Olympus OM-4 metering issue

Maximus966 · Apr 19, 2025

Hello all!

I have one weird issue with the electronics on my OM-4.

Camera has worked beautifully since I have it, but today it has been quite the interesting day.

After cleaning of the spring, battery cover and threads - not that they were dirty anyway, but this is what I have always read when having a black battery compartment cover - the battery finally started up the camera and electronics. Battery check works perfect (steady LED and beep). I always store my cameras with batteries removed.

Now, my issue at the moment is that I can do the spots, highlights, memory functions, BUT without advancing. As soon as I advance, all clears up in the display, and no matter what mode I set, the display will not reflect any reading/settings, even when slightly depressing the shutter button.

As soon as I shoot, I can take all readings display works beautiful. As soon as I advance again, all goes blank and no metering /readings are able to be taken/displayed.

Batteries are new Eveready 357… hope that this is the case, if anything, as I have read that these are SR44 substitutes.

Appreciate your feedback, as always!

Jorge

koraks · Apr 19, 2025

Maybe a capacitor problem. Cameras like these have generally one or more electrolytic buffer capacitors that supply the electronics with stable power. These capacitors degrade and often leak on cameras this age, and need to be replaced.

Maximus966 · Apr 19, 2025

koraks said:
Maybe a capacitor problem. Cameras like these have generally one or more electrolytic buffer capacitors that supply the electronics with stable power. These capacitors degrade and often leak on cameras this age, and need to be replaced.

Thanks. I guess this service would be way above my pay grade. Any idea who I may contact for this, or if there’s any OM-4 service manual I can use for this service?

Chan Tran · Apr 19, 2025

Are the batteries new?

Maximus966 · Apr 19, 2025

Chan Tran said:
Are the batteries new?

Yes, Eveready 357 batteries, brand spanking new. Understand that 357 are SR44 replacements.

koraks · Apr 19, 2025

Maximus966 said:
Any idea who I may contact for this, or if there’s any OM-4 service manual I can use for this service?

You can obtain a repair manual here: https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?category=2&secondary=9
Replacing these capacitors generally isn't very difficult. You could search online for some tutorials and videos; maybe you'll even find something specific to this camera.

Chan Tran · Apr 19, 2025

Maximus966 said:
Yes, Eveready 357 batteries, brand spanking new. Understand that 357 are SR44 replacements.

Yes the 357 is equivalent to the SR44. You have nothing to lose. Sacrify the batteries leave it on and the shutter cock for a few hours and see if it comes back up. Sometimes the capacitor comes back after you apply power to it for some time.

Maximus966 · Apr 19, 2025

Chan Tran said:
Yes the 357 is equivalent to the SR44. You have nothing to lose. Sacrify the batteries leave it on and the shutter cock for a few hours and see if it comes back up. Sometimes the capacitor comes back after you apply power to it for some time.

Will do; thanks! Will order the service manual as well. Thanks again for your time.

Maximus966 · Apr 19, 2025

Just noticed that the viewfinder metering illumination light also stops working AFTER advancing. Definitely something related to advance then.

Sharktooth · Apr 19, 2025

It sounds like the first switch in your shutter release button isn't working. I have a similar problem in a Minolta XD-11. There are two switch points in the shutter release. The first one occurs when you do a slight press on the release botton. This turns on the metering system. When you press the shutter release further it activates a second switch to release the shutter.

If the first switch isn't working, no power goes to the metering system when you slightly depress the shutter release button. When you push the release button fully, the second switch sends power to the metering circuit, and also fires the shutter. After the shutter is fired, you can still push down fully on the release switch, so the meter will stay active. When you advance the film, if the first switch isn't working, you can only activate the electronics by tripping the shutter. You're in a catch 22 situation now.

On the Minolta XD-11, the switches for the shutter release are not easily accessible, so it's a job for someone who knows what they're doing (ie, not cheap). I don't know if that's the case for the OM-4, however.

Maximus966 · Apr 19, 2025

Sharktooth said:
It sounds like the first switch in your shutter release button isn't working. I have a similar problem in a Minolta XD-11. There are two switch points in the shutter release. The first one occurs when you do a slight press on the release botton. This turns on the metering system. When you press the shutter release further it activates a second switch to release the shutter.

If the first switch isn't working, no power goes to the metering system when you slightly depress the shutter release button. When you push the release button fully, the second switch sends power to the metering circuit, and also fires the shutter. After the shutter is fired, you can still push down fully on the release switch, so the meter will stay active. When you advance the film, if the first switch isn't working, you can only activate the electronics by tripping the shutter. You're in a catch 22 situation now.

On the Minolta XD-11, the switches for the shutter release are not easily accessible, so it's a job for someone who knows what they're doing (ie, not cheap). I don't know if that's the case for the OM-4, however.

Makes sense… will dig in a little further to see then what decision to take. Thanks!

Andreas Thaler · Apr 19, 2025

If there's an answer, it's here. It's the most comprehensive service document for electronic problems with the OM-4.

If you take the OM-4 to the repair shop, include this document

Elektrotanya for electronics experts

Electronics forum for electronics experts to repair defective appliance.

elektrotanya.com

Les Sarile · Apr 20, 2025

Maximus966 said:
Thanks. I guess this service would be way above my pay grade. Any idea who I may contact for this, or if there’s any OM-4 service manual I can use for this service?

I've used John's services before satisfactorily @ http://zuiko.com/

Maximus966 · Apr 20, 2025

Les Sarile said:
I've used John's services before satisfactorily @ http://zuiko.com/

Thanks! Sent him a note:.. let’s see how this proceeds. Thanks!

btaylor · Apr 20, 2025

John’s THE Olympus guy in the US.

Maximus966 · Apr 20, 2025

btaylor said:
John’s THE Olympus guy in the US.

Thanks! Let’s see what his reply is. Thanks!!

Maximus966 · Wednesday at 5:04 AM

Ahhhh, no luck! John is getting ready for his retirement, and not working on the OM4.

Gonna risk it and open it to check switches contact points, to see if the same are dirty… anyway, if no luck, I have a manual only OM4 to use then!

There’s definitely not much info online for OM4 cameras, service-wise speaking.

Olympus OM-4 metering issue

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