I've read about the single digit OMs is that some have a problem "eating" batteries, you might want to look into this and see if the one you are interested in has been modified...sorry I can't help as I'm not an OM fan.
Also another minus is the OMs will not take a M42 adapter so you can't use all those lovely screw lenses.

Ulrich Drolshagen · Oct 31, 2012

Excalibur2 said:
The only serious complaint I've read about the single digit OMs is that some have a problem "eating" batteries,

This is only true for OM-2sp and OM4.

The cameras were professionally used mainly in a scientific environment. Olympus is a manufacturer of high precision optics (microscopes, endoscopes and the like) in the first place. With all such gear the cameras were used for documentation purposes.

mr rusty · Oct 31, 2012

The lens alone is worth close to 60 (the way zuiko glass is going up). OMs are great cameras. watch for sticky foams and light seals (as all older kit), and particularly on OMs get the foam that was installed under the top cover on top of the prism removed, as it eventually eats the prism silvering. Otherwise a CLA and prob then good for many years. I have 4 OMs that I use regularly.

mgb74 · Oct 31, 2012

As noted above, many OMs have foam on top of the prism that deteriorates with age and eats through the prism silvering. If this has happened, you'll notice dark "wisps" or threads as you look through the viewfinder.

dsmccrac · Oct 31, 2012

I am just repeating what everyone has said, but welcome on board! The only downside is one more person to battle for OM gear with on eBay and such, haha. I should just be selfish and say 'don't do it, OMs suck' but I can't lie!!

As you have read, the 2n is great as are most of the single digit OMs. The ones that can eat batteries have been noted. The OM1 was set up for mercury batteries so that needs to be taken into consideration. Lots of options for that but I am doing the low rent option of a hearing aid battery and a wad of tinfoil;-)

I also have my original OM2 from back in the day. It needs its foam replaced in the prism before any more flecks appear on the viewfinder. Really I do not see a huge difference between the 2 and the 2n. I know there are ones. I got a 2n just because I knew it would be newer.

I have never tried the 2sp or the 3 or 4. I may someday but to me the 1 and. 2/2n are what I gravitate to. Some people speculate that the 3 and 4 may be harder to keep running for a long time as they have more electronics.

wblynch · Oct 31, 2012

At least the OM-3, like the OM-1 can keep running for a long, long time. Batteries and electronics are only for the meters in these beauties.

After 37 years owning OM-1's I got my first OM-2(n) earlier this year and it is a sweetheart of a camera. Just so smooth and quiet. Very simple and elegant.

I now have OM-1/2/2S/3/4t/10/40 cameras and the OM-1 will always be my favorite with the OM-2 just a half-step behind.

And with my recent vision impairments, the OM-2 is my go-to since I can't really read the meters anymore.

baachitraka · Nov 1, 2012

I once got OM-1n + 50mm f/1.4 for 45 Euros but 60 euros is not a bad price. Get it, shoot with it and switch to pure mechanicals like OM-1(n) or OM-3(very pricy). I prefer hand-held meter with OM-1n + 35mm lens combo.

thuggins · Nov 13, 2012

mgb74 said:
As noted above, many OMs have foam on top of the prism that deteriorates with age and eats through the prism silvering. If this has happened, you'll notice dark "wisps" or threads as you look through the viewfinder.

This was only a problem on the 1's, and it is easy to fix. Olympus realized there was no need to "seal" around the eyepiece and eliminated the foam. My OM-2n was the first of much (far too much) OM gear, bought slightly used in the mid '80's. It has never been serviced and works like a champ.

One day, God wanted a camera. So he made the OM's.

dsmccrac · Nov 13, 2012

So thuggins, are you saying hat certain members of the OM family came without foam in the prism area? I have a range of OMs and want to do preventative maintenance to avoid the dreaded rotting foam. If I was to know that certain models or serial numbers of models do not have this issue I would really appreciate it

mopar_guy · Nov 14, 2012

dsmccrac said:
If I was to know that certain models or serial numbers of models do not have this issue I would really appreciate it

There were some OM-1 cameras that did not have prism foam. I cannot remember what serial number ranges.

darinwc · Nov 14, 2012

I currently have a OM-2 and I used to have a Canon F1N as my main camera.

The Canon is a great workhorse of a camera. Not overly large like a Nikon F, but solidly built and heavy to match. (the motor drive, on the other hand, is humungous)
For some reason the sound of the shutter really makes a difference to me, and the F1N was music to my ears.
Both systems have a wide variety of lenses, but the FD system seems to be more available at the moment.

One really nice feature of the OM2 is the big, easy to use exposure-compensation dial.
The camera is small, as well as the whole system. I have a body and 3 lenses in a bag that only fit the Canon and one lens.
The faster OM Zuiko lenses tend to be pricey, but the basic 3 lens kit (28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 135mm f3.5) can still be had cheaply.

I have a 50mm f1.4, 24mm f2.8 (great lens!), 85mm f2 in my usual kit. I also have the 135mm f2.8, 35mm f2, 28mm f3.5.

thuggins · Nov 27, 2012

dsmccrac said:
So thuggins, are you saying hat certain members of the OM family came without foam in the prism area? I have a range of OMs and want to do preventative maintenance to avoid the dreaded rotting foam. If I was to know that certain models or serial numbers of models do not have this issue I would really appreciate it

AFIAK, only the 1's used the foam around the prism. I have never had occassion to take the top cover off of my 2n as it has never had a problem and the prism shows no degradation. John Hermanson at Camtech could provide specifics as to model/SN cutoffs. He used to post comments here. Let's hope he's just busy keeping all those wonderful Oly's running!

mr rusty · Nov 29, 2012

AFIAK, only the 1's used the foam around the prism

No, this isn't so. I had a prism changed on my 2n when it was CLAd and my beater OM2, which works perfectly was acquired with some foam degradation on the prism. As it's a bit rough anyway I haven't decided whether to have it sorted yet.

darinwc · Nov 29, 2012

mr rusty said:
No, this isn't so. I had a prism changed on my 2n when it was CLAd and my beater OM2, which works perfectly was acquired with some foam degradation on the prism. As it's a bit rough anyway I haven't decided whether to have it sorted yet.

/agree
i have a om2 (dont remember if its the 2 or 2n) and the prism was degraded due to the foam. Still usable, but noticeable black patches in the viewfinder.
Good tip: the OM10 uses the same prism. I replaced the prism in my OM2.. -Doable, but not as easy as I would like. The OM's are seriously packed tight, and the foam was a pain to thoroughly remove.

Somewhere i read that serial numbers past a certain point do not have the foam.
Darin

Olympus OM-2n

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