[TaoMaas]

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Yesterday, I inherited an Olympus OM-1 from my mom. I had suggested it to her years ago when she was needing to shoot slides of her art projects. She's now shooting digital so she let me have her OM-1. Wow...I had forgotten what a sweet little film camera it is! So smooth...so versatile! I've always thought that it was the SLR that Leica should have built...which is why I recommended it to my mom so long ago.

[eddie1960]

Yesterday, I inherited an Olympus OM-1 from my mom. I had suggested it to her years ago when she was needing to shoot slides of her art projects. She's now shooting digital so she let me have her OM-1. Wow...I had forgotten what a sweet little film camera it is! So smooth...so versatile! I've always thought that it was the SLR that Leica should have built...which is why I recommended it to my mom so long ago.

it is the slr leica should have built. while the r series were nice, and had some great glass they didn't touch om cameras for feel (next to the LX I think the OM were the nicest cameras at the time)

[TaoMaas]

What struck me was the smoothness of the shutter/mirror mechanism. If you pay close attention, you can feel that the up-stroke of the mirror is dampened more than the flop-back. At 1/15th (I think it was), you almost couldn't feel the mirror moving in either direction. I had been using an Olympus XA-1 for shooting B&W film at family reunions, but I think I'm going to switch over to the OM-1.

[eddie1960]

What struck me was the smoothness of the shutter/mirror mechanism. If you pay close attention, you can feel that the up-stroke of the mirror is dampened more than the flop-back. At 1/15th (I think it was), you almost couldn't feel the mirror moving in either direction. I had been using an Olympus XA-1 for shooting B&W film at family reunions, but I think I'm going to switch over to the OM-1.

the XA-1 is also a great little camera - really one of the best compacts made IMO (there are others of course like the Rollei and the later Olympus stylus with 28 2.8 AF lens as well

I've thought about tracking down a good om kit with 28/50/85 all as fast as i can afford. should have done it before the mirrorless sector took off, now those oly lenses have gone up in price
it really is a nice compact film kit (that my mx used to fill)

[TaoMaas]

I've thought about tracking down a good om kit with 28/50/85 all as fast as i can afford.

Ha! You're reading my mind! My mom's camera came with the 50 and 28. I was browsing ebay this morning looking for an 85 or 100.

[eddie1960]

Ha! You're reading my mind! My mom's camera came with the 50 and 28. I was browsing ebay this morning looking for an 85 or 100.

they have a pretty compact 85 f2.0 really quite nice (and a lot easier than hitting focus on a 1.4 or 1.2 in addition to being half the size)
the 100 f2.0 is pretty sweet as well, tough choice between the 2

there is a really sweet 21 f2.0 as well, perfect street lens

Over on RFF the om series are probably the most popular film SLR (so your statement that it's the SLR leica should have made apparently rings true with the leica guys)

[eddie1960]

this is what i meant by the prices jumping

tempting kit but not for $690 with shipping (has all the lenses i'd want though and the om4 really was the pinnacle) but given 4 of the 6 lenses have damage or fungus i'd be more in the $150 range

Olympus OM-4 w/Lens x 6 ! 28mm/3.5 50mm/3.5 50mm/1.4 85mm/2 100mm/2.8 135mm/3.5 | eBay

[Nesster]

Indeed, this thread is so good.... I grew up with Olympus, the Pen FT followed by an OM2s in '84.... I recently found an OM2n which truly felt like a homecoming.

Re Leica's R - here's a couple of shots I did comparing the Minolta version of that tank vs the ballerina OM







(both with the 43ltd/K100D)

The OM2s was my only camera for some years; I bought the Tamron adaptall SP 35-80 2.8-3.8 in a fit of ennui with 'just a 50mm' In the mid 90s I bought a Zuiko 85/2 from KEH, it is a wonderful lens indeed, I highly recommend it. And the OM2n came with a 28/3.5 Zuiko, another little jewel.

[eddie1960]

nice Jussi, I figured we'd see you eventually, I knew you were a big OM fan

I keep my eyes open for them, but haven't found the deal yet. maybe before fall, it's be a great kit to take to burgundy and london

[eddie1960]

I just spotted an OM2SP w/ 50 1.4 28 3.5 and winder locally for $250 hmmmmmm, time to count some pennies it looks in good nick

[Nesster]

Eddie - just a little word here - the OM2SP has some issues, you probably know these already. 1) it has no true OFF, the batteries drain and become exhausted just from sitting there. 2) the semi-silvered mirror is not as bright as the OM2's... I ended up buying a Beattie screen for mine which helped some.

Mine, bought new in '84, has gradually become frail - there's some shutter capping at times, and the electronics aren't always in tip top shape. This may be due to disuse, who knows?

I bought the OM2n on the bay for $99 - it came with a 28/3.5, 50/1.8, and a 35-70 Zuiko zoom, plus the shoe 4.

[eddie1960]

Eddie - just a little word here - the OM2SP has some issues, you probably know these already. 1) it has no true OFF, the batteries drain and become exhausted just from sitting there. 2) the semi-silvered mirror is not as bright as the OM2's... I ended up buying a Beattie screen for mine which helped some.

Mine, bought new in '84, has gradually become frail - there's some shutter capping at times, and the electronics aren't always in tip top shape. This may be due to disuse, who knows?

I bought the OM2n on the bay for $99 - it came with a 28/3.5, 50/1.8, and a 35-70 Zuiko zoom, plus the shoe 4.

Thanks, I'll have to keep watching

I saw an OM1 with the 50 1.8 and an off brand 28 2.8 for 75 on CL today, that one I emailed, but I will offer no more than $50 depending on condition (maybe less) the off brand lens holds no appeal, if I buy an OM I want zuiko lenses just the 3 mentioned above (famous last words) and I'll grab an OM to 4/3 adapter to use them on My wife's E300 which gets almost no use

[ChrisPlatt]

I worked in camera repair at Olympus USA at the end of the OM era.
With any used OM camera purchase always figure in the cost of CLA.
John Hermanson a/k/a Camtech (zuiko.com) does good work but is not cheap.

Chris

[eddie1960]

thanks Chris

Generally i factor in a local CLA (there are still a couple of old school guys operating here but it's getting harder and harder to find them) - save me the hassle of cross border shipping

[eddie1960]

Well, I ended up with an OM2n a couple of Kiron zooms (30-80 and 80-200) the winder 2 and a 2x TC for $50 last night (I bid ages back the opening bid) now I have to start hunting for the primes and try and flog the zooms