The Olympus OM2n..

[Anon Ymous]

The OM film system appears to have been very popular in the UK in particular. It was quite popular in Canada.
The differences might be due to the fact that Olympus used independent local distributors rather than subsidiaries of the manufacturer.

I suspect the single most important factor affecting prices is availability. It's not that they're rare over here, but not as abundant as in the US. A seller's vs a buyer's market. Realistically, an OM2N would sell for about 100€ (body only, excellent condition) here. Then, there's also the coolness factor. Other cameras are more desirable, justified or not.

 

[Thomas71]

Many 35mm cameras are traded at very low prices, with the exception of rangefiders (Leica M are crazy high). On the other hand, medium format cameras are becoming very expensive.
Here in Europe you can easily find Om1, Om2, Om2 SP in the range 70-120 euro complete with 50mm standard lens. You can also find Leicaflex SL body only in 100-150 euro range. I have all of them.
OM1: well build, compact, shutter-mirror sweet and well dampened; only drawback the 1,35 voltage meter system; it needs an MR9 adapter to use 1,5 silver oxyde batteries commonly available.
OM2n: same quality of OM1; it works with 1,5v silver oxyde batteries; best value for money to me
OM2 Spot Program: beautiful and accurate meter system with spot reading; useful in b&w works. Mine is in pristine condition without any scratch on its delicate black paint. Drawbacks: battery drain (I need to remove batteries at the end of the day) and advance film mechanism that occasionally slips
Leicaflex SL: built like a tank; overall quality better than Olympus OM
Lens: I shot only in B&W (FP4 and Delta100) and I print in darkroom; I prefer Leitz to Zuiko in term of rendition (Zuiko contrast is harsher than Leitz); but Leitz cost 3 times Zuiko... On Zuiko side I find 100/2.8 a very interesting lens: cheap, compact, sharp with a nice bokeh, flare resistant

 

[KerrKid]

100€ is still not a bad price. They run that and more - sometimes double - here in the US, but the odd good bargain still pops up from time to time.

As for desirability…I get it. But, I wonder how many people have held an OM and taken pictures with one?

 

[Chan Tran]

100€ is still not a bad price. They run that and more - sometimes double - here in the US, but the odd good bargain still pops up from time to time.

As for desirability…I get it. But, I wonder how many people have held an OM and taken pictures with one?

I have always been a Nikon guy. Back in the late 70's I have Nikon's but I always thought highly of the OM system. I had an OM2n for almost 20 years now. I shot a roll of film thru it. I have not used it since. I don't like the 2 metering system of the Olympus.

 

[BMbikerider]

Were these new cameras? Or bought used? I heard that the OM2S (sp) had issues.

The problem with the OM2SP was you could never shut the battery power off completely and there was a micro drain all the time. One way around it was to turn the shutter speed dial around so that it was on the 'B' setting but that was not a guarantee that this cured the problem. The only sure fire way was to remove the battery if it wasn't going to b e used for a few days.
Some also found that the SP wasn't too keen on cold weather either, this made the battery problem quite significant

 

[wiltw]

That may reflect the change from OM-1 to OM-1 MD to OM-1n - I don't recall if there was a memo holder on my 1n's back, but I'm sure there wasn't one on my OM-1.

I am original purchaser of OM-1n, and previously owned an OM-1MD...neither had a memo holder on the back.
I never owned an OM-2 of any permutation, but I know that the memo back first appeared on the OM-2(something)

 

[KerrKid]

I have always been a Nikon guy. Back in the late 70's I have Nikon's but I always thought highly of the OM system. I had an OM2n for almost 20 years now. I shot a roll of film thru it. I have not used it since. I don't like the 2 metering system of the Olympus.

I need all your camera cast-offs! You have my address.

My standards are probably lower than yours, but I thought the pictures that I took with the OM2n were metered well.

What didn’t you like about the metering?

 

[KerrKid]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Vivitar 90mm f2.5 macro lens or the Tokina version and has used either of those on an OM?

 

[Chan Tran]

I need all your camera cast-offs! You have my address.

My standards are probably lower than yours, but I thought the pictures that I took with the OM2n were metered well.

What didn’t you like about the metering?

The OM2 has 2 metering systems. One is in the viewfinder and this work in manual mode. I have no problem there. This metering system also work in auto mode although it displays differently. However, when in auto mode and during the actual exposure the shutter timing is determined by the meter that is in the bottom of the mirror box. It would first read off the first shutter curtain and the off the film. I don't like it because of the 2 metering system. It can show me one shutter speed while I am composing the image but then actually uses a different shutter speed.

 

[KerrKid]

The OM2 has 2 metering systems. One is in the viewfinder and this work in manual mode. I have no problem there. This metering system also work in auto mode although it displays differently. However, when in auto mode and during the actual exposure the shutter timing is determined by the meter that is in the bottom of the mirror box. It would first read off the first shutter curtain and the off the film. I don't like it because of the 2 metering system. It can show me one shutter speed while I am composing the image but then actually uses a different shutter speed.

I understand. This would then change the exposure from what you expecting.

I only shot one roll of film, but when I had the camera in auto mode and then retook the same subject in manual mode the pictures taken in manual mode came out better.

I will have to experiment some more and see if this consistently happens.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[MarkS]

Jane BOWN not Brown. A fine photographer who deserves to be remembered better.

 

[btaylor]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Vivitar 90mm f2.5 macro lens or the Tokina version and has used either of those on an OM?

I bought a 90mm f2.5 Tamron SP for my OM1, but so far have only used it on my Spotmatic (as it has an interchangeable mount). It’s excellent. The macro feature is a great plus. I wasn’t willing to put out the big $ for the Zuiko 85mm f2, and entirely pleased with the Tamron.

 

[MattKing]

In practice, the two sets of metering sensors rarely cause any problem. They use a very similar pattern of weighting and have the same spectral response.
The only time you might encounter a difference would be when the lighting is changing so rapidly that the light just before the shutter is released differs from the light at the time of release. Of course, you run into the same issue under those conditions with auto-exposure cameras with just one set of sensors.

 

[Chan Tran]

I need all your camera cast-offs! You have my address.

My standards are probably lower than yours, but I thought the pictures that I took with the OM2n were metered well.

What didn’t you like about the metering?

Well I have said why I don't like the metering. But.. I value a good looking camera more and the OM2n is good looking that was why I thought highly of the OM when I didn't have it so I keep it. The look of the Minolta Maxxum 9xi is so bad that I didn't even find out what it can do.

 

[KerrKid]

Well I have said why I don't like the metering. But.. I value a good looking camera more and the OM2n is good looking that was why I thought highly of the OM when I didn't have it so I keep it. The look of the Minolta Maxxum 9xi is so bad that I didn't even find out what it can do.

I understand. I've bought more than a few cameras based on their looks only or mostly. I get on with the 9xi's looks, but it doesn't exactly scream, "Pick me up. I'm fun!" like the OM2n.

 

[MattKing]

I understand. I've bought more than a few cameras based on their looks only or mostly. I get on with the 9xi's looks, but it doesn't exactly scream, "Pick me up. I'm fun!" like the OM2n.

Just a word of caution.
In life, you can get into a lot of trouble responding positively to: "Pick me up. I'm fun!"

 

[Chan Tran]

This is mine.

 

[KerrKid]

This is mine.
View attachment 338137

Yep, she's purty.

 

[KerrKid]

Just a word of caution.
In life, you can get into a lot of trouble responding positively to: "Pick me up. I'm fun!"

Do tell!

 

[KerrKid]

Patrick Robert James sent me a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 lens...for free! Is he awesome or what!? It looks and feels great on the camera. Perfect in every way. I can't wait to use it.

 

[oxcanary]

Do have fun OM2s are truly great!

 

[Neil Morgan]

Jane BOWN not Brown. A fine photographer who deserves to be remembered better.

Couldn't agree more, such an understated lady who did amazing work with little time and minimal equipment.