While we're on the subject of OMs

[luvmydogs]

I don't want to hijack reinis' thread.

I'm curious why the OM-4Ts are so expensive. I saw a "minty" one going for $825. Is that how much minty OM-4Ts go for these days?

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I don't want to hijack reinis' thread.

I'm curious why the OM-4Ts are so expensive. I saw a "minty" one going for $825. Is that how much minty OM-4Ts go for these days?

I just so happened to be looking at OMs on KEH yesterday, probably as a result of the same thread you are referring to. They have an OM4-T in Excellent (roughly minty in eBay parlance) for $499. Still a lot of money, but not like your example above. I know that the T was the last of the OMs and was made until fairly recently. I also understand that it is very nice, but I can't answer why it is so much more than the base OM4, unless the price of the OM4 is depressed by the (perceived or real?) battery consumption problem that you hear about. If I were in the market, which I am not, I would probably get the Bargain condition OM4 on KEH for $172. They also offer it with a lens for under $200.

 

[benjiboy]

Olympus OM4 Ti

I don't want to hijack reinis' thread.

I'm curious why the OM-4Ts are so expensive. I saw a "minty" one going for $825. Is that how much minty OM-4Ts go for these days?

They have always been expensive Macy on the Ti model the body is made from Titanium, a metal that is about about half the weight of steel,it won't rust, and is very durable but costs about the same price as silver.

 

[luvmydogs]

Paul, Apug can be a dangerous place. Like you, I am not in the market for another 35mm SLR, but like you, I also found myself surfing for used OMs after the thread I read here. I must resist. I must resist. I must resist.

 

[gnashings]

Again... glad I am not the only one... I need another 35mm SLR (especially in a system I dont have lenses for!) like I need a hole in the head...
But guess who was surfing eBay...

 

[luvmydogs]

gnashings - you too huh?

What I am trying to understand is why the Olympus OMs have sort of this "cult" status. What is it about these cameras??

 

[Paul Sorensen]

gnashings - you too huh?

What I am trying to understand is why the Olympus OMs have sort of this "cult" status. What is it about these cameras??

I had an OM1 and loved it. I ended up trading it, I got great value for the trade and I am happy I did it, but boy I miss that camera. One thing is that they are designed really well. Everything is easy to use and works the way it should. (There are, however, some very unconventional things about them that do take getting used to.) Also, the lenses are really nice and, unlike other manufacturers, they are very small to fit the scale of the camera. I had a 135 3.5 that was tiny, it was about 3" long and 1.5" across. Also, there is an incredible simplicity about the design, no extraneous do dads or whatchamacallits. Just gorgeous.

If I get back in the 35mm market, I will seriously consider the OMs. For now, I am shooting medium and large format and not missing 35mm. If I had an OM4 I wouldn't use it anyway! Of course, that doesn't mean I don't want one!

 

[Daniel Lawton]

I have an OM-1 and love it. In terms of size I don't believe a more compact 35mm SLR was made. Fit and finish is excellent and the Zuiko lenses are generally accepted to be outstanding. Another nice feature about the OM-1's is that they have the MLU feature which I don't think any of the other OM's have.

 

[Woolliscroft]

The OM4Ti is made largely of titanium and the stuff is just very expensive. The OM4 is not, so it's cheaper.

David

 

[gnashings]

gnashings - you too huh?

What I am trying to understand is why the Olympus OMs have sort of this "cult" status. What is it about these cameras??

They seem to have all the making of a product that people just cant get enough of once they try it! These evil, horrible threads got me reading up about them... and remembering that every time I see one I wonder how a camera that small can be that capable... and then there are the quirks...like the rangefinder-like shutter dial around the base of the lens... then there is the viewfinder... then there is the superb meter capability...

OK - enough! No more! I dont need one. Someone tell me they're horrible!

Anyway, thats the little things that get me (an outsider) thinking about it...

Peter.

 

[Woolliscroft]

Paul, Apug can be a dangerous place. Like you, I am not in the market for another 35mm SLR, but like you, I also found myself surfing for used OMs after the thread I read here. I must resist. I must resist. I must resist.

Go on, be a devil I have been using OMs since the 1970s and they are just wonderful bits of design. They are light (I often have to carry three), but very reliable and robust (I have never had one fail, despite using them a lot in mud and rain). The meters are wonderful and I just love having the shutter speed control on the lens throat so you can change without taking the camera away from your eye. The glass is great and, for the left eyed amongst us, the fact that they don't use the film winder as the on/off switch like a Nikon is perfect.

David.

 

[Andy K]

They seem to have all the making of a product that people just cant get enough of once they try it! These evil, horrible threads got me reading up about them... and remembering that every time I see one I wonder how a camera that small can be that capable... and then there are the quirks...like the rangefinder-like shutter dial around the base of the lens... then there is the viewfinder... then there is the superb meter capability...

OK - enough! No more! I dont need one. Someone tell me they're horrible!

Anyway, thats the little things that get me (an outsider) thinking about it...

Peter.

Ok, you don't want an OM-1 because they are smaller than some rangefinders, they don't use german glass, instead they use something called Zuiko lenses which are too sharp and contrasty for many and too reliable. They also have something called mirror lock-up which I have used on night shoots (see attached) but which you probably won't want... and the camera is all mechanical with a battery only required for the meter...

 

[luvmydogs]

... The glass is great and, for the left eyed amongst us, the fact that they don't use the film winder as the on/off switch like a Nikon is perfect.

David.

David, interesting. I'm a left-eyed shooter and do find that the film advance lever jabs in my right eye or eyebrow area when I use it. Are you saying that this won't be the case with the OMs?

 

[Woolliscroft]

The OM winders only stick out 3-4mm from the top plate and I don't find they hit my head. The main problem for me was Nikons of the same era which used the winder as the on/off switch (for all I know the FM3 may still do). You had to pull it out quite a way to turn the meter on, so every time I tried to use one It hit me in the face and turned the camera off again. The OM 1 & 2 have an on off switch on the top plate and the 4s use half pressure on the shutter, either of which is much better for the left eyed. Give one a go and see if it suits you.

David.

 

[MikeK]

I have three OM1n's and two OM2n's had them since the late 70's. They are still going strong. My favorite by far is the OM1n by far. Light and very "sturdy". One of my OM's has a ding on the left hand side of the top plate. Couple of yobs tried to physically liberate my cameras from me; I was carrying one by the strap and swung the camera at him - beaned him, the pair of them took off regally cussing at me - but I still had my cameras. I have to admit that was a hairy moment.....and the camera still works to this day

Mike

Mike

 

[ajuk]

Why not get an OM-10 they are a cheap way to get one, you wont break the bank. I'm left eyed is that rare>?

 

[MikeK]

I'm left eyed is that rare>?

Me too, right handed and left eyed

Mike

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Why not get an OM-10 they are a cheap way to get one, you wont break the bank. I'm left eyed is that rare>?

Personally I would go for the OM1 for the difference in price. To me the auto exposure of the OM10 is not nearly as valuable as the ruggedness of the OM1. Plus the OM10 won't let you use manual shutter speed controls unless you have the little adapter piece which fits on the front. If you have to pay extra for that, you might not save any money compared to the OM1. Actually, they are almost the same price at KEH.

 

[gnashings]

Ok, you don't want an OM-1 because they are smaller than some rangefinders, they don't use german glass, instead they use something called Zuiko lenses which are too sharp and contrasty for many and too reliable. They also have something called mirror lock-up which I have used on night shoots (see attached) but which you probably won't want... and the camera is all mechanical with a battery only required for the meter...

Andy - first off - very nice, moody night shots! I like them quite a lot (for what its worth).

Secondly - you devil!!! But thanks for the attempt ... at reverse psychology that is!!! Hehehehehe....

Thirdly (is tha even a word?) - The only German glass I own is attached to my Volkswagen - and even that I can't really afford...

And yes - MLU is wonderful, one of the reasons I bought the hidden gem among the Canon FD bodies - the EF - was the MLU. And the 30 second shutter speed built in (can you guess who else does a lot of night time shooting?)

But no - for now I am saving for a new MF SLR and maybe getting a Yashica TLR on the way. I love 35mm - but am fairly well off in the equpment dept there - so I am forcing myself to remain true to the cause I have set for myself. Yes. That's it! My mind's made up! (closes his eyes not to look at the OM pros any more and backs out of thread...)

 

[Woolliscroft]

I have three OM1n's and two OM2n's had them since the late 70's. They are still going strong. My favorite by far is the OM1n by far. Light and very "sturdy". One of my OM's has a ding on the left hand side of the top plate. Couple of yobs tried to physically liberate my cameras from me; I was carrying one by the strap and swung the camera at him - beaned him, the pair of them took off regally cussing at me - but I still had my cameras. I have to admit that was a hairy moment.....and the camera still works to this day

Mike

Mike

My old boss when I was first working at a University used to have a huge kite to take low level air photos. You got the thing flying then winched a camera in a cradle up to it and it had a power winder with radio control to take the pictures. I once saw the cradle become detached with an OM20 on board. It fell over 100' onto dry grassland. It smashed the winder, broke the skylight filter on the lens, but the camera itself was in full working order. Nikon users used to tell me that OMs were fragile. Yeh right!

 

[Jon Goodman]

I'd put in an endorsement for the OM-10 also. I think the metering was somewhat improved, and they are going to cost you less. Plus...the databack on the black model is not obsolete. (some of the earlier databacks lost most of their value on 1/1/00)
Jon

 

[MattKing]

Lets see, I have:
1 OM1MD
1 OM1n
2 OMGs (same as OM20)
1 OM2S
1 OM2n

My original OM1 (not MD) I bought new in 1974. I no longer own it (I vaguely recall trading it in on the OM2S). I have 7 ZUIKO lenses, and one Tokina zoom, which came with a body I wanted.

Yep, I am addicted.

The only downside to the OM1s, is that they were designed for a mercury battery - I have purchased one of the adapters for each, so silver oxide cells work.

Regarding the OM10 - look instead for an OMG (OM20). They are newer then most of the OM10s and have the manual shutter speed built in, but share the same lighter body and very reasonable (used) cost. They aren't as rugged as the OM1, and you lose the MLU, interchangeable screens and some of the system camera attributes.

With the exception of some very early Olympus cameras (not in the OM system) and a short-lived and remarkably unsuccessful foray into autofocus (the OM77 and OM88) ALL OM series lenses fit all the OM bodies, and work equally well.

The flashes are good too - I have 1 T32, and two T20s.

Yep, I truly am addicted.

 

[Woolliscroft]

Lets see, I have:
Yep, I truly am addicted.

Me too:

1 OM1n
2 OM2n
1 OM10
2 OM4 (one of them Ti).

David.

 

[nsurit]

Me too:

1 OM1n
2 OM2n
1 OM10
2 OM4 (one of them Ti).

David.

You guys are not even getting started.

At least one each (black, of course) of all the single digit OMs except the OM 3 Ti. Although I cut back a bit, there are still 25 or so lenses for my OMs.

Another reason to own the OM system is that you can use these lenses with the Olympus e-1/evolt cameras when you cross over to the dark side (digital). Be warned that the Canon full frame digital bunch has discovered they can use these Zuiko lenses with their cameras and some of the OM Zuiko glass has escalated a quite a bit. This is particularly true of the 24mm and 35mm shift lenses, as well as, some of the super wides like the 16mm, 18mm and 21mm. The OM system also has some of the best macro gear going.

No, I don't have a problem. I just need half of the other closet . . . yes, I know I have an entire closet for my photo stuff. Well, it will only be temporary as I'm fixing to sell some of it on ebay. It really does need to not be sitting around like this. No, there isn't room in my closet. You need to learn to share better. Please . . .

Bill Barber

 

[dancqu]

The only downside to the OM1s, is that they were
designed for a mercury battery - I have purchased
one of the adapters for each, so silver oxide
cells work.

Now that's something I could use, that adapter. I'm
not very sold on zinc-air. Just where do I send the
money?

Have they a two cell version? I've a Sekonic
L-228 also in need. Dan