The Olympus OM2n..

[KerrKid]

I have other cameras whose meters are always on. It doesn't seem that difficult to take the batteries out when I'm not using them. The OM2n, on the other hand, has a very shallow battery compartment cap slot that makes it difficult to remove and replace. I'm considering making a key out of J-B Weld for it.

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Um, I've never had a battery issue with my OM-2n. I've left batteries in for weeks lots of times, and they haven't discharged. And I've never set it on Bulb.

The problem I have had more than once with my OM-2n is the advance lever and shutter locking up, but that's not battery related. Twice in 20 years (which sounds like it's not a lot, but I never ran much film through it) I've had to send the camera to John Hermanson for repair.

As others have mentioned, one less than ideal aspect of the OM cameras is their advance lever. It has a longer throw than other SLRs I've used, longer than I find comfortable, and it just doesn't have the super-solid feel of a Nikon, etc. And since it's failed on me twice, I don't have a lot of faith in it... it's my camera's Achilles Heel.

 

[M-88]

OM-2/2n have never had battery issues. OM-2s which had the issue, is actually closer to OM-4 in terms of its innards. 2s and 4 did have battery drain issues and while Olympus incorporated a fix for OM-4 (which involved replacing a circuit board), there was no such fix available for OM-2s. Had three OM-4, two OM-2s. Of all those cameras, only one OM-4 had a newer ciecuit board and was free from battery drain.

 

[Hassasin]

OM-2/2n have never had battery issues. OM-2s which had the issue, is actually closer to OM-4 in terms of its innards. 2s and 4 did have battery drain issues and while Olympus incorporated a fix for OM-4 (which involved replacing a circuit board), there was no such fix available for OM-2s. Had three OM-4, two OM-2s. Of all those cameras, only one OM-4 had a newer ciecuit board and was free from battery drain.

When I was getting OM4 I looked at how to determine whether it was the later OM4 without battery drain or not. As far I could tell, those had silver bottom caps installed instead of body matching black ones. When my silver-capped arrived it was clear of drain issues. As I was buying it from an elderly lady, I can't imagine camera was specially serviced or moded, and there was no evidence camera was opened.

I also read somewhere, and that is not confirmed, that when blackened brass battery cover was replaced with silver one, it drastically improved battery life. But that is just a post I read when researching the problem, so can't say it would help.

 

[MattKing]

OM-2/2n have never had battery issues. OM-2s which had the issue, is actually closer to OM-4 in terms of its innards. 2s and 4 did have battery drain issues and while Olympus incorporated a fix for OM-4 (which involved replacing a circuit board), there was no such fix available for OM-2s. Had three OM-4, two OM-2s. Of all those cameras, only one OM-4 had a newer ciecuit board and was free from battery drain.

This is correct.

 

[Huss]

Way back in the very early 80's I worked at a synthetic natural gas plant ( we made synthetic natural gas because all the political pundits said NG would be deplete by 1990). I was a big camera buff and the chemistry department came to me wanting to do pictures of before and after resin through a microscope. People don't realize it but back then to determine the exposure from a flash (necessary with the high magnification in a microscope) you had to do a who lot of math and trial and error with the available flash technology. But Olympus had just came out with off the film flash automatic exposure. The company bought me all the equipment and I made thousands of perfectly exposed pictures of resin at about 400x magnification. I could never have done it with my Nikon equipment. View attachment 334147

You sure that was taken with an Olympus, and not the new Leica M6?

 

[Huss]

I have other cameras whose meters are always on. It doesn't seem that difficult to take the batteries out when I'm not using them. The OM2n, on the other hand, has a very shallow battery compartment cap slot that makes it difficult to remove and replace. I'm considering making a key out of J-B Weld for it.

My Pen FT is like that. To turn off the meter you need to attach the lens cap, whether the shutter is cocked or not. Really bad design IMO.

 

[KerrKid]

My Pen FT is like that. To turn off the meter you need to attach the lens cap, whether the shutter is cocked or not. Really bad design IMO.

My Ricoh 500G, Ricoh 35ZF, and Konica C35 Automatic all require darkness to "turn off" the meter. At least the OM2n doesn't require the film advance lever to be pulled out to turn on the meter.

 

[Huss]

It's a shame, because when I carry my cameras out, I leave the lens caps at home. The Leica M5's meter stays on when the shutter is cocked, and turns off if the lens is capped. But it also turns off the moment you take a pic - shutter now uncocked.

 

[KerrKid]

It's a shame, because when I carry my cameras out, I leave the lens caps at home. The Leica M5's meter stays on when the shutter is cocked, and turns off if the lens is capped. But it also turns off the moment you take a pic - shutter now uncocked.

That's a great feature and can't be that difficult to design. How much did that feature cost to get?

 

[Huss]

How much did that feature cost to get?

One Leica M5. So... $10.

 

[KerrKid]

One Leica M5. So... $10.

$10 is a great value even with that Leica attached to it.

I chucked some batteries in the OM2n this afternoon. The meter works well. That’s a relief. I installed the mirror bumpers and will tackle the rest of the seals tomorrow.

I hope I can shoot an entire roll of film in it before it falls apart. You know how these Oly’s are. It’s bad enough that the pictures probably won’t turn out due to the substandard lens.

 

[KerrKid]

I just put my first roll of film through the OM2n. After about 10 frames, I realized I had it on Auto and switched to Manual. Took a bunch of pictures of bees and bugs on flowers. Not sure how they'll turn out. When I got done with the roll, I couldn't figure out how to rewind the film. Ha. I had to look it up on the internet.

BTW, I like the shutter speed and aperture rings on the lens.

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Just for the record, I find the meter system in my OM-2n is so good that I never use it in Manual match-needle mode. If your camera is working correctly, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by those first ten frames you shot in Auto.

 

[KerrKid]

Just for the record, I find the meter system in my OM-2n is so good that I never use it in Manual match-needle mode. If your camera is working correctly, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by those first ten frames you shot in Auto.

Good to know! Since I was shooting macro handheld and was shaking too much, I put it in Manual mode and selected 1/500 or 1/1000 and adjusted the aperture accordingly.

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

In a situation like that, I'd just leave it in Auto and manipulate the f-stops until the camera set a speed of 1/500 itself.

Not that there anything wrong with match-needle metering, I've done it countless times since we got our first TTL meter camera, a Nikkormat FT, in 1965!

 

[KerrKid]

In a situation like that, I'd just leave it in Auto and manipulate the f-stops until the camera set a speed of 1/500 itself.

Not that there anything wrong with match-needle metering, I've done it countless times since we got our first TTL meter camera, a Nikkormat FT, in 1965!

I'm new to the camera, but understand what you're saying, and in hindsight could have done that. I'm just so used to shooting manual and match-needle that I default to that.

 

[KerrKid]

Does anyone know where to get a standard back for the OM2n? Mine came with the Databack which I’ll probably never use and it really spoils the feel of the camera.

Thanks!

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Looks like John Hermanson can sell you another OM-2 back. But they're not cheap, and you'll have to swap in your current back's pressure plate yourself.

16 - OM Repair Parts

CORRECTION: These are listed as No Longer Available. I'd still write and ask him, John's a great guy.

Alternatively... look for a busted parts-only OM camera for a few bucks. There are plenty out there:

Used Film SLRs & Used SLR Cameras | UsedPhotoPro

We offer a huge selection of used SLR cameras at discount prices. Shop our wide selection of used digital cameras and receive free shipping on qualified orders. A trusted name for over 60 years buying, selling, and trading your used camera gear.

usedphotopro.com

 

[KerrKid]

Looks like John Hermanson can sell you another OM-2 back. But they're not cheap, and you'll have to swap in your current back's pressure plate yourself.

16 - OM Repair Parts

CORRECTION: These are listed as No Longer Available. I'd still write and ask him, John's a great guy.

Alternatively... look for a busted parts-only OM camera for a few bucks. There are plenty out there:

Used Film SLRs & Used SLR Cameras | UsedPhotoPro

We offer a huge selection of used SLR cameras at discount prices. Shop our wide selection of used digital cameras and receive free shipping on qualified orders. A trusted name for over 60 years buying, selling, and trading your used camera gear.

usedphotopro.com

Thanks for the info! I'll look for a parts camera or just learn to live with the Databack.

 

[snusmumriken]

Best advert for the OM-1 was Jane Bown. She switched from a Rolleiflex to an OM-1, so basically everything she took that wasn’t square was with the OM-1.

 

[Flighter]

I don't know about the US but in the UK used backs often pop up on Ebay for £10 or so (probably from cameras being parted out); both the plain ones (OM1) and the ones with a holder for the film box end as a memo (OM2, 3 and 4) but either will fit as they are all interchangeable.

 

[KerrKid]

Best advert for the OM-1 was Jane Bown. She switched from a Rolleiflex to an OM-1, so basically everything she took that wasn’t square was with the OM-1.

Thanks for the link to Jane Brown's work. That's exactly the kind of photography I admire the most. Amazing.

 

[KerrKid]

I don't know about the US but in the UK used backs often pop up on Ebay for £10 or so (probably from cameras being parted out); both the plain ones (OM1) and the ones with a holder for the film box end as a memo (OM2, 3 and 4) but either will fit as they are all interchangeable.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for one. Thanks.

 

[snusmumriken]

Thanks for the link to Jane Brown's work. That's exactly the kind of photography I admire the most. Amazing.

There are some wonderful interviews with her on YouTube. Gives you a good idea of how she got her images.