Olympus OM-2n

[peters8]

Hi guys!
I never had any Olympus cameras in my life!...Now I could buy an Olympus OM-2n (with a Zuiko 50 mm 1.4) for a good price (60 euro).
I'd like to know if this model is a good camera.
actually I'm using a Canon F-1 new:is the Olympus at the same livel?

Other question: Did Olympus make some professional camera (respected by professional users)?

Thanks

[erikg]

Short answer: great price. Yes. Yes, but different. Yes, all single digit OMs are pro models.

[tkamiya]

I can't compare with Canon because I've never used one.

Compared to just about everything else Japanese made, Olympus is a simple camera. Simple in a good way that is. It does what it is designed to do and does it very well in a small package. When OM-2 was new, it was a top of the line camera body. It incorporated aperture priority exposure scheme as well as manual. OM-1 (fully manual) and OM-10 (low cost amateur model) was its family of cameras.

As far as I know, Olympus just made one line of lens for all users, amateurs and pros. I *think* adoption by pros were relatively lower compared to Nikons and Canons but I don't have any statistics to back that up. I recall hearing somewhere, most newspaper guys used Nikon or Canon back then.

Back when these cameras were available new, I was in Japan and I owned an OM10. A very fine camera. I couldn't afford anything better back then and I wished I could have had an OM1 or 2.

One thing I really like about these older Olympus was that they had a shutter speed ring right where the lens mounts, and of course the aperture is somewhere on the lens itself. One could adjust one or the other by simply sliding hand just a little. A very elegant design, I thought.

If you can have one at reasonable price, I would highly recommend it. Because its off people's favorite list, lenses can be had for much less than say Nikon or Canon. That's a plus.

[nsurit]

Great camera. Don't expect huge price breaks on the faster lenses. Olympus made great glass. You will not be disappointed with the results. As you know the OMs are a good bit smaller/lighter than your F1-new. Theyare also very well made cameras. Bill Barber

[Excalibur2]

The only serious complaint I've read about the single digit OMs is that some have a problem "eating" batteries, you might want to look into this and see if the one you are interested in has been modified...sorry I can't help as I'm not an OM fan.
Also another minus is the OMs will not take a M42 adapter so you can't use all those lovely screw lenses.

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

The only serious complaint I've read about the single digit OMs is that some have a problem "eating" batteries,

This is only true for OM-2sp and OM4.

The cameras were professionally used mainly in a scientific environment. Olympus is a manufacturer of high precision optics (microscopes, endoscopes and the like) in the first place. With all such gear the cameras were used for documentation purposes.

[mr rusty]

The lens alone is worth close to €60 (the way zuiko glass is going up). OMs are great cameras. watch for sticky foams and light seals (as all older kit), and particularly on OMs get the foam that was installed under the top cover on top of the prism removed, as it eventually eats the prism silvering. Otherwise a CLA and prob then good for many years. I have 4 OMs that I use regularly.

[mgb74]

As noted above, many OMs have foam on top of the prism that deteriorates with age and eats through the prism silvering. If this has happened, you'll notice dark "wisps" or threads as you look through the viewfinder.

[dsmccrac]

I am just repeating what everyone has said, but welcome on board! The only downside is one more person to battle for OM gear with on eBay and such, haha. I should just be selfish and say 'don't do it, OMs suck' but I can't lie!!

As you have read, the 2n is great as are most of the single digit OMs. The ones that can eat batteries have been noted. The OM1 was set up for mercury batteries so that needs to be taken into consideration. Lots of options for that but I am doing the low rent option of a hearing aid battery and a wad of tinfoil;-)

I also have my original OM2 from back in the day. It needs its foam replaced in the prism before any more flecks appear on the viewfinder. Really I do not see a huge difference between the 2 and the 2n. I know there are ones. I got a 2n just because I knew it would be newer.

I have never tried the 2sp or the 3 or 4. I may someday but to me the 1 and. 2/2n are what I gravitate to. Some people speculate that the 3 and 4 may be harder to keep running for a long time as they have more electronics.

[wblynch]

At least the OM-3, like the OM-1 can keep running for a long, long time. Batteries and electronics are only for the meters in these beauties.

After 37 years owning OM-1's I got my first OM-2(n) earlier this year and it is a sweetheart of a camera. Just so smooth and quiet. Very simple and elegant.

I now have OM-1/2/2S/3/4t/10/40 cameras and the OM-1 will always be my favorite with the OM-2 just a half-step behind.

And with my recent vision impairments, the OM-2 is my go-to since I can't really read the meters anymore.