Olympus OM2 or OM2n.. which to keep?

[darinwc]

I have both an OM2 and an OM2n.
Both work well.
The OM2 has a little dent on the top cover right corner.
The OM2n is in great shape all around.

Both need new seals.
*note the OM2 is a high serial number so it may not have any foam on the prism.

I was thinking of selling one to fund a full CLA on the other.

From reading online, it almost seems like the OM2 is the one to keep if I want to use it for fill flash and long exposures. Is there any other advantage of the OM2n that I am missing?

 

[timk]

there a couple of quirks that make the OM-2 more useful in some situations, however in general the 2n will be newer so is more likely to be in better condition and you should keep the 2n. Unless you want the following:

- for auto flash - the OM-2 will keep the shutter open if the flash doesn't provide enough power to give a proper exposure and use available light to complete the exposure
- for long exposures in auto - the OM-2n will limit the exposure to 120 sec, the OM-2 doesn't seem to have a limit when tested (however it's officially 60 sec limit)

 

[Galah]

I have both an OM2 and an OM2n...From reading online, it almost seems like the OM2 is the one to keep if I want to use it for fill flash and long exposures. Is there any other advantage of the OM2n that I am missing?

See my thread ("OM2 problem", this forum). Link: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I have two OM2Ns and one OM2: the OM2 has given me more trouble than the two OM2Ns combined (which have given me no trouble at all).

The OM2N is a great camera, with great metering, and -if wanting to use flash- has auto TTL flash.

The OM2N is the later model (the "N" standing for "new")

 

[John Hermanson]

OM-2 low light exposure is asa based. ASA 12 will give a max exposure of about 16 minutes, at asa 1600, low light exposure max is about 16 SECONDS. 2N low light exposure limit is over 3 minutes though instruction book says 2 minutes. If you want creative control to mix ambient light with flash, use the plain 2. John

 

[darinwc]

soo.. do I have this right on the max exposure times then?
ASA max time
1600 16sec
800 32sec
400 1min
200 2min
100 4min
50 8min

 

[wiltw]

The OM-2n also uses the Silicon Blue cells for photosensor rather than CdS cells in the OM-2. If I recall correctly, the Silicon Blue had better spectral response, are normally quite linear in reading light. They match the color response of color films quite closely and also had less residual carryover, a "memory"— e.g. if you aimed it at very bright light and then shifted to something dim, it took a while for the cell to adjust properly. But those memory cells of mine have long since been pickled in alcohol! ;-)

 

[Pumal]

I like the OM-2 for night pics. I like the OM-2n for day pics and TTL Flash.

 

[unclemack]

Buy seal kits & replace them yourself for next to nothing. Keep both bodies so you still (hopefully) have one when the other fails, get an estimate for its repair.
CLA doesn't guarantee longevity.
You didn't mention any other faults so I assume there aren't any - and if it's not broken - don't fix it.
I suppose I should add that I'm a retired repairer...

 

[darinwc]

It is my understanding that there is foam under the top cover. and as it deteriorates, it ruins the prism.
Also, the OM2 is probably going to be my main camera for quite some time, so I'd like to spend the money to get it in tip-top shape.

 

[Galah]

It is my understanding that there is foam under the top cover. and as it deteriorates, it ruins the prism.
Also, the OM2 is probably going to be my main camera for quite some time, so I'd like to spend the money to get it in tip-top shape.

That was what I thought as well: fix the seals, fix the prism, live happily ever after. Hah!:rolleyes:

Then it started skipping frames. OK, fix that, but not so fast Jose. The "fix" didn't last as far as the end of the first roll, and then the shutter played up. The whole thing became a money sink and a farce.

So the OM2 goes to the parts bin.

The OM2n's (Two 2n's and a 2sp): no issues, just pictures.

Some wise Apugger once said: don't bother to fix it, get another: sure you may be buying a problem, but it will probably last as long as the fix, and be cheaper!