Got Olympus OM2

[minoltist7]

Probably the most "rangefinder-like" SLR, in terms of size and handling. I found that it perfectly fits to Cosina Bessa Rx leather half-case, so it will be nice companion to my Bessa in the camera bag.
http://pics.livejournal.com/awaken77/pic/00162778/s640x480

[hans voralberg]

Congrat and welcome to the OM bandwagon =)

[ClaremontPhoto]

It's a cousin of RF cameras and, rightly, very popular round here.

[feenej]

Sweet. I just got a 100mm Zuiko f2.8 in the mail last night.

[Keith]

And it's black ... gorgeous! Congratulations! :)

I've discovered mine fits pefectly into a Leica M Luigi case ... these things are so small and slippery they benefit from a half case especially if you have reasonably large hands.

Beware though ... a year ago I had never laid eyes on an OM but after constantly reading about them and noting that they'd been given the term 'honorary rangefinder' here ... I had to test the waters. I now have a silver OM-2, a silver OM-1 and a black OM-1 with a winder. My Olympus lens collection has just reached nine lenses with the addition of a 50mm f1.2

I'd sold my Canon AE-1 and stored my old Spotmatic away being sure I was a rangefinder guy and was over the SLR thing ... wrong! The OM-2 especially has got me shooting an SLR on a regular basis now and the framing acuracy, metering acuracy and selection of superb cheap Zuiko lenses is something none of my rangefinders can offer!

[Peter_Jones]

Mmm, nice black OM2.

I could do with one of those to join my OM1 silver, OM1 black, and very brassed black used and abused OM2SP :)

And more lenses of course.

[gnarayan]

Probably the most "rangefinder-like" SLR, in terms of size and handling. I found that it perfectly fits to Cosina Bessa Rx leather half-case, so it will be nice companion to my Bessa in the camera bag.

Heh - I did things backwards I guess, got digital, picked up an OM2n from a camera store and loved it so much that I splurged on an OM1n and a bunch of lenses and probably use that as much as digital, and then wanted more on the wide end so picked up a Bessa to compliment it. Lovely cameras - pleasure to use and quite small, compared to any DSLR today (even Olympus' own E4XX series)

[cole]

Congratulations on the OM! I cut my teeth on many of my father's OM cameras, and I still adore them. So compact, the layout of controls is quite logical, and the lenses really are excellent for the price you pay.

Have fun!

[gavinlg]

I love OMs. I hope you enjoy yours too. They're so simple and so ergonomic..

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Congratulations on the OM! I cut my teeth on many of my father's OM cameras, and I still adore them. So compact, the layout of controls is quite logical, and the lenses really are excellent for the price you pay.

Have fun!

I got into photography the same way...using my father's OM camera and lenses. He bought me one of my own when I was 11 yrs old and I now have more stuff than he ever had, and I am a professional photographer!

[PICHA]

Congrats and thanks for the tip about the halfcase. :)

[kuzano]

I encourage you to look at the original OM leather case (the one with the seam down the middle of the lens portion). They came in a rich brown or black finish. I just picked up one of these, like new on eBay for $20 including shipping.

[Dektol Dan]

As a range finder only devotee for 30 years, I bought my first Olympus OM last year and I now own three and a bag of lenses. The OM2 convinced me SLRs can be okay, but remember neither Nikon nor Canon could do that for me!!!!

[Spyderman]

Congratulations. OM's are indeed a work of art by itself.

I've got a 4Ti, chrome 1n, black 1n and 2n.

Long live Maitani-san. Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

Be sure to remove the foam over the pentaprism! This foam is responsible for the death of many OMs. It rots the pentaprism silvering. Either get it removed by a repairman (any skilled repairman can do it - it's a work for 30 minutes - I've done it on 3 cameras already) or you can even DIY if you have the tools. If the prism is still fine, it can probably be saved. Don't wait until it self-destructs!

[shadowfox]

The OM2 convinced me SLRs can be okay, but remember neither Nikon nor Canon could do that for me!!!!

Dan, I wouldn't have it any other way ;)

But, since I'm also an SLR fan, I can choose to experiment with others brands and models.

Nikons I'd describe as sure-footed, and precise.
Olympus is graceful and intelligent.
Canons are... hmmm... I don't have anything to say... :p

Edit: Forgot to say Congrats!! to the OP ;) way to go dude! black OM-2 is smart.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Dan, I wouldn't have it any other way ;)

But, since I'm also an SLR fan, I can choose to experiment with others brands and models.

Nikons I'd describe as sure-footed, and precise.
Olympus is graceful and intelligent.
Canons are... hmmm... I don't have anything to say... :p

Edit: Forgot to say Congrats!! to the OP ;) way to go dude! black OM-2 is smart.

I have used Olympus OM since I was a kid. They're what 35mm should be: small, precise, fast to operate with easy to use controls, and a very good metering system (on the OM-4, 4T, and 3).

I like Nikon's older F-series bodies too. The F, F2, F3, and F4 were very easy and fast to operate, they were made as professional journalist's cameras. They were huge and heavy, though the F3 isn't so bad. I have an F4. I think they lost their way with the F5 and beyond. The electronis controls get in the way, i can't work as fast or effortlessly with them.

Canon, Minolta, and Pentax made some great lenses but I never liked any of their bodies. I thought once about picking up a Canon New F1, but when I played with one I hated how the exposure system works. Minolta's bodies are not nearly as fast and effortless to work with as Olympus and Nikon and they feel like they 'get in the way' when I use one.

[minoltist7]

More Olympus gear coming:
a friend of mine have OM10 (left), and I rented from him interesting lenses for test: 24/2.8 and gorgeous 135/2.8
http://pics.livejournal.com/awaken77/pic/0016eqq9

[ChrisN]

Wonderful! I've just "won" a black OM2 with 50/1.4, which should arrive in a few days time. This will complement the chrome OM2n, and I can cycle them through CLA.

Edit: and I'm waiting on a 24/2.8 that should arrive today. :)

[chambrenoire]

I love my OM's! I use the 50/1.4, 24/2.8, 100/2.8, 85/2 and 50/1.8 with them.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The 24/2.8 Zuiko is very sharp, better than my AF-Nikkor 24/2.8D. You guys who are waiting for 24's to arrive will love them.

[nobbylon]

great camera, I use a pair of OM1's along with my M's. Zuiko's can still be had for great prices. It won't last though with all the attention they're getting. I got my 24, 50, 85 and 180 from members here and they're great lenses.

[Keith]

I've always been fascinated by the shutter speed adjustment. For me it works perfectly having it behind the lens and metering manually is very fast when you're not groping around on the top of the camera for a small dial. I remember in a previous thread ages ago a few people said they didn't like it ... how do you guys feel about it?

[ClaremontPhoto]

My favorite lens is the 28-48 zoom.

I don't use it much, and it's the only zoom I own, but there are days and situations where it works so very well.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've always been fascinated by the shutter speed adjustment. For me it works perfectly having it behind the lens and metering manually is very fast when you're not groping around on the top of the camera for a small dial. I remember in a previous thread ages ago a few people said they didn't like it ... how do you guys feel about it?

I leanred photography on an OM so to me it is more 'normal' than the traditional shutter speed dial on top of the camera.

[shadowfox]

Canon, Minolta, and Pentax made some great lenses but I never liked any of their bodies. I thought once about picking up a Canon New F1, but when I played with one I hated how the exposure system works. Minolta's bodies are not nearly as fast and effortless to work with as Olympus and Nikon and they feel like they 'get in the way' when I use one.

Chris, if you get a chance, try Minolta XD-11, that's the *only* Minolta body that is not "boring" to me, it has the precise feeling and the meter is very-very good, it's worth having just to use those excellent Rokkor glasses :)

Pentax bodies, as you say are nothing special, the LX may be cool,
but I'd rather try out alternative bodies like from Ricoh, Fujica, Chinon, they are a lot of fun.

Canons... I still haven't got anything to say... I tried to find anything out of the ordinary about their stuff, but ...

Another brand that is worth having if it's just for the glasses are the Konica AR. Some of their lenses are beyond nice. So far, their best body (IMHO) is the Autoreflex T4 (not TC).

[ChrisN]

...

Pentax bodies, as you say are nothing special, the LX may be cool,
but I'd rather try out alternative bodies like from Ricoh, Fujica, Chinon, they are a lot of fun.

...


And the Pentax focus ring turns the wrong way. One thing I do appreciate about the Pentax LX is the very bright viewfinder, in marginal conditions. I've been comparing the OM2n with the LX, with 24/2.8 OM vs 24/2.8 Pentax, and 50/1.8 vs 50/1.7, and in dim light the LX viewfinder is noticably brighter and easier to focus. I much prefer the OM2n controls, especially for exposure compensation (on the LX it requires two actions to set comp; on the OM a single action). The OM2 is quieter of course.

Keith, come down to Canberra and we can compare your OM2 with 50/1.2 with my LX with 50/1.2. :D

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

And the Pentax focus ring turns the wrong way. One thing I do appreciate about the Pentax LX is the very bright viewfinder, in marginal conditions. I've been comparing the OM2n with the LX, with 24/2.8 OM vs 24/2.8 Pentax, and 50/1.8 vs 50/1.7, and in dim light the LX viewfinder is noticably brighter and easier to focus. I much prefer the OM2n controls, especially for exposure compensation (on the LX it requires two actions to set comp; on the OM a single action). The OM2 is quieter of course.

Keith, come down to Canberra and we can compare your OM2 with 50/1.2 with my LX with 50/1.2. :D

The OM-2 focusing screen is dim, because it is a 1970's era screen, even in OM-2 cameras made in the early 80's. They couldn't make them brighter because the manual exposure sensor reads from the screen. The OM-4, 4T, 3, 3Ti, and 2s models had an optional bright screen available (the 2-13 screen). I have them in both my 4T bodies and it is considerably easier to focus in dim light than the regular 1-13 screen found in the OM-2.

[ChrisN]

A late question for you, Chris C, if you see this. I understand the 2-13 screen will make the viewfinder brighter, but that it will make the meter indication inaccurate in the OM2 and OM2n. Would that matter if the camera was used in auto-exposure? I believe that once the shutter is open the camera meters off the film rather than using the meter reading that was indicated before the shutter was pressed.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

A late question for you, Chris C, if you see this. I understand the 2-13 screen will make the viewfinder brighter, but that it will make the meter indication inaccurate in the OM2 and OM2n. Would that matter if the camera was used in auto-exposure? I believe that once the shutter is open the camera meters off the film rather than using the meter reading that was indicated before the shutter was pressed.

That's right, autoexposure will work fine, though the shutter speed indication in the viewfinder will be innacuarate in auto mode, the camera will use the right shutter speed because the viewfinder needle gives an approximation of the speed that will be used. Final determination is done by a pair of meter cells in the mirror box floor that read off the shutter curtain or the film.

[nrb]

I began with an OM10, but soon got an OM2, an OM1 and an OM4.
The lenses are quite nice too.