Olympus OM4 or OM2sp

angelpaaul

angelpaaul

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Which would be the better choice?

I'm aware of the battery problem they both have but they're ideal for what I want.

So, which would you pick?
 
I have no knowledge of Olympus film SLR's. But on another, sad note on Saturday night I dropped my Olympus Pen on concrete and chipped the viewfinder housing, sigh. Lovely camera from about 1960. Fortunately the viewfinder didn't crack and it still works perfectly, just looking a bit bruised.
 
Not been around for a while, but thought I'd share my thoughts as a former Olympus shooter. I loved my OM-2SP, more than my OM-2N, but not as much as my OM-3, which I loved until it went into the Aegean Sea! If I was buying now, I'd go OM-4 and just keep taking the batteries out after use!
 
I have two OM4s; it’s a fine camera. I did consider the OM2SP but there wasn’t a massive difference in price between the two models so I figured I may as well get the higher spec’ed model.

BTW, not all OM4s have the battery drain problem. Later models have revised circuits that give improved battery life. On one of mine, the battery last for weeks at most if not removed between uses, whereas the other lasts for a few months.
 
Jao said:
.... If I was buying now, I'd go OM-4 and just keep taking the batteries out after use!
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That's what I tend to do anyway, I'd just have make sure I do.
spark303 said:
I have two OM4s; it’s a fine camera. I did consider the OM2SP but there wasn’t a massive difference in price between the two models so I figured I may as well get the higher spec’ed model.

BTW, not all OM4s have the battery drain problem. Later models have revised circuits that give improved battery life. On one of mine, the battery last for weeks at most if not removed between uses, whereas the other lasts for a few months.
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The two I'm looking at are similarly priced so that's a plus for the OM4.

Am I right in thinking that if the battery test beep stops after 30 sec it has the later circuit board?
 
FishyFish said:
Didn't the OM-2s have issues with PCB failure or something? The OM-2n might be an alternative if you're not desperate for the spot metering functionality. My OM-2n meter extremely well with it's off-the-film metering system.
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It’s not the spot metering I’m after, it’s the manual/auto feature. The OM2n is my first choice but the OM2s and OM4 are up for grabs at a reasonable price.

I don’t want one that’s in pristine condition, a few minor bumps and scratches are fine. I’m going abroad and it’s to be used as a go everywhere camera. I don’t want to pay silly prices either, it’ll be a workhorse not a show horse.
 
I started with Olympus cameras in 1973 with the OM1 - a great camera that was very simple, but performed beautifully (I still have it).

I didn't like the OM2 (a friend had one) and I opted for the OM1n - another great camera that I still have.

I waited until the OM4 came along before I upgraded again and I bought one 1984/5. It was (is) a truly fabulous camera that has never let me down and I'll never part with it. It's in my 'Needs New Light Seals' cupboard at the moment along with a few others . . .

I'd definitely recommend you opt for the OM4. (y)
 
Whilst I've got an OM4 (the spot meter 0f the OM3 and OM4 with the ability to average up to 8 separate readings is fantastic) I much prefer the swinging needle read-out of my OM1 and OM2, and if I could only keep one it would be the OM2/2N (well, actually it would be the OM1 but that is for sentimental reasons!). The OM2SP has the program mode but I've never used it much and to me the ability of the OM4 spot meter (average of up to 8 readings, highlight & shadow options) over that of the OM2SP would make me opt for the OM4 out of the two.
 
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I started with Olympus around the same time as Trevor - OM1n in 1974 or thereabouts, OM2 in 1977 and OM4 in 1984. I added an OM4Ti later. Of the set, I'd keep the OM1 in preference to the others if I could only have one of them, due to the lack of depence on a working battery for a full set of shutter speeds. Of the OM2sp (never had one) or OM4, I'd take the OM4 for the higher top shutter speed, although I personally think it's uglier than the classic OM1/2 cameras.
 
I used a couple of OM-1s back in the early 1990s and very nice they were too.

I was a bit lustful for the OM-2 but a couple of people I knew had rather dramatic failures with the shutters locking up at the wrong moment, so I stayed with the manual models.

Here's a shot from one of the OM-1s, made on top of the Mendip Hills in 1993...

Susie on Mendip hill Olympus OM1 1993 05-07.jpg
 
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