Kenneth Wajda Buying a Film SLR: OLYMPUS OM1

Discussing the OLYMPUS OM1 35mm camera.
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Kenneth Wajda, a professional commercial photographer who still shoots film, walks you through the ins and outs of buying vintage film cameras, which ones to buy, which to avoid, how much to pay and other tricks for making sure you get a working camera and a good deal!
Tips on Leica, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta, Yashica, Fuji, Mamiya, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, Praktica, Exakta, Zorki and more!

[@robinj.9329]

Most of the fine 35mm SLR'S from Japan's "Big Five", were made so well that their still running today! I bought a brand new Canon in May of 1983, still fine! I've got some used gear by Nikon from 60's and 70's, that look and run like Brand New. BUT! All my Pro buddies tell me that their incredibly expensive digital wonders are "Crapping Out" after only 2 or 3 years of use! I say; "No Thanks". My ancient 35mm gear will last not only my lifetime, but my Grandson's as well. 😉

[@kennethwajda]

These cameras are legendary for being well-built! Exactly!

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

Most of my old OM lenses have a new lease on life on my Sony A6000, A7 and A7 mk II. I still have my OM 1, OM 1n, OM 4 and two OM 10. All wonderful cameras.

[@MrGibsonguy335]

I still have all my old Nikon gear from back in the day but recently I was in a pawn shop and spotted an OM-1 with a bag full of gear. I asked the salesman how much and he warned me the camera didn't work but he wanted $60 for the outfit. I bought it on the spot. I went home and watched a KZbin video on the stuck shutter on OM-1's. I removed the bottom plate and followed the directions and everything was fine from then on. 35mm film has gotten really expensive here in the post-film world but I have rediscovered the joy of photography with this very simple and reliable manual camera. With an OM-1, a 50mm f1.8 and a strap, I'm all set to go. Simple is best.

[@kennethwajda]

Great deal. Great find and glad you were able to get it working!

[@MrGibsonguy335]

@@kennethwajda Sadly, the 3 other lenses were all aftermarket manufacturers. Rokinon, Asanuma and J.C. Penny. If they had been Zuiko's this would have been a fantastic find!

[@kennethwajda]

@@MrGibsonguy335 Ah. Yes!

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

by 100 ft rolls and roll your own

[@Anarki2U]

The shutter on the OM1 is a bit slow at 1/500 up to about one-third slow and at 1/1000 up to about half a stop, so beware of that to prevent overexposure ! Go for the latest version OM1n

[@kennethwajda]

Thanks.

[@johnilko2964]

Oh how I miss mine. I shot weddings with two OM-1's and a 35mm and 135mm lenses. They sure beat the Heavy Nikon's when carrying them around all day.

[@kennethwajda]

They are so light.

[@TheFoodPedia]

This is still my #1 favourite film camera today. I remove the meter and convert the on-off switch for flash on and off.

[@kennethwajda]

You have skills!

[@MatteoPreziosoPH]

Wonderful review for my no.1 SLR 35mm camera.

[@kennethwajda]

+Matteo Prezioso Thanks! I love that camera!! Happy shooting.

[@coloradofotomatt]

My first "real" 35mm after a Miranda and Yashica experience. A beautiful camera. Simple. Until I started using daily with a motor drive as a photojournalist. It was never meant to have a motor on it. I still have one in my collection, though. One of the nicest cameras ever designed.

[@kennethwajda]

Nice to hold with a MD, too.

[@geradebowden1463]

My go to street shooter with 28mm zuiko lense....

[@cwbaldwin61]

Truth here, Ken. The camera of AWESOMENESS. Love my OM-1. And BTW - I've found the metering to be pretty reliable.

[@kennethwajda]

Excellent!! Happy for you!

[@swiftangel88]

Best battery solution for the OM-1 is to use a MR-9 battery adapter. With a SR43W 1.55V battery the adapter will covert the voltage to 1.35V. The adapter will cost around USD25 but this is the best long term solution and SR43W batteries are easily available. Love Olympus OM cameras.

[@Kref3]

I had mine CLAed and modified for 1.55V. The maintenance guy has to replace a Schottky diode in the meter, after this it can work with 1.55V without any problems and only had to be recalibrated properly.

[@swiftangel88]

Also a great solution but not easy to find someone who can do this in every country.

[@trydowave]

do u have links to this bits and do you know if all oms take the same type of battery? I have an OM3

[@swiftangel88]

For the OM Range of SLR cameras, only the OM1s use the old PX625 type battery, OM3 including OM4 and OM2s use LR44 which are easily available. For MR9 adapter: www.ebay.com/itm/New-MR-9-Battery-Adapter-the-Solution-for-Discontinued-Mercury-Battery-PX625-JP-/322275673723?hash=item4b0920867b:g:IN0AAOSw8w1X62bY The ones sold from Thailand, lower the voltage to 1.2V

[@allanredford6070]

some battery adapters are available to replace px-13 / 625, I think. silver-oxide types are considered by many to be better than alkaline types Olympus wanted to make a slr near to size of the leica M cameras. in fact, they were going to call it the M-1. Leica objected, so OM-1 was its final designation. Maintani, the designer, created a massive OM system from scratch. I like it

[@kennethwajda]

There was an M-1, I had one. They were made to change it, but they are beauties, yes!

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

silver is better than alkaline, but voltage still high, have to have a small adapter, easy to make, to drop the voltage.

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

my mate had one of those back in the day, nice light compact camera, but he had a vivitar70-210 zoom on it, LOL

[@janjasiewicz9851]

1.35V Hearing Aid batteries work like a charm...all you need is a rubber o-ring to make them fit ...

[@kennethwajda]

Thanks.

[@Caracalaba]

how would you rate the omx bodies and lenses compared to the nikons fm's and lenses in terms of build quality and optical performance? The om lenses are surprisingly compact so I wonder whether they perform to the level of the nikons

[@kennethwajda]

Zuiko lenses from Olympus are great. You can't tell the difference between them and Nikons. Make photos, not test chart images. ;-)

[@banana_alice3]

Why did you choose to shoot w the Nikon fm2 vs the om?

[@cesfab7602]

I notice this one doesn't have a winder option. Did it originally not have a winder option? Mine has the option to add a winder/motor drive.

[@vespa64m26]

Hi there. I have just bought a om1n. I think that the n is the difference. Mine has the option for the motor drive.

[@dfg1999]

There's the OM-1 MD model, which stands for motor drive.

[@kennethwajda]

What Mill said. The first one had no option.

[@sevenantony7376]

the best ergonomic sized camera

[@kennethwajda]

It is a pleasure to hold and shoot, you're so right!

[@johnrflinn]

The OM-1 has mirror lock-up too.

[@keironstoneman6938]

I have the om2 and why the mirror lock up was ommited from the om2 is a mystery

[@kennethwajda]

Right?

[@trydowave]

Hi. i have a OM3 and even though i love the photos it takes the meter has been a constant pain. im not sure if its broken. id put fresh batteries in it (silver oxide) and it'll be fine and then some days it would not react to light at all but would still display on the screen. After watching your vid describing the batteries could the fast drain, in your opinion, cause this strange behavior with the light meter? i want to use it again but i dont know what to do.. repairs are so expensive. any advice would be gerat

[@kennethwajda]

It's a pain, but take the batteries out when not using, perhaps.

[@yetanotheraccountnig2269]

Best ever

[@kennethwajda]

:-)

[@terrywbreedlove]

I just ordered a 400mm F5.6 Tokina for my OMG camera. I am super excited to get it out and shoot some birds. Plus I can use it in my Digital Pen F with an adapter.

[@kennethwajda]

Just read this morning that a 400mm f5.6 is what the photographer who shot the lone protestor in Tienanmen Square used. With a doubler. Have fun!

[@terrywbreedlove]

Kenneth Wajda oh wow really !

[@kennethwajda]

@@terrywbreedlove lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/behind-the-scenes-tank-man-of-tiananmen/

[@kennethwajda]

Thanks for the tip, swiftangel88! I will look into that.

[@DeusBash]

dont change the shutter speed after cocking the shutter plx 🙈

[@DiegoCanalesDiego]

just bought mine today for $25, is the black version though.

[@kennethwajda]

Diego Canales Sweet camera. Small size, and you can use it without batteries if they should fail!! Good luck with it.

[@larsbliss2728]

The OM-1s without motor drive capability are becoming collectors items.

[@kennethwajda]

Good to know! Thanks.

[@rentedtux1883]

The battery has nothing to do with the shutter on an OM-1.

[@pimplystikage836]

675 zinc air hearing aid batteries with a cheap adapter work great and are cheap.

[@kennethwajda]

Thanks!

[@coloradofotomatt]

Oh...and that terrible hot shoe design! Carrying three bodies they were continually unscrewing. I finally epoxied them into place!

[@kennethwajda]

I wonder if the one photojournalist at the newspaper I worked at fiddled with those shoes.

[@jrsmith8629]

These can be easily modified to take modern batteries.

[@kennethwajda]

Can you point me to the info? Is it an insert?

[@omkurmi2004]

om1

[@omkurmi2004]

om1

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

mercury batteries were great.

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

Most of my old OM lenses have a new lease on life on my Sony A6000, A7 and A7 mk II. I still have my OM 1, OM 1n, OM 4 and two OM 10. All wonderful cameras.