Well I just can't like the Om2

[excalibur2]

Little things annoy me, and it's a generation behind a T90 plus flashgun combo:-
Well OK it takes pictures in daytime (although on my test pano it should have got the exposure better) and my night shots on auto came out ok, BUT for flash it's a joke and wouldn't spend a penny on Olympus's best flashgun designs...so I wanted to use the film up and thought I'd use a 283 with cable so I could move the flashgun around the subject....well it was a tight fit on the number 2 silly adapter hotshoe (fair enough not every flash gun fits any hotshoe) but getting the flash off the hotshoe was a nightmare being careful not to damage or crack it.
Anyway the most annoying thing was I couldn't remember the sync and it's not on the shutter dial so wasted a shot at 1/125 then it seemed to work at 1/60, well just now looked at the manual and it said "set shutter speed to 1/30" WTF a 1960's camera could achieve that. The other odd thing is the number 2 hotshoe has the main terminal in the centre (like others) but another small one inline not off center like any other hot shoe, so what odd flashgun fits that h'mm don't tell me you need different hotshoe adapters for different flashguns
rant over

 

[Kei]

TBH, the olympus is from the 70's and isn't a top of the range camera like the T90. The model to have was the OM-4 and even then it's still a horizontal travel cloth shutter. TBH the best bit from olympus were the lenses which were in some cases spectacularly good and in tiny packages. Personally, I hate working with flash, coming from the man that owns a T90 and 300TL.

 

[steveo_mcg]

Little things annoy me, and it's a generation behind a T90 plus flashgun combo:-
Well OK it takes pictures in daytime (although on my test pano it should have got the exposure better) and my night shots on auto came out ok, BUT for flash it's a joke and wouldn't spend a penny on Olympus's best flashgun designs...so I wanted to use the film up and thought I'd use a 283 with cable so I could move the flashgun around the subject....well it was a tight fit on the number 2 silly adapter hotshoe (fair enough not every flash gun fits any hotshoe) but getting the flash off the hotshoe was a nightmare being careful not to damage or crack it.
Anyway the most annoying thing was I couldn't remember the sync and it's not on the shutter dial so wasted a shot at 1/125 then it seemed to work at 1/60, well just now looked at the manual and it said "set shutter speed to 1/30" WTF a 1960's camera could achieve that. The other odd thing is the number 2 hotshoe has the main terminal in the centre (like others) but another small one inline not off center like any other hot shoe, so what odd flashgun fits that h'mm don't tell me you need different hotshoe adapters for different flashguns
rant over

Don't use it then. I'm sure you have others. Bung it in the classifieds even with postage I'm sure a newbie would be happy to have it at car boot rates, especially since its not "tested and working".

 

[StephenM]

I.m not a flash photographer; I bought a cheap flashgun to photograph hedgehogs in the garden in the 1970s and a couple of OM flashes in the 80s for light on fungi. With the OM flashes, I always went off camera with the flash grip thing. So I'm happy with the OM2.

On flash sync speed, my recollection was that Olympus marked out the shutter speeds that you could use on the shutter speed ring, and a check on my OM2 confirmed it. The instruction manual does say (and I'll admit it was news to me) that if you want manual exposure (rather than TTL auto) with the T20 or T32 flashguns, you have a maximum speed of 1/30th second. On the other hand, all other flashguns can be used at 1/60th second.

 

[excalibur2]

Don't use it then. I'm sure you have others. Bung it in the classifieds even with postage I'm sure a newbie would be happy to have it at car boot rates, especially since its not "tested and working".

The only reason I'm using Olympus (and quite a few others) is because of some nice lenses I have that fit OM and other cameras.
My philosphy is:- get any lens and I have a camera body to fit

 

[excalibur2]

I.m not a flash photographer; I bought a cheap flashgun to photograph hedgehogs in the garden in the 1970s and a couple of OM flashes in the 80s for light on fungi. With the OM flashes, I always went off camera with the flash grip thing. So I'm happy with the OM2.

On flash sync speed, my recollection was that Olympus marked out the shutter speeds that you could use on the shutter speed ring, and a check on my OM2 confirmed it. The instruction manual does say (and I'll admit it was news to me) that if you want manual exposure (rather than TTL auto) with the T20 or T32 flashguns, you have a maximum speed of 1/30th second. On the other hand, all other flashguns can be used at 1/60th second.

H'mm in good light the shutter speeds are blue up 1/60 and black after....maybe red would have been better.

 

[kendo1]

I was shocked the first time I picked up an OM 2.
I was used to Contax and Yashica - and the weight!

Some really good lenses at decent prices. I have a few myself ( for use on my Nexs )

 

[excalibur2]

TBH, the olympus is from the 70's and isn't a top of the range camera like the T90. The model to have was the OM-4 and even then it's still a horizontal travel cloth shutter. TBH the best bit from olympus were the lenses which were in some cases spectacularly good and in tiny packages. Personally, I hate working with flash, coming from the man that owns a T90 and 300TL.

Well flash is quite important to me but with using a non Olympus flash (could be pro flash) on a OM2 in daylight (say for fill in) then 1/30 is useless for obvious reasons.......I got rid of a Rollei SL66 as that only had a sync also of 1/30

 

[StephenM]

Well flash is quite important to me but with using a non Olympus flash (could be pro flash) on a OM2 in daylight (say for fill in) then 1/30 is useless for obvious reasons.......I got rid of a Rollei SL66 as that only had a sync also of 1/30

I'd agree, but it's not the way I read the OM2 manual. As I read it, it's ONLY in the situation of manual (not auto) exposure with the T20/T32 flashguns that the 1/30th applies. In all other cases (and all other flashguns) it's 1/60th.

Edit to change "flashgubs" to "flashguns"

 

[excalibur2]

I was shocked the first time I picked up an OM 2.
I was used to Contax and Yashica - and the weight!

Some really good lenses at decent prices. I have a few myself ( for use on my Nexs )

I've only got one Zuiko prime lens but was excited to use my latest find in OM mount..... a Vivitar (komine) 24mm f2 and love the dreamy effect wide open.

 

[excalibur2]

I'd agree, but it's not the way I read the OM2 manual. As I read it, it's ONLY in the situation of manual (not auto) exposure with the T20/T32 flashguns that the 1/30th applies. In all other cases (and all other flashguns) it's 1/60th.

Edit to change "flashgubs" to "flashguns"

Well who would be desparate enough to use the T20 I want to use a man's flashgun like the 283 upwards

Not using T20 then:-
Move tihe selector lever to the ·'MANUAL,, posltion.
Set the ASA fllim speed on the flash unit.
Set the shutter speed ring to 1/30 sec.
Set the flash unit to the automatic or manua lsetting
etc

 

[StephenM]

Well who would be desparate enough to use the T20 I want to use a man's flashgun like the 283 upwards

Not using T20 then:-
Move tihe selector lever to the ·'MANUAL,, posltion.
Set the ASA fllim speed on the flash unit.
Set the shutter speed ring to 1/30 sec.
Set the flash unit to the automatic or manua lsetting
etc

Why 1/30th and not 1/60th if you're using something other than an Olympus flashgun?

 

[excalibur2]

Why 1/30th and not 1/60th if you're using something other than an Olympus flashgun?

Dunno I'm not an expert on the OM2 and just copied above from the manual which says 1/30

 

[Cannyekerslike]

I think the 1/30 shutter speed may be because of the cloth horizontal shutter. I am not a lover of the OM series myself too small for my hands and I hate the shutter speeds on the ring around the lens. Still they were very popular in the day and still sell well today so some folks like them, I just prefer something heavier and larger.

 

[DNH]

Was shocked to see that the flash sync of the OM2SP was so low after I bought it. Thought a Nikon F3 was bad until then. Wasn't going to bother getting a flash for mine but got a T20 for 50p off ebay. Mikey Mouse flash but it works OK. Not a camera I can see me wanting to use a flash on really. Seems so basic when I have Nikon's from the same era that sync at 1/250.

 

[excalibur2]

I think the 1/30 shutter speed may be because of the cloth horizontal shutter. I am not a lover of the OM series myself too small for my hands and I hate the shutter speeds on the ring around the lens. Still they were very popular in the day and still sell well today so some folks like them, I just prefer something heavier and larger.

Well maybe it was unfair to compare a OM2 flashgun combo with a more modern T90 flash combo although S\H you could buy them from the same price...anyway looked up my older generation Canon A1 and Minolta X700 which maybe an advanced amateur would buy instead of an OM...... and both flash sync is 1/60...why the OM2 is 1/30 is a mystery.

 

[StephenM]

Well, the instruction book still states "Set the shutter speed ring to 1/60 sec of slower": page 35 point 4. I can't find out what shutter speed relates to "X", but camerapedia states that the OTF metering only works with shutter speeds of 1/45the and longer; and as the shutter must be fully open when the flash fires, it's reasonable to guess that "X" is 1/45 to allow TTL OTF flash metering to occur. But this really does only apply to the dedicated flashguns used in TTL mode. Use them outside TTL as manual, or use a flashgun other than the T20/T32 and you can use 1/60th.

 

[excalibur2]

Well, the instruction book still states "Set the shutter speed ring to 1/60 sec of slower": page 35 point 4. I can't find out what shutter speed relates to "X", but camerapedia states that the OTF metering only works with shutter speeds of 1/45the and longer; and as the shutter must be fully open when the flash fires, it's reasonable to guess that "X" is 1/45 to allow TTL OTF flash metering to occur. But this really does only apply to the dedicated flashguns used in TTL mode. Use them outside TTL as manual, or use a flashgun other than the T20/T32 and you can use 1/60th.

LOL we are using different OM2 manuals as in my post #11 it is a direct copy and paste from page 33....your page ref 35 on my manual is for motor drive.
Might be a point as my camera is OM2 and not OM2n?

 

[excalibur2]

Couldn't post this up yesterday as Photbucket was down........but I'd say the manual is wrong as the table says sync up to 1/60, yet instruction say 1/30...anyway opened the back of the OM2 to view flash and it seemed ok at 1/60 with even light, but I don't think I would bother again using an OM2 with flash unless forced to as it's not a camera you can use a heavy flashgun and just put down on a table (between shots) without worrying something would bend or break.

 

[stevelmx5]

I've never used flash with any of my film kit and always used my OM bodies as lightweight SLRs that have delivered good results in low light. You must have some pretty heavy flashguns Brian to worry about breaking a hotshoe!

Even an OM10 can do low light without any in your face flash :0)



OM10, 50/1.4, Tmax 400

 

[StephenM]

Somewhat different with the OM2n manual...

 

[excalibur2]

Well Steve I'm a power freak and the flashguns I use are quite heavy with 4 AA batteries.......my T90 with it's flashgun slid off a table and landed on a wooden floor and just the plastic flashgun part broke off, so a tough hotshoe can be handy
Anyway a flashgun is under used by many people e.g. portraiture on a sunny day when you can face the model away from the sun (to prevent squinting) and use flash to balance the shadow on the face with ambient light (inc background) ..a clever camera\flashgun combo can sort this exposure out without working it all out manually.
.......and all pros can't be wrong using flash indoors and outdoors...and there is the problem on how to arrest movement in dim light like my shot below, so you can't beat plenty of light in most situations and not using flash can limit your photography (well for me).

 

[stevelmx5]

I agree that there's a time and place for flash and I do use it more in my digital kit, especially when I'm shooting weddings. This shot had one on the floor behind Chloe to light the background and one to her right in a softbox to light her;



There's not much use trying to overpower the sun if the OM only has a 1/30 or 1/60 sync speed though so I guess it comes down to the right tool for the job. The Canon T90 is a much newer body with more electronic exposure control so I guess it brings better TTL. Personally I'd still rather use an OM body and live without flash but I agree there are times when that's not an option.

 

[excalibur2]

I agree that there's a time and place for flash and I do use it more in my digital kit, especially when I'm shooting weddings. This shot had one on the floor behind Chloe to light the background and one to her right in a softbox to light her;

View attachment 55655

There's not much use trying to overpower the sun if the OM only has a 1/30 or 1/60 sync speed though so I guess it comes down to the right tool for the job. The Canon T90 is a much newer body with more electronic exposure control so I guess it brings better TTL. Personally I'd still rather use an OM body and live without flash but I agree there are times when that's not an option.

That's a lovely shot ...I like it, well done

 

[excalibur2]

Somewhat different with the OM2n manual...

View attachment 55654

Well mine must be an original edition with the front cover like this

 

[StephenM]

The only difference in the covers is that the one I'm referring to (which is an on-line download, as I couldn't quickly find my paper copy from 1977) is that there isn't an "E" on the left hand side.

 

[AJQS]

Have a read of http://www.mir.SPAM/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/flash/index1.htm

 

[excalibur2]

Why different hot shoe numbers as it says use no 4 but I was using no 2? I'm guessing there is a difference in pin arrangement...as my no 2 is odd (as posted before) as the 2nd pin is not off centre and all the non OM flashguns I have that are not basic\old have additional pins that are off centre.
The most pins I've seen is the flashgun for the T90 which has the centre pin but four off centre.

 

[stevelmx5]

That's a lovely shot ...I like it, well done

Thanks Brian. It's on the wall in our hallway :0)

 

[LonerMatt]

Love the OM bodies - especially the OM1 - perfect for me. Simple, easy to use, all mechanical, all manual.

Any tips on good lenses between 35-50mm to grab? I've used the 24mm and didn't care for the focal length, and also use the 50mm 1.8 and love the results.

 

[excalibur2]

Have a read of http://www.mir.SPAM/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/flash/index1.htm

Olympus F280 Interesting and wonder why other makes didn't copy the idea...well AFAIK.

 

[pentaxpete]

I took a flash shot at my Club with an OM-2n, 50mm f1.4 G.Zuiko auto-S lens, 12/1989 dated Kodak Plus-X film and set it to 1/60th and it came out well. The flash was a very small weak 'Dixons 177'

 

[excalibur2]

Love the OM bodies - especially the OM1 - perfect for me. Simple, easy to use, all mechanical, all manual.

Any tips on good lenses between 35-50mm to grab? I've used the 24mm and didn't care for the focal length, and also use the 50mm 1.8 and love the results.

Well for me the OM2 is going definately going to be my night shooter on auto as why use a heavy T90 on auto that only goes to about 35 secs..mind you atm I can't think why I would take a night shot over 35 secs h'mm anyone gone over 35 secs....................................

 

[AJQS]

Love the OM bodies - especially the OM1 - perfect for me. Simple, easy to use, all mechanical, all manual.

Any tips on good lenses between 35-50mm to grab? I've used the 24mm and didn't care for the focal length, and also use the 50mm 1.8 and love the results.

35mm f2 or 2.8, 40mm f2, 50mm f1.2, f1.4 or f1.8 and 50mm f2 or f3.5 macro. Take your pick!

 

[AJQS]

Well for me the OM2 is going definately going to be my night shooter on auto as why use a heavy T90 on auto that only goes to about 35 secs..mind you atm I can't think why I would take a night shot over 35 secs h'mm anyone gone over 35 secs....................................

Yes, left the OM2 outside for a few hours capturing star trails, but forgot to take into account reciprocity and got very underexposed star trails!

 

[excalibur2]

I took a flash shot at my Club with an OM-2n, 50mm f1.4 G.Zuiko auto-S lens, 12/1989 dated Kodak Plus-X film and set it to 1/60th and it came out well. The flash was a very small weak 'Dixons 177'
View attachment 55659

H'mm well most cameras can take a good flash shot in dim light but set your lens to f1.4 and you would also get an exposure that would conflict with the flash making it less sharp......of course stopping the lens down and using a fast sync speed would eliminate this problem.

 

[excalibur2]

Yes, left the OM2 outside for a few hours capturing star trails, but forgot to take into account reciprocity and got very underexposed star trails!

h'mm well I meant auto setting as I think the OM2 can go up to about 90 secs.

 

[AJQS]

h'mm well I meant auto setting as I think the OM2 can go up to about 90 secs.

It goes until the battery runs out or the exposure is judged correct by OTF metering, whichever comes first.

 

[excalibur2]

It goes until the battery runs out or the exposure is judged correct by OTF metering, whichever comes first.

Oh well I just fired my OM on auto with the lens cap on and covering the viewfinder..and it went to about 90 secs before the shutter closed.

 

[ianp5a]

I used the Olympus QA310 flashes with my OM-2 in TTL mode a lot, on and off camera. It was excellent. Especially as TTL flash metering that wasn't available on any other camera at the time.

"TTL flash."

I think it took Canon 10 years to catch up. Things were different back in 1975. So don't be too surprised or disappointed if today's demands can't be met.

Try doing a firmware upgrade to see if that helps!