Olympus OM-2s problem: film advance/shutter release

syncrasy · May 4, 2021

I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem with my dad's old OM-2s. The film advance and shutter release functions won't work properly. I've opened up the casing and compared the inner works to those shown in several YouTube videos. The videos I saw talk about reattaching displaced springs, but I don't know if that's my issue. In my camera the black lever (mirror-charge lever) appears to be stuck in the "cocked" position (see yellow arrow in attached photo). The shutter button and its attached internal arm appear to move freely but pressing the shutter button doesn't release the black lever. I can actually move the mirror-charge lever by gentle force into the released position, then use the film advance thumb lever on the camera to re-cock it, but the shutter button won't release the cocked lever. I can't figure out how to fix this issue.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

shutterfinger · May 4, 2021

https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/OM-2S-spt.pdf
https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=398&category=2&secondary=9

syncrasy · May 4, 2021

Thanks. A lot to take in. Discovered the name of the black lever is the mirror-charge lever. Maybe the mirror is locked up and putting in a new battery will change the situation. (I'm reading about mirror lock up on other forums.)

reddesert · May 4, 2021

Don't take anything apart until you've put in a new battery! It will not operate at all without a good battery!

btaylor · May 4, 2021

reddesert said:
Don't take anything apart until you've put in a new battery! It will not operate at all without a good battery!

Yea, many of these are sold as “not working” because the mirror is “stuck” in the up position. It’s what happens when the battery dies and the shutter is released. I got a body in near mint condition sold for parts. Needed a battery.

MattKing · May 4, 2021

And silver oxide batteries please.

syncrasy · May 4, 2021

I found a couple of Duracell 303/357 batteries in my drawer (presumably they are suitable replacements for SR44). They worked!

There's a curious vibrating noise after the shutter release. I hear the noise after both the opening and closing slaps of the mirror when holding the camera normally, but when I hold the camera upside down or sideways, the vibration disappears on the closing slap. The dampening foam strip where the mirror slaps against the top appears to be in good shape, so I suspect the vibration is caused by the flat part (sensor?) that hangs behind the mirror (attached to the mirror hinge). Because it moves in tandem with the mirror, but has some play, I think it vibrates briefly against the mirror. Is my hypothesis correct? What's the name of that part? Is it normal for it to vibrate briefly after a mirror slap?

shutterfinger · May 5, 2021

The manuals are written for experienced service people. The parts diagram for the camera is poor. The electronics can be damaged easily if the proper precautions are not taken, no synthetic clothing or leather sole shoes and a static neutral workspace.
I do not recommend opening the camera. If the vibration gets worse look into it otherwise leave it as is.

reddesert · May 5, 2021

The OM-2s has a partially silvered mirror and a meter cell hanging behind the mirror. The meter cell flips up against the back of the mirror when the shutter is fired - you can see this when the shutter is fired on B. It is lightly sprung and can be moved, which is normal - don't mess with it.

Also I forgot, the OM-2s does have a mechanical speed, unlike many battery dependent cameras including some other Olympuses. There are a 1/60 and B on the shutter ring that can be fired without batteries. These can get the mirror back down if your batteries die and it sticks up. There is a lock that has to be pressed to rotate the shutter ring onto 1/60 and B. Finding this lock is left as an exercise for the reader.

Olympus OM-2s problem: film advance/shutter release

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