OM1 or OM2n?

abdoujaparov

abdoujaparov

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Car-boot auntie has come up trumps again, and found me both an OM1 and an OM2n (only one lens between them, though). Both appear to work, too, which is nice.

I've not taken any shots with either yet, but I'm impressed with how solid, smooth, and professional they feel. I'm only going to keep one, though, and I know I'm going to have to try both to find out, but I was wondering which you lot would keep, and why?
 
I've had a couple of OM2's and an OM1. They're both excellent cameras but have their Pro's/Con's;

OM1 - Pro = Fully manual so no need for a battery apart from the internal meter
Con = Manual metering only so if you're used to Aperture/Shutter priority it's not ideal

OM2 - Pro = Aperture metering with built in exposure meter so faster if you're used to using that.
Con = Without a battery it will only shoot at 1/60th

Either way, they're both great so go with whichever works best for you.
 
Cheers, Steve. Good summary. I'm actually partial to aperture priority, but I do like the idea of a completely manual camera. I'll put a roll through each anyway.
 
abdoujaparov said:
...which you lot would keep, and why?
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Both, because I've room in the house to store both of them, and they work slightly differently as Steve has said... So, in a given situation, I'd take the appropriate one out.

No help at all, I know... I should go get a job with Microsoft Technical Support.
 
Also have both. I'd keep the OM1. I like the mirror lock up facility,
Both great cameras..
 
Only thing possibly against the OM1 is the meter needing a now banned mercury battery. There are ways around it & I have had mine modified to run off a modern SR44 battery. Have both an OM1 & an OM2N & think they are both lovely cameras. No intention of parting with either but if one had to go it would be the OM2N.
 
I've got an OM1, OM2 and OM4; but if I could only keep 1 it would be the OM1 because it's the only one that's battery independent. I always carry a light meter with me anyway, so not having a working in camera meter doesn't bother me. If I made a lot of use of flash, then the TTL flash of the OM2 would tip the balance.
 
I had both back in the day really liked both. If I had to choose then the om2 would get my vote
 
When they were current products I first bought an OM1, then an OM1n second body, then an OM2. I regretted buying the OM2, much preferring the OM1's, but I kept it as a backup body. It was a long time ago, I suspect I preferred the OM1's as I was very familiar with them and I always used 2 bodies, wanting both to be identical. I remember the metering of the OM1's were both spot on, but the OM2 was different. Would only have been a problem if I was shooting Kodachrome, which was rare.

The Olympus autowinders were OK, all my Zuiko primes were great, but I never liked the 75-150 F4 zoom. The only issue I had with the OM1's was the leather cloth started peeling off with use, evostik cured that.

I'd say use both until you decide which one you prefer.
 
Well I only have the OM2 but can't see any reason why some one would want the OM1 in preference as it's not a rugged/tough camera like the old mechanical cameras from Canon or Nikon etc....did any war photographers use the OM1? With the OM2 you have a choice of manual or semi auto so it can do more and batteries are not a problem as they are cheap and you should always carry spares...so what have I missed or not seeing?
 
I had both models at one time and just kept the OM1. The pros and cons have been listed quite comprehensively, so the choice comes down to personal preference and I have not much to add, other than to mention one more advantage of the OM2 over the OM1. It has a camera door with a memo holder for the film packet.

If, like I was, you are tempted to have the best of both worlds by taking the door from the OM2 and putting it on the OM1 - don't do it.

Although the door fits, the film pressure plate is a different size and location; it won't sit properly over the film gate and will be raised at one end by the pins. Your film won't be held flat and your photos will be out of focus.
 
excalibur2 said:
....did any war photographers use the OM1?
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Don McCullin used OM cameras (although I don't honestly know an OM1 was used as opposed to OM2 etc.) and I think that he occasionally dabbled in war photography.
 
excalibur2 said:
Well I only have the OM2 but can't see any reason why some one would want the OM1 in preference as it's not a rugged/tough camera like the old mechanical cameras from Canon or Nikon etc....did any war photographers use the OM1? With the OM2 you have a choice of manual or semi auto so it can do more and batteries are not a problem as they are cheap and you should always carry spares...so what have I missed or not seeing?
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Don't think you have missed or are not seeing anything. Will agree that the OM feels quite fragile compared to a Nikon F2 or F3. for me I just like the simplicity of the OM1 over the OM2. Just a 2 position on/off switch & the film speed on the top plate compared to a 3 position switch & exposure compensation with the film speed dial. The OM2 behaves pretty much identically to the OM1 in manual mode. Clever the way the display slides & changes from shutter speeds to the + -. Will say also that I am more into manual cameras at the moment & enjoying the slow down it brings so that leans in my preference.
 
StephenM said:
Don McCullin used OM cameras (although I don't honestly know an OM1 was used as opposed to OM2 etc.) and I think that he occasionally dabbled in war photography.
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Indeed he did use Olympus as well...but would it stop a bullet ;)

nikonf.jpg
 
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That Nikon might have been hit by a bullet that had run out of momentum. A round from a battle rifle would go straight through a piece of aluminium like a camera body as easily as through a cigarette packet. It's a load of rubbish to say that camera saved McCullin's life.
 
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NickT said:
That Nikon might have been hit by a bullet that had fun out of momentum. A round from a battle rifle would go straight through a piece of aluminium like a camera body as easily as through a cigarette packet. It's a load of rubbish to say that camera saved McCullin's life.
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....may have diverted the bullet if coming at an angle, some guys have old cigarettes cases, steel helmets etc with bullet dents\grazes.....but could have been caused by flying shrapnel.
 
excalibur2 said:
..but would it stop a bullet ;)
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That's a different question.

Many years ago, I was faced with what to buy to replace an Exakta with a failed shutter. I narrowed the choice down to a Nikon F/F2 (both were current at the time) and an OM1. I frankly preferred the Nikon because it had an interchangeable pentaprism, a feature I still rate highly because I don't like using cameras held up to the eye. However, what swayed me was the better viewfinder on the OM1 and the size and weight. It's again an idiosyncracy of mine that I use a viewfinder to view the subject and judge the composition, and the less distractions in it the better (shuuter speeds, apertures, exposure compensation etc. etc. I don't want). The OM gave me a clearer view of the subject and with fewer distractions.

The size and weight was a permanent feature that applied across the lenses as well. I could carry more in a smaller space with less weight, and even in my twenties I appreciated that. I also found with experience that having the shutter speed control around the lens throat made it easier to use with the camera to my eye.

So perhaps we can agree that the OM1 is the better camera, but the F is the better body armour? (Possibly.) :D
 
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Well are the OMs lighter because the metal is thinner to get the weight down? But when the OM1 first came out there wasn't much competition to what it offered, but today in buying a camera there is so much choice...but that's off topic, anyway if you have a nice selection of Zuiko lenses and want a mechanical camera with mirror lockup...there is only one choice. ;)
 
I have an OM2n owned since new and I love it and will never sell. I also have 24, 35, 50, 85, 35-70, 70-150, T-32 flashes (2), cables, shoes, bounce, drive the lot. All near mint or mint. I spent all my hard earned pennies on Olympus stuff. Aesthetically pleasing too!

I use EPX76 batteries with no problem and suggest you look at replacing the light seals. Other than that - bomb proof.

Oh, and a pile of Olympus brochures and books from the time too; obsessed? Me?

Shame Olympus lost the advantage they had. They have tried to recreate it but frankly their offerings were/are poor. When the time came to go digital I spoke to Olympus and discovered that the Zuiko lenses were rendered obsolete on the new camera whereas Nikon had retained their mount and therefore their lens legacy would still work manually so I went with Nikon.

At the time I didn't take to kindly to the assumption I would replace everything!. In contrast I can run Nikon film and digital bodies alongside each other and share lenses, flashes etc. Indeed I have used them interchangeably on shoots.

The rest they say is history and Nikon are richer and I am poorer! By far!
 
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Yes; OTF TTL if you have the correct hot shoe and compatible flash.
 
StephenM said:
Yes; OTF TTL if you have the correct hot shoe and compatible flash.
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Well I thought Olympus had a super duper flashgun...probably rare and expensive, does that work on all OMs
 
excalibur2 said:
Well I thought Olympus had a super duper flashgun...probably rare and expensive, does that work on all OMs
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Think the OM4 Ti is the only one that has a special flash that might be expensive? As for flashes for the OM2. I paid 50p for a T20. The T32 was more expensive at £3. Both off ebay. The Accessory Shoe 4 to mount it on was a bit more expensive though. Have seen people wanting £30 for them on ebay.
 
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The special flash for the OM4Ti (NOT OM4) allowed flash synch at all shutter speeds. The T20, T32 and the even older QA310 all work with the OM2, although I recall there are some caveats with the QA310 (I've had all three flash guns and still have the T20 and T32).
 
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