which 50mm?

[Ricardo Miranda]

Thanks mr. rusty!
Noel and myself have been around the issue of LR44 vs SR44. The OM40, as well as all OM 2 digits can be used with LR44 as they have the necessary circuitry to compensate for the expected alkaline behaviour.
But, LR44 don't last as long as SR44.
My OM-2SP is on its second month with LR44 and has had a dozen or so rolls. So far so good!
BTW, any time you visit London, drop a PM. I'm sure a meeting and some street photography can be arranged!

 

[Xmas]

Thanks mr. rusty!
Noel and myself have been around the issue of LR44 vs SR44. The OM40, as well as all OM 2 digits can be used with LR44 as they have the necessary circuitry to compensate for the expected alkaline behaviour.
But, LR44 don't last as long as SR44.
My OM-2SP is on its second month with LR44 and has had a dozen or so rolls. So far so good!
BTW, any time you visit London, drop a PM. I'm sure a meeting and some street photography can be arranged!

For the same battery technology
Zinc>silver>alkaline in service capacity.
The zinc is cheap & if you block some of the holes it should last some time.
The alkaline voltage will dip alarmingly under load more so as it uses up service life.
At the end of a days shoot I remove all batteries.
One can measure the 'dark' current of the camera with a multi meter so - in one of my OM4 was 7.0 mA!

 

[dynachrome]

I have an OM-2S which needs to have its batteries removed when the camera isn't being used. I am told this is normal for an OM-2S. The OM-10 seems to put very little strain on its batteries.

 

[MattKing]

I have an OM-2S which needs to have its batteries removed when the camera isn't being used. I am told this is normal for an OM-2S. The OM-10 seems to put very little strain on its batteries.

My OM2s usually gives me between 3 and 12 montns use out each set of silver-oxide cells. I don't remove them between uses. I've owned the camera since it was new.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Mr/Ms Pasta (spaghetti English): Your English is just fine.

A '50' for a Nikon means getting a Nikon lens, unless you find one of those Russian 50s that will also mount (as they made SLRs with that mount). WHICH lens you want is determined by what you want to occur with your SLR. If you take the easy (piu facile) route and get a Nikkormat you will not have automation but you will be able to use any Nikon lens, old prong-type or newer AIS type, without any problems (other than meter readings with other than 'prong' type lenses).

In recession-prone Europe you should be able to buy a working Nikkormat body for less than 30 Euros. The Nikon lenses are quite expensive, however, and, where 50s for Minoltas, Pentaxes, Canon (FD), etc can be had in the USA for $10 to $20, the cheapest Nikon (Series E) would be maybe $40. Thus, with the exchange rate as it is, that 1.8/50 Series E would cost you about 30 Euros. It is a VERY sharp lens. I promise you that you will not see a difference in image quality. If you need to use the (working?) meter, however, in that Nikkormat, you will have to get an older 'prong' type lens that meshes with the protruding, moving lever at the top of the camera mount area. (Set the lens at f5.6 to allow the connection to occur.)

Of course you could consider other than a Nikon body: the other brands I just named are as reputable as is Nikon.

With regard to baachitraka's comment: Choosing a focal length is determined by both personal desire and need. A '50' might be 'boring' to many but that is the focal length used in the vast majority of photos; it imparts a normal perspective on what you are viewing. I would use a '50' as a standard and then deviate from that as the need manifested.

Nella vita a volte ci sono troppe scelte. (Io sono la metà della Sardegna. I miei nonni materni erano di lì.) - David Lyga

Don't underestimate the Nikon Series E lenses. my 50mm f/1.8 is an outstanding performer for still and video.that said,I prefer my 50mm f/1.4 for the speed and color performance

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have a fairly complete collection of Nikon lenses from f20 to f300mm.the focal ebgths, I use most are: 24,35,50 and 85mm;all great in their own right;I wouldn't substitute either one for another.There is good reason to have a 50 and a 35mm in your bag as long as you know when to pull them out