Pro photographers that used Olympus cameras?

darinwc · Jan 3, 2015

I am an admitted Olympus-holic. I love most everything Olympus has made, and I have a growing collection of OM cameras and lenses.
But I cannot find much about professional photographers that used Olympus equipment.

Does anyone have some names to reference that used Olympus equipment? -Doesnt have to be OM.. could be Pen, rangefinder, etc.

MattKing · Jan 3, 2015

Jane Bown (RIP).

Alan W · Jan 3, 2015

I remember seeing an ad in a magazine that featured W.Eugene Smith with a Pen camera.This may not mean that he used it,but I think he did.

Arvee · Jan 3, 2015

Smith was a Minolta fan; I think he was sponsored by Minolta.

Richard Man · Jan 3, 2015

Gene Smith did a few ads for the Pen, but that was in the early 60s, I think. He uses Minolta for a lot of his work, certainly the Minamata one.

I believe the Zuikoholic mailing list is still going strong, although most email are not on OM any more :-/

Kevin Caulfield · Jan 3, 2015

David Bailey definitely used an iS-3000.

Sim2 · Jan 3, 2015

Patrick Lichfield used or at least advertised that he uesd OM cameras.

David Bailey - "who's he?"

There was a freelance sports photographer (G. Herringshaw) who used to use the super telephotos (F2 & F2.8) for indoor sports and the high-sync speed flash capabilities of one of the OM cameras, don't know if any of his stuff is on the web anywhere.

removed account4 · Jan 3, 2015

Alan W said:
I remember seeing an ad in a magazine that featured W.Eugene Smith with a Pen camera.This may not mean that he used it,but I think he did.

yup he did, at leastthey said he did ...
https://www.cameraquest.com/olypenf.htm

miha · Jan 4, 2015

Jonathan Eastland, often shooting from a flying helicopter with some of the longest Zuiko glass.

ozphoto · Jan 4, 2015

Don McCullin & Dennis Stock; worlds apart in their subject matter, but tied together by the OM system.

Steve Smith · Jan 4, 2015

[video=youtube;3l1jUXC6858]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l1jUXC6858[/video]

Black Dog · Jan 4, 2015

Who are you?

Steve Smith said:
[video=youtube;3l1jUXC6858]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l1jUXC6858[/video]

'' 'Oo do you fink you are? David Bailey?''

Steve Smith · Jan 4, 2015

Some more...

[video=youtube;nWlj9ZJkliA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWlj9ZJkliA[/video]

Steve Smith · Jan 4, 2015

[video=youtube;ckSm10LZauA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckSm10LZauA[/video]

Steve Smith · Jan 4, 2015

[video=youtube;uHsXMybAzf4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHsXMybAzf4#t=23[/video]

Xmas · Jan 4, 2015

Chris Bonington used OM1s.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/734692/Heaven-and-Hell-Chris-Bonington.html
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Olympus_OM_system
You always need a photo from top...

Steve Smith · Jan 4, 2015

Xmas said:
Chris Bonington used OM1s.

I have a book by Chris Bonington with many of his photographs in it. I think Olympus provided him with cameras.

The most memorable photograph in the book is of his friend, Doug Scott, crawling down the mountain with two broken legs.

http://www.dougscottmountaineering.co.uk/lecture-info/lectures/

Steve.

Richard Man · Jan 4, 2015

I have to admit that I did not know who David Bailey was before these...

The OM-4T was my first camera though, so hope I am forgiven

Steve Smith · Jan 4, 2015

A few years ago when Gordon Brown became the UK's prime minister, David Bailey was photographing him. A government aid asked "Do you use ever use digital instead of film?", to which he replied "No, digital's like socialism - it flattens everything out and makes everything the same".

Steve.

NJH · Jan 4, 2015

He is just a great personality. I am not a huge fan but really loved the documentary/interview he did on UK television the other year about his life and work and the retrospective showing of it recently. He is that rare thing amongst UK celebrities, the sort you could well imagine bumping into and having a proper laugh about something random in life.

benjiboy · Jan 4, 2015

I admit I've never owned an OM single number camera but I used to sell them for a living and although they were lovely cameras, small precise and almost like jewellery, I could never see them stand up to the same kind hammering that the Nikon and Canon professional SLR s could take and still work..

Xmas · Jan 4, 2015

Hi Ben

They were a lot cheaper as well as lighter, when you are at the S Col looking up at sumit steps, most people have to turn up the Oxygen.

Noel

benjiboy · Jan 4, 2015

Xmas said:
Hi Ben

They were a lot cheaper as well as lighter, when you are at the S Col looking up at sumit steps, most people have to turn up the Oxygen.

Noel

That's true Noel, but if the camera fails to perform on the way or when you reach the summit and have to return with excuses not stunning pictures it's all to no avail.

M Carter · Jan 4, 2015

Well, (a) my first SLR was an OMG and (b) I've shot professionally for 20 years or so, so... add me to the list!

Seriously, the OMG was a great start with SLRs. I was shopping for an OM2 when I got a great deal on a Nikon 8008 and some glass... traded all my Oly stuff in.

Russ - SVP · Jan 4, 2015

benjiboy said:
That's true Noel, but if the camera fails to perform on the way or when you reach the summit and have to return with excuses not stunning pictures it's all to no avail.

I'll take the original Nikon FM for my ascent of K2. Performed flawlessly.

Pro photographers that used Olympus cameras?

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