OM2n - Some serious shutter issue or something else?

Hello,

Recently I won an auction for a lovely OM2n + 50mm lens for a fair price.

When it arrived I was excited to give it a try and to compare it to my OM10. The difference is more than obvious. Much more impressive viewfinder, a great overall feel of quality and of course the shutter selection ring.

Everything was great, but when I came to check the shutter speeds, I felt really unlucky.

At first it seemed to me that the shutter speeds did not sound right, especially high speeds (1/500, 1/1000), they just didn't sound "fast". Then the confirmation came. The 1s was about 2,5s and the 1/2 was about 1s-1.5s. There was no doubt that something was wrong.

Searching the net, I found a test including a CRT screen. I tried it and tomorrow I will develop the film to see if there is something. I also took some pictures with a gray card to compare the negative densities (I hope I get to see something).

Also, I found a method including a microphone and Audacity but only for slow speeds. The results were really disappointing, huge variations. I even made the same for my OM10 to compare any error. OM10 showed small variations, acceptable considering the accuracy of the sound metering. But OM2 was way beyond this errors, making me think there is actually something.

Here are the graphs I made with the values I got on the x-axis and the ideal on the y-axis. The values are in ms. The first one is the OM2 and the second is the OM10.




As you can see, the OM2 does not only shows serious error in value, but also high inconsistency (for the 1s I got from 1.1s to 2.7s).

Before I can be completely sure, I first have to see the exposed film and see if there is anything useful in there.

I frequently read about "sticky magnet" issue but only on OM10. Could that apply here as well?
For the record, the light meter has no problem, gives the correct values. The shutter speeds were all set in manual mode, so no auto was involved. The batteries included are AG13. The only batteries I have available now are LR44, brand new. The results are very

IIRC, the OM2 requires silver oxide batteries, not alkaline. I don't know whether this might be the cause, but worth checking.

On the other hand, if it's the auction site we're all familiar with, it's highly possible that the seller clicked the shutter once and decided it's working perfectly.

mgb74 said:

IIRC, the OM2 requires silver oxide batteries, not alkaline. I don't know whether this might be the cause, but worth checking.

On the other hand, if it's the auction site we're all familiar with, it's highly possible that the seller clicked the shutter once and decided it's working perfectly.

Click to expand...

Yes, I know my batteries are not what the camera wants, but I only have these and ordering new could take about 2 weeks. As far as I understood, lithium will fade overtime and cause wrong metering. But these are brand new, at least for some shots they should provide some kind of accuracy.

It is the site we all know. Maybe the seller was not aware of this or he just did not care. So far, all my auctions were good bargains with no unpleasant surprises, that is totally brand new to me.

The release of the 2nd blind (shutter) is controlled by an electromagnet so could be the electromagnet is sluggish or the mechanical latch sticky.

Did the vendor claim the camera worked ok?

The OM2n is a digital shutter. It's very unlikely that the shutter is wrong. Are you sure the camera was set to manual mode?

@Xmas: Yes, the seller described the camera as fully working. I sent a message explaining the issue and kindly offered to return the camera for a refund, but he still supported that the camera was functioning properly.

@BetterSense: 100% sure it was in manual mode.

BetterSense said:

The OM2n is a digital shutter. It's very unlikely that the shutter is wrong. Are you sure the camera was set to manual mode?

Click to expand...

yes the shutter is timed by an electronic circuit but the release of the closing blind is by an electromagnet... in both of manual and auto modes.

geostog said:

@Xmas: Yes, the seller described the camera as fully working. I sent a message explaining the issue and kindly offered to return the camera for a refund, but he still supported that the camera was functioning properly.

@BetterSense: 100% sure it was in manual mode.

Click to expand...

erratic shutter timing as you describe is not fully working in normal usage so complain formally 'not fit for purpose'.

A shutter service could be expensive the electronics are not as easy as the mechanicals like OM1s.

The shutter should be accurate in release timing and travel, it may be out on both.You normally need the two photo detector timer to validate that left and right sides of frame are nearly the same.

Xmas said:

erratic shutter timing as you describe is not fully working in normal usage so complain formally 'not fit for purpose'.

A shutter service could be expensive the electronics are not as easy as the mechanicals like OM1s.

The shutter should be accurate in release timing and travel, it may be out on both.You normally need the two photo detector timer to validate that left and right sides of frame are nearly the same.

Click to expand...

Seems that an accurate estimation of the problem should be by a professional. But that would cost way more that the camera itself. I want to see the negatives tomorrow and probably will return it.
Thank you for your help.

UPDATE:

Today I got the test film developed. As I feared, the camera has serious shutter issue.
The CRT test showed that all high speeds (1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000) are actually 1/60 or maybe less.
The gray card frames come to confirm that. Equally exposed frames show serious deviation of density.
Also, I found two new SR44 batteries I had for my OM10. Hoping that the batteries could be the problem, I inserted them on the OM2. Unfortunately nothing happened. The shutter is still way off.

My guess is the seller "tested" the shutter by firing it. It worked so he claims it "fully working", even though it is not working properly. Demand a full refund including shipping, if he won't then open a dispute with ebay.

My OM-2 is with John Hermanson now for a CLA. It was still working fine, but after 30 years it needed/deserved a good check-up.

At the risk of stating the obvious, why would you expect any 30 year old camera to work "like new" and not require servicing? I've picked up an extensive collection of Oly's over the years, and while it is always nice when one arrives fully functional the expectation is always that it will need to be sent out for a CLA. Even with the cost of purchase plus service you are still getting off quite cheaply to own one of the finest cameras ever made.

thuggins said:

...At the risk of stating the obvious, why would you expect any 30 year old camera to work "like new" and not require servicing? I've picked up an extensive collection of Oly's over the years, and while it is always nice when one arrives fully functional the expectation is always that it will need to be sent out for a CLA. Even with the cost of purchase plus service you are still getting off quite cheaply to own one of the finest cameras ever made.

Click to expand...

I don't think the OP (or anyone else) said to expect "like new". But if advertised as working, the camera should work for it's intended purpose.

I have a couple of OMs that, to my knowledge, have never had service (other than seals). They still work. When they stop working, or get too far out of spec for shutter or meter, they will pay a visit to John Hermanson.

thuggins said:

My OM-2 is with John Hermanson now for a CLA. It was still working fine, but after 30 years it needed/deserved a good check-up.

At the risk of stating the obvious, why would you expect any 30 year old camera to work "like new" and not require servicing? I've picked up an extensive collection of Oly's over the years, and while it is always nice when one arrives fully functional the expectation is always that it will need to be sent out for a CLA. Even with the cost of purchase plus service you are still getting off quite cheaply to own one of the finest cameras ever made.

Click to expand...

I do not expect that an old camera is going to be equal to a new one. But I do expect that when I buy a camera that is described as fully working to actually get a camera that is working. I would have no problem to buy a camera requiring CLA, but I would like to know that so I can take into account the extra cost.

Of course, most if not all used cameras have some kind of "weak spot" meaning that doesn't functions like new, but I believe that getting a camera that has some stops error in its shutter is by far something I should know before I get a camera.

I absolutely have no problem purchasing a faulty camera, I have done this many times. Believing I am buying something not perfect, but something that will fit my needs and actually receiving something faulty makes me feel frustrated.

In addition to that, I would have to take into account the really high shipping costs to and from the CLA.

I have no intestion to insult you in any way, but I really feel disappointed. I was a really bad experience.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Most of the sellers on Ebay are pretty good about returns. -Especially cause they have to be else someone can open a dispute.
Which is what I suggest you do. Open up a case. You will get your money back minus shipping..

Whenever you buy something from a seller of 'stuff', its a lower chance that it will be in working condition. It's best to check a sellers previous sales to see if they usually sell cameras. Otherwise, they probably dont know what they are talking about.

That being said, I've got some pretty good deals from poorly described and pictured items. You just have to be willing to take a chance, and not be upset when it goes bad.

-fwiw, the OM2n is pretty reliable, of the 5 or so I've had, only 1 had problems. All will need new seals these days.