Olympus OM-4 metering issue

Taylor Nankervis said:

I am saddened to read of this, but really, given the age of this OM4 and its variants (irrespective of a well-kept costmetic condition, I would seriously consider having it professionally serviced as a first priority rather than speculate and interfere internally.

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There's nothing wrong with DIY if you're well prepared. The service manual is available; even an OM-4 is no Enigma.

"The (digital) electronics" also includes the analog peripherals, such as switches, contacts, and A/D converters, which can become dirty and cause contact problems.

If the board with its ICs and discrete components actually has a fault, you can get a replacement from another OM-4 and get to grips with it.

I'm not saying this is for everyone, but you shouldn't give up too soon and should explore your DIY options. It's not always as impossible as it might seem

Maximus966 said:

Would love to pick your brain, to see what we can come up with. Is there any switch, other than the trigger, that the advance lever operates?

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I haven't had an Olympus on my desk yet, but I have a few in my cupboard

I'll just look into what information there is on this case.

I haven't found any article about the OM-4 in the SPT Journal, and the Olympus Service Manual isn't helpful for troubleshooting.

However, there's a C & C guide for the OM-4 online that doesn't describe this error, but does contain test routines and troubleshooting instructions that should at least help narrow down the problem.

If it were my OM-4, I'd open it up and see what I can do. I'd look especially for switches and contacts, usually the first suspects.

If DIY isn't an option, then it needs to go to the repair shop - the usual alternatives.

In Germany:

Andreas Thaler said:

I haven't found any article about the OM-4 in the SPT Journal, and the Olympus Service Manual isn't helpful for troubleshooting.

However, there's a C & C guide for the OM-4 online that doesn't describe this error, but does contain test routines and troubleshooting instructions that should at least help narrow down the problem.

If it were my OM-4, I'd open it up and see what I can do. I'd look especially for switches and contacts, usually the first suspects.

If DIY isn't an option, then it needs to go to the repair shop - the us

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Andreas Thaler said:

In Germany:

Über uns

om-doktor.de

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Unfortunately, no one in the US seems to be servicing these bodies, and the manual, like you mentioned, don't have much clear info/images.

I have always wondered if there is some type of switch under the advance mechanism that is casing this type of issue... it is VERY strange, I haven't heard of anyone running into this issue...

I have my OM-1 bodies, so I work with some mechanical stuff on them, but the OM-4 having so many electronics, that is like rocket science to me...

Thanks anyway for the assistance.

Maximus966 said:

Unfortunately, no one in the US seems to be servicing these bodies, and the manual, like you mentioned, don't have much clear info/images.

I have always wondered if there is some type of switch under the advance mechanism that is casing this type of issue... it is VERY strange, I haven't heard of anyone running into this issue...

I have my OM-1 bodies, so I work with some mechanical stuff on them, but the OM-4 having so many electronics, that is like rocket science to me...

Thanks anyway for the assistance.

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With the aforementioned guide as the only technical documentation available for electronics/troubleshooting on the OM-4, electronics-savvy repair shops should be able to find the fault. You could ask if anyone does this work.

Spare parts shouldn't be a counter argument; it's probably/hopefully an electromechanical problem, as is often the case - contamination/contact issue. Here it would only require disassembly/cleaning.