Olympus OM40 - My Favourite 35mm SLR

[@v56k35]

Fully agree, a highly underrated camera that gives consistent results - with a good lens this thing can compete with anything out there and it's ESP metering , in my experience, is as good as the much hallowed 3D Martix metering on my Nikon F5 but without the tremendous bulk and at a major budget. Purchased mine brand new in '86!

[@rezzoc91]

Just bought a fully functional one at a thrift shop for 25 Pound and a roll of agfa 200. Can't wait to trying it

[@dennisybe5629]

Wonderful photos with good exposure. I have the OMPC version and find the ESP metering exceptionally good. Olympus OM-D digital cameras still utilize ESP metering or matrix metering in their latest DSLRs.

[@samvarleystephens]

It's amazingly good. I absolutely trust it with slide film.

[@Rampsable]

She...don't tell everyone, you'll drive the price up 😂

[@draganmikki5688]

Your photographs are excellent! If you change the camera your photographs will change too. Well done!

[@NiGhtPiSH]

I really wanted to get an OM-40 for its metering capabilities and built in hot shoe, so I ordered a nice kit from the States with the S.Zuiko 35-70mm f4 and a Tokina SZ-X 60-300 f4-5.6 for USD 52 (with tax and shipping). I don't want to waste film with bad exposure, and if I want the mechanical perfection and mechanical mirror lock-up I still have an OM-1N for these tasks. But I guess it will stay most of the time with the 50mm f1.8 Zuiko.

[@raylt7]

Great review, thank you.

[@matereo]

Have you tried the OM-4?

[@bboycoreano09]

Nice video. I started to shoot some film with a point and shoot pentax espio, but now i want something diferent, since i feel the need and i found this camara in my local shop for around 195 euros with a Zuiko MC Auto-S 50mm f1.8 do you think is a good deal? Sorry but i am really thinking about it. I love the modes and with 1.8 and aparture priority and some cinestyle 800t i think i can go for my night walks and try to have good results with it.

[@samvarleystephens]

on the one hand that's a lot, but worse cameras with fewer features like the canon ae-1 regularly sell for that much, so it's really up to you. it's a very capable camera and i can easily recommend as good slr, and you're unlikely to find a similar camera that's better for the same money.

[@bboycoreano09]

@@samvarleystephens i was thinking the same, maybe i will search on ebay. The shop solution is because they test and clean and you know what you are buying and still 6 mouths waranty but maybe i will wait. But still thanks you and your video help me allot.

[@f.d.6667]

I too own the OM40. It's a great and reliable tool, no doubt about that. And a bargain as well! Similar cameras I own (and use) are the Minolta X-500, Canon AE-1, Leica SL2 (actually a Minolta inside) as well as a plethora of Dynaxes, Sigmas, Mamiyas etc. All from the early to late 80s. *But there is ONE camera I keep reaching for when it counts - the humble Nikon FM2.* It doesn't even have an automatic mode, let alone a program mode. With this camera, you don't need those things. The camera is so well thought out, so well proportioned and ergonomic that you don't need those things as you can use it intuitively and with a very high success rate. If you need more advanced metering, try the FA or the FE2. Both are very similar to the FM2 but offer a bit more comfort ;-)... . . There is ONE reason why I will pick the FM2 over the OM40 (well, three actually): the FM2 will be fully functional without batteries! The OM40 won't do anything with dead batteries - not even shoot at the standard 1/60s (while the FE2 and FA at least have their 1/125s sync speed as a fall-back shutter speed). Oh, yeah, the other issue with the OM40 is ergonomics. Setting a shutter speed is just cumbersome... to say the least. worst of all, it doesn't have a DOF control button - essential when shooting portraits, pets, close-ups! I'd say, if you are serious about shooting film, you HAVE to give the classic Nikons from the 80s a try - you won't regret it!

[@WeirdCongs]

The DOF control of OM camera is actually on the lens, one of the 2 pins used to unmount the lens is for close the apeture blades :)

[@melvinch]

Goes to show how ignorant you are.

[@ChrisEdgecombePhoto]

Great video, I have an OM-2n but looking at the OM-40 as it has the ability to utilise ISO 3200 film.

[@samvarleystephens]

All the OMs are great, but the OM40 definitely has a few more modern features. I believe the ISO can go anywhere between 25 and 3200.

[@anthonyvaughan1549]

I have just got a olympus 40 whats best setings to have on to start shooting. Street photography archtecture. People.?

[@melvinch]

Just set to program mode and set your aperture to the minimun.

[@tissuepaperscafe6479]

OM40 , OM4Ti, Nikon FE2, or FA? Which one would you recommend to me?

[@russellwelton813]

OM 40 has amazingly accurate exposure and is the best value for money.

[@f.d.6667]

2 years later...: *Nikon FM2, followed by the FA, then the FE2.* I own several Nikon FM2, the Olympus OM40, some Minolta X & XGs, Canon FE/FA, as well as some Cosina, Mamiy & Pentax SLR. The FM2 is the one that sees regular use. I do mostly architecture and land-/cityscapes so I don't mind that the FM2 is fully manual and manual ONLY (but works fine w/o any batteries!). If you want do do people, get the FA or the FE2 as they have automatic modes and (in the case of the FA) incredibly good multi-spot metering. The metering in the FM2 is great too. The one camera I would NOT use is the OM40: draining batteries (no OFF switch), extremely cumbersome setting of shutter speeds, no "mechanical" fall-back shutter speed that can be used when the battery is flat, slow shutter (relevant for fill.in flash), no depth-of-field (DOF) button, very rudimentary viewfinder, no display of the selected aperture... The missing DOF function alone would be the deal-breaker for me.

[@ify1617]

What adapter do you use for your lens?

[@samvarleystephens]

no adapter, native olympus lenses

[@jonvincentmusic]

Several times you call it plasticky. There’s nothing plasticky about any OM 40 / PC. It just has a rubberised coating.

[@GSchmitable]

The top, bottom, and front are made from plastic.

[@nuherbleath461]

I have a full collection of 10 series Olympus cameras and the 40 is definitely up there. The worse being the om30. The 10 is a bit overrated and expensive, awkward to use, as well as only having Av as standard. The 30 is a washed out version of the much better 20 being the best in my opinion and the one I’ve used most.

[@StephenMcFadden]

I have this camera and my batteries are always dying.

[@melvinch]

It's the cheapest Olympus camera with TTL-flash metering.