OM hotshoe determination

[David Lyga]

Here is a handy guide for which hot shoe goes where. Olympus was a bit confusing on this issue due the the changes in technology. Hope this informs. - David Lyga

 

[Rick A]

Thank you David.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

It isn't much of a confusion anyway:
OM-1, -1MD: Shoe 1
OM-2: Shoe 2

Now the confusion in some is when Olympus introduced the -1N and -2N improved versions and new T-series flashes, they came up with a new shoe with an added pin for the auto-check lamp in the viewfinder.

OM-2 with T flash: Shoe 3
OM-1N and OM-2N: Shoe 4

All the other cameras have the equivalent to a shoe 4 integrated in the body.
The OM-2SP, -4 and the OM40 have the same shoe 4.
The OM-3TI and -4TI have an improved shoe 4 with 2 extra pins for the FP flash function only available with the F280 flash.

The OM-10, -20, -30 and -3 don't have TTL flash, so they miss one pin on the shoe.

 

[baachitraka]

Unfortunately they are not so reliable and can break very easily. 'The weakest point in OM-1 series at-least'.

 

[Vonder]

One other note - for generic flashes, the OM hotshoe linkage can vary. I have a semi-defective OM-1. If I use a flash with a high trigger voltage on it, it works fine, but if I try and use a Sunpak 383 Super, it won't fire at all. Same flash works fine on another Om-1 body.

 

[nsurit]

Anyone needing appropriate OM hot shoes, PM me as I have some surplus. Not free but reasonable. As always donation to APUG. Bill Barber

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Bill,

If you weren't on the other side of the Atlantic, I would take up your offer.

 

[MattKing]

Unfortunately they are not so reliable and can break very easily. 'The weakest point in OM-1 series at-least'.

They are frustrating in some ways, but a couple of camera repair technicians I've talked to have told me that they liked them, because the removable shoes were a lot easier to replace when broken than the integrated hot shoe/camera top plates/prism housings that end up being broken on other cameras.

Anyone here on APUG still have the little plug that used to come with a new camera - the one that sealed the hot shoe connector hole when no hot shoe was attached?

I know I don't.

 

[Rick A]

Even though I have a shoe 4, it resides in a box somewhere, I never use it. If and when I use flash, I prefer it handle mounted and use a sync cable.

 

[baachitraka]

But I'm happy with remote triggers that don't stress the shoe very much...

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Anyone here on APUG still have the little plug that used to come with a new camera - the one that sealed the hot shoe connector hole when no hot shoe was attached?

Until a few weeks ago I didn't even know they existed!
I don't have one, but I have seen one in an OM-1N that even covers the 2 small holes for the flash pins.