OM1 Light Meter Problem

[thisispants]

It's suddenly started over exposing everything. I'll be at an F-stop of 16 and 1/1000 shutter and it'll still say its over exposed at 400 iso. I've checked it against a few other cameras (om10, and another minolta) and its way off. It seems to be really sensitive.

Needless to say my last 2 rolls have come up pants.

Anyone with an OM1 heard of this problem before? I bought the camera for about $70AUD and I'm hesitant to put it in for repairs as it might cost a lot. maybe I should just get another om1?

Any thoughts?

Does this sound like something typical?

 

[thisispants]

lso, I noticed the problem and changed batteries..... problem remains. I know about the battery problem with om1's and I dont think its to blame, Ive been using 675 zinc/air hearing aid batteries for a while withno problems. hmmmm

 

[Anscojohn]

Have you cleaned the contact in the battery chamber?

 

[Christopher Walrath]

It is possible that the meter needs calibration. No mean feat. Meters lose calibration over time and need to be recalibrated. If it's not the batteries, or pilot error, a good going over might just what the doctor is ordering.

 

[thisispants]

yep, I cleaned the battery chamber, still the same. Very annoying..... I always thought when a meter starts to go it becomes less sensitive, not more.

 

[mopar_guy]

Have you changed focusing screens? Some of the screens can cause the meters of OM-1's or OM-2's to read wrong values.

 

[thisispants]

nope, focusing screen in the same.

 

[Excalibur2]

It's suddenly started over exposing everything. I'll be at an F-stop of 16 and 1/1000 shutter and it'll still say its over exposed at 400 iso. I've checked it against a few other cameras (om10, and another minolta) and its way off. It seems to be really sensitive.

Needless to say my last 2 rolls have come up pants.

Anyone with an OM1 heard of this problem before? I bought the camera for about $70AUD and I'm hesitant to put it in for repairs as it might cost a lot. maybe I should just get another om1?

Any thoughts?

Does this sound like something typical?

An idea with the approval of the Olympus experts:-

Why not try a new 1.5v battery (slight increase in Volts) it might balance the problem out.

 

[mr rusty]

My OM1 recently had a full CLA via Michael Spencer http://www.airds.co.uk/camerarepairer/index.html. Mine also had a meter fault very similar to what you describe - it suddenly went from OK to very overexposed. Wasn't the battery. Turned out to be a dry solder joint on one of the wires connecting the meter. Michael sorted it. Highly recommend his services if in the UK - he CLA's, converts the battery to SR44, changes all the foam and will attend to other small faults for a £56.50

He has done my OM2 as well - this needed a "new" prism because of foam rot and it was only +£10

 

[mr rusty]

I always thought when a meter starts to go it becomes less sensitive, not more

It does. Less sensitive meter means you have to open up the light coming in for the same reading = overexposure.

just re-read your post - I see your meter is too sensitive. Could still be a dry joint tho'

 

[John Hermanson]

If needle is unusually high in the finder, it means at least the meter is working and it's getting battery power. Check for sticking coupling ring inside the body mount. If needle moves as you turn f stop up and down, the this is probably not the problem. Hard to tell what the problem may be as most meter defects cause meter to be too low in the finder causing OVERexposure. John