Olympus Om System - How are they holding up

[Rob Skeoch]

OM-4Ti - stopped production 2002
OM-3Ti - stopped production 2002
OM-4 - stopped production 1988
I have a question for those that currently use the Olympus OM system.
I realize the cameras were great and many of us used them decades ago but my question is for those currently using these cameras. How have they held up?
Are parts available?
Are the seals holding up or drying out.
Do the shutters keep shuttering?
I've always liked the OM system but some of these cameras are getting pretty old, which is fine if parts and service are still available.
Also are the lenses still clear, a number on eBay seem to have a slight haze, won't affect the photos they say, but I don't see how that could be true.
If you still shoot Olympus OM - 4Ti, 3Ti, 4 ... tell me what you think and what to watch out for.
I'm mostly interested in the 3Ti or 4Ti, what has your experience been?
-Rob

 

[jgoody]

Can't speak to the 3 and 4 series - I have an OM1n which failed a few years ago (and was unrepairable) so I picked up an OM2 and an OM2n body which have been excellent -- on one I broke the meter switch and Camtech (an OM specialist in NY state) replaced the switch and did a CLA on the camera. If you're worried about repairability I would contact him or look at his website -- I believe he's the only one with a supply of parts. I think with old cameras the answer is to have an extra body, just in case.

 

[Oren Grad]

Camtech (an OM specialist in NY state) replaced the switch and did a CLA on the camera. If you're worried about repairability I would contact him or look at his website...

Yes, John Hermanson is the OM (and Pen F) man:

http://zuiko.com/

 

[Les Sarile]

OM-4Ti - stopped production 2002
If you still shoot Olympus OM - 4Ti, 3Ti, 4 ... tell me what you think and what to watch out for.

All good to go . . .

I lucked out and bought the OM3 as "not working and parts only" but it turned out to be in perfect working condition once I put batteries in it. The others I bought in good working condition and they are still to this day.

I have many way older cameras that are also in perfect working condition. A testament to the quality of these fine machines!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

All good to go . . .

I lucked out and bought the OM3 as "not working and parts only" but it turned out to be in perfect working condition once I put batteries in it. The others I bought in good working condition and they are still to this day.

I have many way older cameras that are also in perfect working condition. A testament to the quality of these fine machines!

Do you enjoy shooting with the OM 3 or OM4 more?

 

[MattKing]

OM-2s owned since new:

I took that shot to commemorate the last ever roll of Kodachrome I put through it in late 2010.
Other than the cosmetic wear, the only repair it has ever needed was, about 30 years in, the adhesive failed on the mirror - it was easily and quickly re-attached by my repair person.
All of my other current bodies were bought used.
Of my two OM-Gs, one developed a bit of uncertainty in the function (Battery check/Auto/Manual) switch. I just live with it.
The other OM-G was flawless - it was given to a young photographer who wanted to try a film camera.
My OM-2n has been fine for years, other than a slightly sticky rewind switch - I need to check that it goes from rewind to normal setting when the back opens.
And I've only had my OM-4T for a 2-3 years - no problems.

 

[CMoore]

OM-4Ti - stopped production 2002
Are parts available?
Are the seals holding up or drying out.

Depends what you mean by "available".
You might check with one of the aforementioned Olympus Repair Gurus.It all depends on what you might need. Some parts are plentiful, others are going to be a donor scenario.

Any seal from an older camera might need to be replaced. Will the seals in the one you buy...who knows.?
I have not heard about the 3 or 4 having known "issues" with their seals.

Even today, assuming it was not a mess, with the exception of a few models, i do not think i would hesitate to buy any SLR, that i wanted to shoot as my "main" camera.
I assume any SLR i buy will at least need a CLA.

 

[BAC1967]

I have two OM-2n and three OM-1, the only thing I have needed to do is replace the light seals in all of them. The lenses are clear.

 

[btaylor]

I prefer simpler- like the OM1, OM2n or s. Got the OM1 in 1977, had it CLA’d about a decade ago because it seemed like a good idea. Have the OM2n and OM4 but I still prefer the first one. They are robust, but if one fails they are inexpensive to replace. All my Zuiko glass is in excellent shape too.

 

[BMbikerider]

There seems to be a steady supply of most OM bodies in UK. The rarest possibly being the OM3. OM1/OM1n/OM2/OM2n OM2 SP(Plentiful) OM4/OM4Ti with the 'plastic' versions OK apart from the OM20/OM30 I have not seen one for a long time.

The OM2 SP versions had a bad reputation for battery drainage which is probably why there are so many around. Incidentally this can be more or less avoided by turning off the switch and rotating the speed dial onto 'B'. That does seem to solve the problem to some degree.

OM Lenses also seem to be OK. The 18mm is and always was pretty rare, 21/24mm not plentiful but they are around. 28/35/50 reasonably good. Probably the rarest is the 35/70 F3.6. I have only seen 1 in the past year. All the others are available, except the 85mm F2 which are as rare as hens teeth but you just have to know where to look. The 300mm is the biggest surprise, they can be found for less than £100. They may be battered but optically they are still very good.

 

[alentine]

I prefer simpler- like the OM1, OM2n or s.

OM3Ti is simpler than OM2/n/s.
Though fully mechanical, It has the most sophisticated light metering in any camera made.
Nikon F5, is as sophisticated and more, but with much extra weight, and could not be operated without batteries like OM3Ti.
Could not stop dreaming of OM3Ti.
It’s a unique style alone.
OM2/n/s I think could not be operated without batteries.

 

[Les Sarile]

Do you enjoy shooting with the OM 3 or OM4 more?

I have great enjoyment shooting either but the manual involvement of the OM3 is probably more satisfying.

 

[M-88]

Let's see... I bought several bodies during the last two years on used market...

Two OM-1: one with dead meter. Speeds were accurate. Meter was repaired by me easily, since it was just a wire issue;
Two OM-2: both were excellent functionally, but had prism deterioration (those were non-N versions).
Three OM-2 Spots: All of them had desynchronization of second curtain.
Two OM-4, regular, non-T versions: spot circuit was dead on one and there was battery drain issue. Other one is fine and it's my go-to camera along with OMPC (aka OM40). I tried to change a platform, but nothing else really works for me. Neither ergonomically, nor with mass and size. If I am to carry additional weight, I'd much prefer it to be an extra lens, not an extra chunk of metal on the body.

most sophisticated light metering in any camera made.

*mechanical camera. Because OM-4 has the same sophisticated metering as OM-3.

 

[BAC1967]

Let's see... I bought several bodies during the last two years on used market...

Two OM-1: one with dead meter. Speeds were accurate. Meter was repaired by me easily, since it was just a wire issue;
Two OM-2: both were excellent functionally, but had prism deterioration (those were non-N versions).
Three OM-2 Spots: All of them had desynchronization of second curtain.
Two OM-4, regular, non-T versions: spot circuit was dead on one and there was battery drain issue. Other one is fine and it's my go-to camera along with OMPC (aka OM40). I tried to change a platform, but nothing else really works for me. Neither ergonomically, nor with mass and size. If I am to carry additional weight, I'd much prefer it to be an extra lens, not an extra chunk of metal on the body.


*mechanical camera. Because OM-4 has the same sophisticated metering as OM-3.

Now that you mention it I did have to repair the battery wire on an OM-1 several years ago. It’s a common problem with the OM-1 but also a fairly simple fix.

 

[StepheKoontz]

My Black OM-2n was my main film body, even after the canon/nikon AF bodies emerged. I had a OM-4, didn't like the viewfinder nearly as much as the 2n. I still have the same OM-2n and it works perfect as does a OM-1 I bought ages ago. The only thing I've done is replaced the door seals and replaced the leather with some dark blue colored leather. I like the way it looks, especially the black one. Clearly it's seen a lot of use, but is still a fantastic camera!

 

[alentine]

...
View attachment 234397 View attachment 234398

This is the camera that introduced TTL/OTF metering to the world.
The designers of Olympus are actually gifted artists.

 

[StepheKoontz]

This is the camera that introduced TTL/OTF metering to the world.
The designers of Olympus are actually gifted artists.

That real time TTL/OTF metering is unbelievably accurate. I don't think even my newest dSLR has metering that matches an OM2n. And in a body that is smaller than many rangefinder cameras.

 

[Dali]

I am a long time user (more or less 35 years now) of OM cameras (OM1 mainly but not only) but I never found their reliability as outstanding. If I had to start again, I would choose another brand as I am not 100% confident with the cameras. At the opposite, I love the Zuiko lenses and the way they are built.

 

[Les Sarile]

That real time TTL/OTF metering is unbelievably accurate. I don't think even my newest dSLR has metering that matches an OM2n. And in a body that is smaller than many rangefinder cameras.

The OM2 was the first commercial release of OTF metering although both Canon and Minolta did studies and filed for patents before the OM release.
The OM2 actually has two metering methods, two cels in the viewfinder and one under the mirror. In manual mode it uses the cels in the viewfinder only. In aperture priority mode it meters with the VF cels until you fire the shutter then at which time the OTF cels kick in. The OM3&4 only has the cels in the mirror box for all metering.

There is no digital camera that can aperture priority anywhere near the lenght of time the OM2 can. For that matter, there is only one film camera - other then the OM2&4 that does this and that is the Pentax LX.

 

[alentine]

... but I never found their reliability as outstanding ...

Olympus OM1n is very reliable fully mechanical camera IMO.
If you observe the table below you notice that the latest OM1n/OM2n models, correspond to the earlier FM2/n models.
Plus volume of production between Olympus OM1/2/n and other mechanical cameras(Nikon FM2n as example) was I think huge toward other cameras.
So, by today standards of reliability, OM1n is among the oldest mechanical cameras.
Still consider OM1/1n one of the most influential cameras in the history of SLRs. Just choose your sample carefully.
If you go 10 years later in history toward OM3Ti(not OM3), all samples for sale are 5X and more price compared with FM2n as example of a mechanical camera.
I do not know about lens availability out side the territories of Nikon, Olympus and Pentax.

I have to say: I’m always biased toward Mechanical cameras, that does not mean electronic cameras like OM2n are not reliable.
I just do not like to be battery dependent!

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I occasionally use a OM2n which works fine, but seems to have started scratching the film so hopefully I just need to give the film mechanism a good clean.

 

[Dali]

So, by today standards of reliability, OM1n is among the oldest mechanical cameras.

??? Can you elaborate?

 

[BobD]

I have very little experience with the OM3/4 models.

OM lenses age very well, however. I still find them in near mint condition. Some of the OM2 series bodies are prone to electronic problems, it seems. The OM1 bodies have internal foam on the prism that can degrade and cause dark blotches in the viewfinder area but otherwise seem to hold up well mechanically if not abused.

 

[faberryman]

I have an OM1 from 1978. I had it CLAed 15-20 years ago by John Hermanson and it works fine. I also have a an OM4 from the early 80s and an OM4Ti from the late 80s, both of which work fine. I had them CLAed about 10 years ago. I have a good selection of glass and fully expect my Olympus kit to last the rest of my life.

 

[John51]

The OM3ti is the holy grail of the OM range imo. Alas the collectors have driven the prices so high that it doesn't make financial sense to have it do anything but sit on a shelf. Then again, of what importance is financial sense when it comes to boys and their toys?

I do hope that you get one and spend lots of time trying to wear it out. Not something I can afford to do, so you'll have to do it for me.