Olympus OM40 Program or Olympus OMPC in USA

[PhilippeFrance]

Hello,

My uncle offer to me yesterday a Olympus OM40 Program i think the name in USA is Olympus Om PC ?
I have with a Zuiko 50 f1.8 and a Adapter photomacro L
The camera work good, and have nice look, in black.
I wanted to ask you, what do you think of this camera ? do you know it ? i am only Nikon and for me is something new.
When this camera was coming in 80's ?

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

It was made in the 80s and was one of Olympus's amateur cameras (single-digit numbered OM cameras are the pro cameras, like the OM-1, OM-4T, etc.). I had one for a while. I never really used the Program mode, which was its main selling point, and it ate batteries. A number of Olympus cameras had battery-drain issues. The OM-2SP and the original OM-4 did too. One thing that was neat about the OM-PC was it had a primitive form of evaluative metering that Olympus called ESP. There's a switch to turn it on and off on the side of the lens mount housing. It actually worked pretty well!

 

[mr rusty]

I picked up an OM40 recently for almost nothing. Have been very surprised with how good the ESP program mode is. Mine doesn't seem to eat batteries. I was prepared for heavy consumption, and the original SR44s have been in over 6 months. However, there is no on/off switch and the slightest shutter press activates the metering system. My guess is that the stories about high battery consumption come from people where the shutter is lightly pressed in the bag or case. Not as smooth to use as my OM1 and 2 but works just fine.. What is there not to like. Full manual, normal aperture priority auto or ESP program on a camera that costs nothing and takes quality zuiko glass.

 

[PhilippeFrance]

Yes mr Rusty, when i finish to shoot i left the lr44 because my uncle told me about that.
But when the OM40 program was exaclty coming ? I think 88 ?

 

[mr rusty]

1985 according to this http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Olympus_OM-10/20/30/40

 

[PhilippeFrance]

1985 i was very young, 12 years Mr Rusty, and you in 1985 ?

 

[mr rusty]

2 x you+2

 

[PhilippeFrance]

young man yet

 

[MattKrull]

I have one. I've shot a dozen rolls on it. I took it on my honeymoon three years ago. The light meter is pretty much perfect for how I want my shots to turn out. Even though I have an OM-2SP, I prefer using the OM40. I prefer it to the Nikon FA (closest Nikon I've used to it).

For batteries, I suggest going with Energizer 303/357. You can buy bulk packs of 10 batteries on amazon for $20Cnd (not sure on US prices). They last longer than LR44 batteries, and when purchased in bulk don't cost any more. I've found the camera to be inconsistent in how long batteries last. Anywhere from 5 to 10 rolls for a pair (as little as 3 rolls for cheap LR44 batteries). Compared to my AE-1 (which gets multiple years of use out of a battery), it isn't great, but the batteries are so small I don't worry about it.

 

[wblynch]

ESP metering works perfectly for slide film.

But don't use a power winder or motor drive with this camera. There are plastic parts inside that break down under that kind of force. Wind the film softly too.