Olympus OM-4 metering issue

[Maximus966]

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]

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]

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]

Are the batteries new?

 

[Maximus966]

Are the batteries new?

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

 

[koraks]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Sharktooth]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

 

[btaylor]

John’s THE Olympus guy in the US.

 

[Maximus966]

John’s THE Olympus guy in the US.

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

 

[Maximus966]

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.

 

[Maximus966]

I finally opened the camera top and
Cleaned some contact points.

I did notice the the ASA dial had lost a large number of teeth on the rear of the dial. Anyone know where I can get one of these?

Also, it seems that the counter dial needs to have a number of “spins” before setting so the spring on the rear has the enough force to return it to “S” when opening the rear. Anyone has any idea how many “spins” (turns?) the dial and the spring needs to have before setting in the advance pivot point?

Other that this, camera remains doing the same crap… metering before performing advance works beautiful. When advanced, all metering does.

Think I’ll be having a beautiful OM-4 brick, all manual body…

 

[Bill Burk]

You got it back together without ruining it?

Don't open the front under the lens mount is a brush like a prickly pear cactus fruit spike that you'll never get back together

 

[Maximus966]

You got it back together without ruining it?

Don't open the front under the lens mount is a brush like a prickly pear cactus fruit spike that you'll never get back together

Yes. It works ins all speeds; all I have to do is adjust the counter. Unfortunately, the meter does not work after advancing, and after looking how the top looks, there’s no way I am opening the mirror box to get to the trigger switch. No idea where is is, and with no training/videos, no way that is going back to working mode!

 

[Maximus966]

Hello All

Thanks for your feedback related to my OM-4 metering issue.

FYI… reaching out to you after your observations

Yes, in manual mode the readout turns off after approx 2 minutes without advancing. I half-press the trigger switch, and the meter starts up immidiately.

I advance in manual mode, and although the metering display stays lighted up, I press the trigger halfway, and/or the spot, and nothing happens… it stays lighted. I wait the 2 minutes approx and it just stays lighted up, no changes whatsoever.

In Auto mode, same thing happens as above.

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? I am soooo frustrated with this Mint looking unit I have, that was fully operational until a couple of weeks ago….

 

[Bill Burk]

Do you have film in it? There is another switch on the take-up reel. A fine finger of wire sticks up and detects the presence of loaded film. I don’t remember what it engages or disengages but maybe plays into your issues.

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

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.

This camera was one of the very best I owned in the mid-1980s, teaching me the basics of highlight and shadow metering and balance, and fitted with its attendant motordrive and Kodachrome 64, was an unbelievably great camera for travel (I was involved in international bicycle touring at the time, this camera and others after it, bouncing around in a large Karrimor handlebar bag!). Other known faults that it can be affect by are breakage of the meter coupling rope (a similar set up to much earlier Pentax 6x7/67 cameras) and the winding mechanism. The possibility exists there that a winding pawl has stripped and this is responsible for triggering a premature cut-out of metering.

 

[F4U]

Basically an old 80's consumer grade camera. In the context of its era, a fine camera I'm sure. Now, 40 years later, non serviceable, practically speaking. Everybody who might work on it is either long retired, or more likely dead. Sad truth, but truth nevertheless. Should best be considered non-serviceable. In the case you might have a few OM lenses you wish to still use, find an OM-1, which for some reason is still highly regarded.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Now, 40 years later, non serviceable, practically speaking. Everybody who might work on it is either long retired, or more likely dead. Sad truth, but truth nevertheless. Should best be considered non-serviceable.

If that were the case, other SLRs with issues from that era would also be hopeless. But fortunately that's not the reality