Olympus OM1N: A Mechanical Jewel

The OM1N was a 1979 update to the 1972 OM1 and 1974 OM1 MD. It is (in my humble opinion) the handsomest SLR ever made.

[@crgrbrts]

I am a retired photojournalist whop spent decades lugging around -- as Jeremy would say -- "heavy and clunky" film, then digital, Nikons with their unwieldy lenses. Once I hung up my pro gear permanently, I rediscovered the simple joys of leisurely shooting and film processing. Accordingly, I trotted out my long stored Leica M4 and purchased the perfect SLR companion for it. No, it's not a Leicaflex (another heavy and clunky brick) but an Olympus OM-1n identical to the one featured in Jeremy's excellent review. Though acquired at a bargain "beater" price, the OM arrived in near mint shape cosmetically and seemed to be mechanically as-new. It appeared as if the camera had never been serviced so, with a simple CLA (cleaning, lubrication and adjustment) in mind, I partially disassembled the machine and discovered only two very common flaws. The unnecessary light blocking foam atop the prism had turned to corrosive mush and the light seals around the film chamber has decomposed. It was an easy task to remove the crappy foam on the prism (luckily the prism's silvering survived unmolested). Replacing the light seals under the camera back was even easier thanks to the availability of a new, precision cut seal set online. Other simple service tasks included flushing away some old lubricant at a few key places and applying some fine watch oil at those points. Finally, I installed a voltage dropping diode in the light meter battery circuit so 1.5 volt silver oxide batteries could be used. (Originally, the OM-1 employed now obsolete and unobtainable 1.35 volt mercury cells. Somewhat expensive voltage dropping adapters can be obtained for use with modern batteries, but a 40 cent diode spliced into the battery line internally works as well or better). At the end of these short labors I now have "A Mechanical Jewel" and a very lovely everyday shooter. I just wish I had discovered the very compact and feather light OM-1 forty years ago when I was making the press photog rounds. I'm not sure I would have stuck with my big ole Nikon F. That is, if I'd had the guts to be a little bit "different" than my colleagues. By the way, the lenses I use with the OM-1 are all Zuiko glasses: the 50mm f1.4, the 28mm f3.5 and the 90mm f4. They're all superb, in gorgeous shape optically and were very reasonably priced on eBay. Jeremy, thanks for a great video!

[@alanread6596]

One of the best camera's ever made

[@HollaAtFlawless]

i found one of these at a thrift store for $10 a while ago and just got some film for it, very excited to use!

[@ghw7192]

Mine is currently attached to a telescope. The size, mirror lock up and screen selection make it prfect for astrophotography.

[@Chummy57C]

Very nice review. I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. My wife presented to me an Olympus OM-1N as a wedding gift, and I still have it among my collection, my first photolove. If I were to find film it would perform as superbly as on day one, more than forty years ago.

[@petercastell4450]

If you are thinking of buying one check the condition of the prism, because foam was used to cushion the prism this has degraded over the years and slowly destroys the prism, mine is ok at the moment but I intend to have it removed

[@csb65536]

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head with this review. I shoot with Canon EOS and L series lenses for much of my professional work. But I shoot with my OM-1 for my enjoyment. I love these cameras. All the benefits you mentioned are the reason I use it. I actually find myself using it more and more. Pair it with a 28, 35, or even a 50 and you have the ultimate street photography SLR in my opinion. Also, I found that a 675 zinc air battery (1.4 volt) and a cheap O ring work great for the Cameras light meter. Great review!

[@liammulligan4872]

Great video, an amazing camera - thanks for sharing

[@RohitTokhi]

Just received the OM 1 N with a Vivitar Tamron lens, and two other Canon lenses, that I have no idea about how they fit on this OM1 N. It is a hand me down from an old couple, who were giving away the camera and I claimed it. I am beginning to learn more about this wonderful camera, and after watching your video, I am realising what a technological marvel this was when it came out! Thanks for this video!

[@17iking]

One of the best! I have a 28mm, 150mm, 50mm and 310 flash and have them for more than 30 years.

[@vespa64m26]

A great video thank you.

I totally agree that it is as the same level of quality of a Leica, maybe even better. While the Leicas are alot overpriced and overestimated, the OMs are cheap considering their high quality and design.

[@Exercises10]

Do you ever use filters on your OM 1n?

[@Jayysam95]

I mostly use Nikon F3 and FM cameras, I recently picked up an OM1 MD version. I absolutely love this camera, the build, quiet shutter and small size make it very fun to shoot. I also bought a OM4TI but I much prefer the OM1. If you're thinking about buying one...buy it! But there's lots to look out for.

[@neilpiper9889]

I had a Om2n but sold it because I needed a higher synchronisation speed for flash. I bought a Nikon FE with a 50mm f2 lens. Excellent.

[@ghw7192]

With the MLU, the OM-1 was the perfect camera to attach to a telescope and be>ng all mechanical, long exposures were no problem. On early OM models, if he motor drive covers is off, there can be light leaks Excellent review!

[@nagakusaladharmacharin9543]

Beautiful indeed.

[@remonmicheal8753]

Thank you sir for the video

[@pertsa1638]

I have two ones. They are fantastic.

[@sonygoup]

My dad owned on and I loved it so I bought one for myself. My goto 35mm camera other than the EOS 1N

[@sputumtube]

You're right about the difference in weight between the Olympus Om1/2 compared to the Nikon F2. I have an OM2n (with a selection of lenses) and a Nikon F2AS (with a 55mm F1.2 lens). I rarely use the Nikon because, although it's a truly wonderful product, the massive weight means I only use it for specific purposes.

[@balitangmaynilaatbp9936]

im gettint this black version tomorrow!

[@hobbyaddict9908]

A bit late to the show but remember the foam going bad and damaging the prism. Fairly easy fix for the foam but once damaged the prism is damaged for good.

[@Smaug1]

I didn't know the foam could damage the prism; I thought it just had to be cleaned out when serviced.

[@hobbyaddict9908]

@@Smaug1 That is why it needs to be removed/cleaned out.

[@Pingoinnn]

Just missed one with the 50mm + two other vivitar lenses for 50 bucks. Needless to say, I'm devastated

[@johnmullen2813]

can you compare this camera and the 35RD? I feel like its in the same class but rangefinder.

[@Exercises10]

Glad I found your video it is very informative. Do you ever use filters on this camera? CPL, ND, or B&W filters? This is my first film camera and it sounds like I picked a good model to start with. I did buy a 35mm lens as it came with the 50mm. Any thoughts on where to buy a rubber lens hood for this model? Do you have a favorite B&W film to shoot that you recommend? Thanks, Jeremy!

[@Smaug1]

Hi LuAnn; thanks for your comments. Let me try to answer them: I never remember to use polarizer, though I have one. I did use a yellow filter once, for B&W. Nowadays, we can get about the same effect in software. 35 mm is my favorite single focal length, but they're not as common as 50s. I buy rubber lens hoods on ebay; not too expensive and they give some impact protection. My favorite B&W film is Ilford Delta 400. I can shoot it down to 200 or up to 3200 and it looks great everywhere!

[@rayh1009]

Nice review. I loved my OM1n and still have it, but the shutter gets hung up from time to time so I haven't used it in years. The size is great but mostly the 28 and 35 Zuiko lenses I have for it are superb. For that reason alone I'm thinking about getting another OM-1n. The wind lever on mine has always been rough so I've always wondered if it just needed cleaning or repair… Gotta take exception to your seeming dismissal of Leicas. Great camera. Also the Nikon F2 is widely held to be the toughest mechanical 35mm camera ever made. Both of those camera's shutters sound great and their film advance is smooth.

[@Smaug1]

If you get another OM1N, it might need some work too. I'd suggest just finding a good tech and sending your existing one out for a CLA. I have an old Leica IIIc now that has been CLA'd, and its shutter is nice, but not as nice as that of the OM1N. (my opinion)

[@seralegre]

fix the one you already have... is fully mechanical, a good technician can let it in perfect condition for the next 30 years. Plus ask for the diode modification.

[@rayh1009]

@@seralegre Actually now I guess I was thinking I'd repair or replace my OM-1 and use it without the diopter correction, but I ended up having my OM-4 repaired instead. The tech said it's one of the later ones where battery drain isn't as much of an issue, and so far it's been fine.

[@cmalc8]

If you get it cleaned and lubed, that'd be a better investment than buying another with possibly the same problem at some time.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

I do have the motor drive (winder II) but it's currently broken, as well as many others, so don't bother yourself with it, especially given current film prices. Newest Zuiko lenses from late 80's and 90's are on pair with modern lenses in regards to coatings and sharpness.

[@Smaug1]

I disagree with regards to sharpness. I have a modern Nikkor Z 24-120/4 S-Line. Zuiko lenses in the 80s or 90s were not on par with it. The only lenses that were close in sharpness were their macros, which are quite bulky for their speed.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

​@@Smaug1 Ok, ok, maybe my terminology was off a bit. What I meant was on pair with modern DSLR lenses, and in that regards I think I'm right, or at least not too far off. Now compared to all those SLR & DSLR lenses, form 90's, 2000's and 2010's, all MIRRORLESS lenses, including yours are ULTRA modern. Time is passing by, technology is progressing, that's how it is. On top of that, mirrorless cameras don't have an extra space between the sensor and the mirror, thus mirrorLESS (duh), thus lens is closer to the sensor, what makes it inherently sharper. And macro lenses in general are usually sharper than the rest of the bunch, but they are also engineered and calibrated differently what makes them big and bulky.

[@pho6666]

the release button could not be on the bottom - if so you could not use it with the motor winder attached. on the later om2sp they placed it on top

[@standandeliver8376]

What's the difference between the OM1 and the OM1n? Only kidding 😉. I didn't realise that the winder mechanism was improved though. I own an OM2 (non n) and the winder mechanism does feel rough. I had to clean up the winder ratchet mechanism when I bought it because it wouldn't spring back to its original position. I mightbgo back in to give the rest of the mechanism an overhaul.

[@terrywbreedlove]

I have the OMG which I believe is the lower end model. It is a little gem itself small and light and very well made.

[@calvinli9183]

It is not lower end. It is just design for consumer version which is great for everyone who want to learn photography 😀 . All single digit OM is design for professional photographers

[@klauslehrmann3906]

Greetings from a photonerd. T.y. for your video. I use both digital and analogue, both Oly. and Nikon. The F3 is from 1980. I link below someone's video on F3. He tells the F3 has one of the best-feeling filmadvance-levers he has used. I don't understand that, though. I have three F3's, and theirs are all three limp and with little to no resistance. His own quote is approx, "...it like, quickens the more you go into it. It starts off, resistance, resistance... eugh". I don't sense it. I like that of the Oly.'s better. Very especially the OM10 (yep, I know, I know, I like the consumergrade-OM10 much), and also its shuttersound. I agree with your opinion on the way the controls are feeling on an OM. Just luxurious. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqm2e5h5qdmlia8 A note of interest, as i watched this, I had my original M1 in my hands, and only now I notice that the original OM1, as in, the M1 had the windinglever-cap of the OM1N/OM2N. I wonder why Oly. changed that cap on the OM1/OM2. Maybe someone knows. Kind regards Klaus Lehrmann Denmark

[@aantomop4795]

The Leica M3 is insane when it comes to build quality. Everything else just feels cheaply made. The OM-1 has a nice quality but it is also frail. The rewind knob for example.

[@daphneanton6802]

Hi, I’m willing to acquire my first film camera. I am what you might call a “begginer”, that is I’m currently taking pictures with a digital camera (Fujifilm X30) and I’m still learning about the technical aspects (how to manage dept, aperture, exposure, composition, etc). But now, I also want to learn about analogue photography (and I’m really enthusiastic about it), so I’m looking for a camera which could be my “Master”, so to speak. I don’t want to change it once I’m more confortable with the mechanics and techniques, so I don’t want a strictly beginner engine, and I cannot afford nor waste the quality of a pure expert camera. So, I read a lot of good things about this model, I was wondering if this one could be what I’m looking for. Can you guys tell me what you think, considering my “profile” ? Thanks a lot, Daphne

[@jacobschouten9980]

Daphne Anton if you learn about exposure first, you can use any camera, I would recommend doing so first. If you want to get the hang of film, the Canon A-series SLRs offer many different exposure modes and might be a better option to start with. You can look them up and find which one will suit you. Alternatively, if you get a camera like the Olympus OM-1, you can learn the “hard way” and get attached to it. It will still work for you when you’ve gotten better at manual exposure and you might not need another camera.

[@vandalpaulius]

Guess who got N model, because my M-1 (not the OM-1 :P ) shutter winding stopped working after a week of use :(

[@quzo4850]

Hey! Great video! I wondered what’s the difference between the om-1n and om-1?

[@venendarkomenk8716]

improved winding mechanism and updated flash shoe

[@WoolyBuggerPicker]

Zweeko?

[@John-km2uw]

What should a person without need for an old camera, do with a 1980 OM-1 that hasn't been used since the mid-1980s along with the zuiko 85-250, 24 & 50mm lenses? It's the same camera review edin this video, but the body finish is all black instead of light-satin.

[@christophergoley5863]

Sell it. Shoot me a price.

[@daniele3233]

Sell it to me

[@LC-nd9hv]

what's the difference between the om-1and om-1n?

[@venendarkomenk8716]

improved winding mechanism and updated flash shoe