Been given some old Olympus gear

DB_SamX

DB_SamX

Suspended / Banned
Messages
246
Name
Sameer
Edit My Images
Yes
Holy thread revival 19 Feb 14 - see below!

I have saved some old Olympus gear from going to the tip (!) as I suspected they would be worth something to someone but having given them an inspection, I am actually not sure what to do with them.

Extensive list:

Olympus OM1 - edges dirty, got shutter to release
Olympus OM1 MD - edges dirty, film cover doesn't lock, haven't managed to get shutter to release
Olympus OM2n MD - looks clean through viewfinder, got shutter to release
(above probably need some mirror/sensor though)
F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 Auto S (fungus)
Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 Auto S - few dust specs
Vivitar 35-70mm f/2.8-3.8 - clean
G Zuiko 28mm f/3.5 (Auto W) - clean
Tamron 85-210mm f/4.5 macro adaptall 2 - clean
Vivitar 530FD flashgun
Hoya skylight filters to all lenses above
49mm polarising filter
49mm red filter
+ various old school cases, pouches etc

photo0425d.jpg


photo0426c.jpg


photo0427y.jpg


Sadly there is some fungus but I need to check how much and in which lens/body.

Also, I am not educated in film cameras so a bit at a loss on how to check that they are mechanically sound (which I was told they were). Is it really a question of reading the instructions, popping some film in and giving them a go? I have since read that OM cameras are rather classic and I've probably done well to save them from the tip at least!

I am very tempted to try a few, if not all of those lenses with my D90 and D40, especially the 28mm, the 35-70mm and the 85-210mm. That's a very good zoom range! I am pretty sure they can be combined as I've seen a few lovely photos on Flickr taken with Nikon DSLRs and the 35-70 at least. Anyone know what adapter I'd need?

As much as I'd like getting to grips with them over time, I'm not sure I've got enough spare time, so may well end up flogging all or most of it. :(

Any pointers much appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Nice selection of gear. I'd find some cheap film and run a roll through each camera and try out all the lenses Places like Poundland etc quite often have film for a quid and Asda/Tesco still usually process and print for a fiver.
Can't help with the adaptor but I'd be surprised if there isn't one.
I believe the OM-2n is highly thought of so give 'em a go, you never know you might find you like it, film is cool.

Andy
 
The adapter would be called something like "Olympus OM to Nikon F mount" - OM lenses, F-mount camera.

You managed to get a really good haul there - the best things being the camera bodies and 50mm f/1.8 Zuiko primes. The light seals may be a bit crummy but yes, it should just be a matter of giving them a go. They will need a battery for metering. I'm not familiar with OMs so I can't be much more help then that, but the OM1 and 2 (and 3/4 I guess) all have a very good reputation.
 
DB_SamX said:
...Also, I am not educated in film cameras so a bit at a loss on how to check that they are mechanically sound (which I was told they were). Is it really a question of reading the instructions, popping some film in and giving them a go? I have since read that OM cameras are rather classic and I've probably done well to save them from the tip at least!
...
Any pointers much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Hopefully you've got a manual for these cameras. If not then try here for the OM-1 or here for the OM2.

Well - first off, pick a body, and one of the 50mm lenses to suit. Remove the body cap and examine the mirror for traces of "gunk" - one of the first things that happens with old cameras is the Lightseals and Mirror buffers degenerate - the foam/rubber perishes with age, and ends up gooey and sticky. With the lens off, press the shutter release - if the camera is wound on it'll fire, and the mirror will bob up and down. If it won't fire, cock the shutter with the film wind-on lever and press release again. If the mirror is still clear, you may be in luck.

Next give the lens fitting cavity a good blow out with a blower brush and fit the lens. If there's no film in the camera open the back, remove the lens cap and hold towards somewhere bright. Dry-Fire the camera at a range of apertures and shutter speeds (refer to manual for how to change them - i'm not au-fait with Olympus kit tbh) and check that the apertures change as they are set, and the shutter opening times seem about right - you'll not be able to tell if it's exactly 1/125th or 1/250th obviously, but if you run from slowest to fastest, you should see a proportional decrease in the duration of light passing through the lens.

Check around the film back door for more gunk - if it's free from sticky residues, grab some cheap film from poundland, load up and shoot a roll of pictures. Take them to local asda/tesco for cheap process and scan to cd service, and see how things come out. Even if you intend to sell the cameras in the end, you should re-coup the cost of film/processing if you can sell it as having been just film tested and working.

Oh - and don't forget to post some of the shots on here when you do ;)
 
....and check that the OM2 isn't one of the few with a battery drain problem.
 
TheBigYin said:
Next give the lens fitting cavity a good blow out with a blower brush and fit the lens.
Click to expand...

Unless you mean just the mount itself (which is better to clean off with a tissue), this risks blowing overhanging crumbling light seal material straight onto the reflex mirror - personally I'd advise you don't do this. The stuff doesn't budge if blown onto it, and the mirror is extremely delicate and easy to damage.
 
Olympus OM info here : http://olympus.dementia.org/eSIF/om-sif.htm.
Now - http://esif.world-traveller.org/om-sif.htm

A couple of things to watch out for

a) as above light seals, you can get replacement kits from the likes of :http://SPAM/6b343mg

easy to replace just fiddly.

b) The original batteries for OM1s are no longer available (mercury), so they either need converting http://www.lutoncameras.co.uk/ or an adaptor for Zinc/Air batteries http://www.paulbg.com/Nikon_F_meter_batteries.htm
there are other alternatives, but I wouldn't recommend them.

Otherwise, put some film in and blast away.
 
Last edited:
re: light seals

Please buy them from Interslice (John Goodman) rather than anyone else: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pre-Cut-Inter...742179670?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item1c1ccb7356

That seller in John's post (camerasealkitsandmore) ripped off John Goodman - Goodman wrote a post here about them. I've used an interslice kit, and they are top notch.

(you wouldn't have known that John, but I thought it would be worth knowing since there appears to be several people trying to sell light seals)
 
john-oh said:
The original batteries for OM1s are no longer available (mercury), adaptor for Zinc/Air batteries http://www.paulbg.com/Nikon_F_meter_batteries.htm
there are other alternatives, but I wouldn't recommend them.

Otherwise, put some film in and blast away.
Click to expand...

freecom2 said:
re: light seals

Please buy them from Interslice (John Goodman)
Click to expand...

Another :thumbs: for these two guys, I've used them regularly over the last few years, always great service and advice, if needed. Good prices and quick delivery.
 
Good haul !!! as they guys have said above get some poundland film and run it through, I have just done that with the Pentax gear I scored last week and I love the results, you'll be hooked all over again I guarantee it.
 
Nice! Wish someone would just give me an OM1!
 
That seller in John's post (camerasealkitsandmore) ripped off John Goodman - Goodman wrote a post here about them. I've used an interslice kit, and they are top notch.

(you wouldn't have known that John, but I thought it would be worth knowing since there appears to be several people trying to sell light seals)
Click to expand...
Cheers - I've saved him in my favourite sellers
 
THanks a lot everyone. Certainly got enough to read to familiarise myself!

Been playing a bit with them today, checking condition, cleaning, seeing what works or not - updated my opening post.

The OM2n MD seems to be a peach so far compared to the 2 OM1. Will get some film soon.

When looking though the viewfinder of the 2 OM1, the bottom edges typically have some dirt/gunk buildup - what is it?
 
Last edited:
DB_SamX said:
When looking though the viewfinder of the 2 OM1, the bottom edges typically have some dirt/gunk buildup - what is it?
Click to expand...

Depends really on their history. If you can actually directly have a good look at the offending material (i.e. not through a viewfinder), and it looks like little black bits - they may be shiny - then it's likely to be the mirror/seals falling apart. It may just be some dust/dirt build up whilst it was being used, or just general environmental stuff picked up. Difficult to say really.
 
Well a lot like your's, not as large just sold for £300, so what you have deserves a bit of investment.

Good luck and I hope you keep all the good bits and have a great time.
 
So, it has been two and a half years, and I have finally decided to look at those - they have been staring at me since I started this thread. Basically I'm looking excuses not to study.

I gave away one OM1 + 50mm to a friend's friend last yeat with the hope that she would help me test all of the kit, but it's not happened. :(

So I am left with the rest.

Flashgun - found out it had some ancient batteries inside which had leaked so it wasn't working. Took them out, cleaned up the mess and put fresh batteries in and now flashgun fires in test mode. :)

OM2n MD - got a new battery, got a roll of film in and so far so good. Viewfinder display, needles, levers and buttons work (and sound sweet) but I haven't taken any shots yet - will wait till the weekend. Looking promising overall! :D

OM1 MD - got a new battery, got a roll of film in but I am really struggling to get the film advance lever to work properly. Have already wasted one roll like this. Basically when I put the roll in, pull the lever to get the film to engage the sprockets, it's fine. The exp screen show S for start. I then close the back door (have managed to tighten it so it doesn't open randomly + taped it as precaution). Tightening the film works. From here, I can't advance the film or press the shutter button properly. Sometime it works, other times it doesn't so I can't figure out if I am doing something wrong or something is wrong with it. Any ideas? HAve been thinking about taking it to a shop to get it looked at but none near Wimbledon where I am so may have to go in they city.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top