The Olympus OM2n..

[Huss]

My local shop in Torrance (Pauls Photo) often has a really good selection of film gear. Today when I was picking up film they had a whole bunch of stuff. Which makes me think someone just sold them their collection. Anyway amongst the Minoltas, Pentaxes, Canons etc were an Om2n and OM1n. Both w very nice 50 1.8s.

These two cameras were what I gazed at through shop windows when I was a kid. Back then Patrick nee Lord Litchfield hawked them. Anyway.. at Pauls the OM 1 is silver, but the OM2n is glorious black paint over brass. And is frankly super shape. Both cameras have competely clear, bright VFs w no sign of desilvering etc.
Only $149 for the 2n w lens. i think the 1n was a little cheaper. But when I tested it, the meter on the 2n overexposed by about 2 stops indoors, 3 stops outdoors. My hopes were dashed which is just as well as I DO NOT NEED MORE GEAR! But man are those cameras sweet. Great size, and feel so good.

FYI they also had a Pentax KX, and like every single one I’ve tried, the direct aperture readout window does not work!

 

[BAC1967]

Maybe they had the wrong battery that made it overexpose.

 

[Huss]

Maybe they had the wrong battery that made it overexpose.

I doubt it as it takes modern batteries, not the old mercury types.

 

[Huss]

More praise for the camera - it really is the most Leica M like SLR that I have handled. i.e. if you asked me what 35mm slr feels most like an M, it is the Olympus OM1/2 cameras. And this is coming from someone who owns/owned a few Leica slrs!
Interestingly my Olympus Pen FT also feels Leica-like. Apart from the crunchy film advance lever.

 

[r_a_feldman]

I had (and still have) an Olympus Pen FT before I bought my current digital camera, a Fujifilm X-E1. When I first used the X-E1, I instinctively reached for the film advance lever! The FT and X-E1 bodies are almost the same size and weight, and (as I use only adapted film camera lenses), the effective focal length of any given lens is about the same on both bodies.

 

[Hassasin]

OM line was indeed great departure from norm in a lot of ways. I started OM kit with 1 and 2, then quickly acquired OM 4 and eventually OM 4Ti. Stopped short of OM 3, which is mostly an OM 1 with OM 4 metering.

Every OM lover craves about metering of OM 4 model, and it is like nothing in any other camera, so quick and intuitive, and accurate. This is no matrix this or that, this is pure pointing to where you want it for spot snap, then again for another, up to 8 spots for averaging, absolutely all one needs to nail exposure in majority of tough cases. Plus the super quick highlight / shadow exposure adjustment by 2 stops either way. May not be the ZS precision for shadow detail, but good enough for everybody else. And you got snow, just hit the highlight button and exposure goes up by two stops on its own. Works.

The only thing is, in all its glory, they are surely not as tough as many others, and film advance past OM1 model feels a little … grainy.

 

[wiltw]

Maybe they had the wrong battery that made it overexpose.

The OM-2n took 2 silver oxide batteries, so that is (un)fortunately not the case for the OP.

 

[wiltw]

I still lust for the OM-3, and find it remarkable that it is 5-7x the price of an Olympus M-1 (yes, I have the precursor to OM-1).

 

[Bill Burk]

Just sent John Hermanson a parcel of OM’s so after reading his instructions I may offer the advice that…

OM-2 is a wonderful camera but OM-1 is more likely to be economical to repair.

 

[Huss]

Just sent John Hermanson a parcel of OM’s so after reading his instructions I may offer the advice that…

OM-2 is a wonderful camera but OM-1 is more likely to be economical to repair.

If the OM-1 in the store was black paint like the OM-2, then I'd have been all over it. But alas, twaz not to be.

 

[MattKing]

It is probably not relevant to your needs, but are you aware that there are two metering systems in many of the OM bodies, including the OM-2n?
One system is there to merely inform the user of the light levels, as measured from the viewing screen. That is the system you rely upon when you use the camera in manual exposure mode.
The other system reads light levels from the light reflected off of the pattern on the shutter blinds and the film - that is the system that controls the auto exposure system, and will actually respond to changes in light during the (longer) exposure. That latter system actually gives a false indication if there is no film in the camera - the pressure plate in an unloaded camera doesn't reflect as much light as film does.

 

[Buzz-01]

Also, the OM-1 and OM-2's I own are both very sensitive for stray light entering via the eyepiece. I regularly need to use my hand as a shade when shooting outside to get a proper reading.
Indoors however, it's hardly ever an issue for me...

 

[Huss]

It is probably not relevant to your needs, but are you aware that there are two metering systems in many of the OM bodies, including the OM-2n?
One system is there to merely inform the user of the light levels, as measured from the viewing screen. That is the system you rely upon when you use the camera in manual exposure mode.
The other system reads light levels from the light reflected off of the pattern on the shutter blinds and the film - that is the system that controls the auto exposure system, and will actually respond to changes in light during the (longer) exposure. That latter system actually gives a false indication if there is no film in the camera - the pressure plate in an unloaded camera doesn't reflect as much light as film does.

Yes, I am aware - it was I think the first camera with OTF real time metering. But the exp info you see in the vf is read from a cell in prism as the mirror would block the film plane pre exposure.

@Buzz-01 I checked it indoors, and outdoors. When I was outdoors I stood in the shade of the building pointing to the grey parking lot ground, so I had bright medium grey. Unfortunately the meter was way off indoors and out. A shame.

 

[Buzz-01]

Ah right, in the shade they should probably meter just fine. Too bad they didn't seem to work properly, they're really good cameras!

 

[Sean Mac]

This is my little OM setup. An OM1n and 50F1.4, an OM2n and 85F2 and the 24F2.

The 50F1.4 is relatively new to me, all the other things I've had for more than twenty years.

 

[Huss]

This is my little OM setup. An OM1n and 50F1.4, an OM2n and 85F2 and the 24F2.

The 50F1.4 is relatively new to me, all the other things I've had for more than twenty years.

Nice! The black paint over brass of the cameras in that era looks so good. Same for my black Pentax K2 (sold a while back).

 

[Sean Mac]

Nice! The black paint over brass of the cameras in that era looks so good. Same for my black Pentax K2 (sold a while back).

They have lived very easy lives in my care and the OM1 is almost perfect. I bought it to have a backup mechanical body but have never needed it. The OM2 was my color film family portrait camera for a long time and is just a little bit more worn.

I took the nasty corrosive foam off both prisms long ago so they are in good shape for the future.

I have a pair of black Nikon FM2n's which saw most of the 35mm I shot over the last twenty years and they are wearing in nicely too. I was born in the 1960's so I'm at home with the black paint over brass look.

The 50F1.4 I picked up recently to try to get the OM1 out of the house as a bring it with me when I'm going for a walk camera. Perhaps it will be a refreshing change from the Large Format mindset I might have fallen into over the last few years.

Hopefully I won't find myself carrying a Series 1 Gitzo, spotmeter and a cable release to go for a walk.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

The OM-2n took 2 silver oxide batteries, so that is (un)fortunately not the case for the OP.

Just remember to be sure to use silver batteries instead of alkaline. alkaline will give give incorrect metering most of the times.

 

[dynachrome]

I was not aware that John Hermanson was still repairing Olympus OM cameras. He overhauled an OM PC for me some years ago. I have an OM2N which needs work and an OM 2S which worked the last time I used it. I have many different focusing screens for it. I take the batteties out after each use because I think there is a drain somewhere in the system. In addition to those cameras I have another OM PC, two OMGs, sone OM10s and two OM2000s. Why the OM2000s? They will still be working and repairable after the others have stopped working. This way I will have a way to continue using my Zuiko and other OM mount lenses.

 

[brose]

I bought a silver OM1n and a black Om2n in mint condition last year. Well, just ‘cause. Small, well made, inexpensive, repairable, many interesting lenses. Sent them to Hermanson for cla’s. He also converted the battery on the 1. They work like new. I find I use the 21 and 25 wides and 50/2 macro the most, and they fill a 35mm niche that complements my film Leicas.

 

[Huss]

I bought a silver OM1n and a black Om2n in mint condition last year. Well, just ‘cause. Small, well made, inexpensive, repairable, many interesting lenses. Sent them to Hermanson for cla’s. He also converted the battery on the 1. They work like new. I find I use the 21 and 25 wides and 50/2 macro the most, and they fill a 35mm niche that complements my film Leicas.

Nice! Are those the only lenses u use w the OMs?

 

[madNbad]

More praise for the camera - it really is the most Leica M like SLR that I have handled. i.e. if you asked me what 35mm slr feels most like an M, it is the Olympus OM1/2 cameras. And this is coming from someone who owns/owned a few Leica slrs!
Interestingly my Olympus Pen FT also feels Leica-like. Apart from the crunchy film advance lever.

When first introduced the Olympus OM 1 was called the M1. Someone at Leica took offense and the legal team got involved.

 

[brose]

Huss - One camera came with a 28/3.5 and the other with a 50/1,8. I’ve used them some and both are just fine. My thought process for shooting film starts with format (35 vs 6x6), then lens, then camera. For a 28mm, I like using the 28/3.5 color skopar on a iiif, with external finder, for 35 and 50mm I usually take Leica lenses on a M4. I have too many available choices, really, but for film I usually take one lens for the day’s roll.

 

[Paul Howell]

The Air Force and AP, and I think the LA Times field tested the OM1. I like how it functioned, nice viewfinder, and for most field worked did not need an interchangeable viewfinders, lens are among the best. But, did not hold up in rugged daily use, I was reassigned before the all the testing was completed, but think the AF stayed with Nikon as they all the lens when they upgraded to the F2.

 

[Huss]

Strangely I've seen a few OM1/2 with the power switch snapped off! How does that happen? I mean, w/o being a complete dolt.