Modern Classic SLRs Series :
Olympus OM-1(n) & OM-2 (n) - Preface

 

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".... A camera maker that simply copies others' idea has no right to call itself an original maker in the first place." -Mr. Maitani, creator of the OM photographic system.

NOTE: Complimentary links are appreciative but it is not necessary, I have limited bandwidth here in this server... PLEASE don't distribute this URL to any bulk mailing list or unrelated user-groups, just be a little considerate, thank you. (The more you distribute, the slower this server will response to your requests...). I am NOT an OM expert, so don't send me any mails, use the Message Board Instead. While the content prepared herein should be adequate for anyone to understand and evaluate whether you should invest into a used OM camera system for your kind of photography. Naturally, there is not autofocus nor fancy computer programs for you to toy around with - just back to bare basic to the manual focus days of photography and with a little extra benefit of a simple but highly functional automation offered with the OM2. Well, IF you like what you have seen so far, please help to perfect this site by reporting any broken links or any errors made.

Olympus OM-1(n), OM-2(n) and OM-2nSP(Spot/Program)

The mechanical Olympus OM-1 was introduced in 1972 as the first of a new breed of small & lightweight single lens reflex cameras from a company that never seriously being regarded as a 35mm SLR camera manufacturer by others. But it has proved Olympus was easily one of the most innovative 35mm SLR camera manufacturer of the seventies The Company has brought quite a number of revolutionary design in their SLR bodies that has casted such a powerful influence on the future of 35mm SLR camera design. It has continued to shine through the early to mid '80 and has also incorporated many other exciting features such as FP flash sync and multi-spots metering system into their newer SLR models. Its unique and proprietary integrated OTF Direct Metering System for ambient light and flash metering first seen and used on the OM-2 in 1975 is still unmatched and hard to duplicate after 25 years since its introduction. Despite its extremely compact dimension, selective higher end OM models have
proven its ability to withstand the extremes of climactic conditions, and the battering by professional photographers on hazardous assignments and rough treatment on the fields. For an average user, it is a system that grows as your needs expand. Among many diversified and supplementary photographic system accessories, macro-photo system remains as the most comprehensive and sophisticated among all manufacturers. The flash photographic system is the most versatile and accurate in exposure control. But the best factor to consider investing into OM system is still - virtually all system accessories can find a way or another for back and foreword compatibility with older or newer SLR bodies. Even the Zuiko lenses that has grown from the original 30 odd lenses to more than 50 in numbers over the years have no problems fitting into any of the newer OM SLR bodies. The complete system integration offers by the OM photographic system has enabled Olympus to take on competitions with their respective competing professional graded SLR camera models such the Nikon F2, the Minolta XK, Canon F-1 and to a lesser extend, the revised Pentax K-series models. In fact, the OM system was easily regarded as the most respectable 35mm camera system during from the period of mid-seventies to beginning of the eighties.

Every system components within the OM system are carefully planned and thoughtfully designed so as to ensure they are durable and rugged enough to withstand the test of time and remains compatible and integrate with one and other. Olympus, being one of the smaller manufacturers among the few electronic giants in Japan producing 35mm cameras has its own way of fixing its marketing strategies for its products. It was the only camera manufacturer to use a human personality to promote its products. It was none other than Chief Designer,
Mr. Yoshihisa Maitani - who was behind the designing of the hugely popular Pen half frame series which has sold more than 10 million units during its product cycle. Other master piece of design include OM series SLR bodies of OM-1, OM-2 and also OM-3 & OM-4 series models, the first compact (& stylish) P&S model - the XA series. Of cause, today's Olympus is not confined to making SLR cameras anymore, it has evolved into a respectable specialized electronic imaging manufacturer. The original photo technical group has spinned off to become a world leader in optical health care, scientific research and industrial inspection supplier. The 35mm camera manufacturing is till on going with some very exciting and uniquely featured products such as hot selling É [mju:] series of auto compact and ZLR (zoom lens reflex) bodies. While on the other hand, I think with recent development of the digital photography, it is very likely that Olympus may be diverting more attention to that segment for continual survival in this highly competitive market.

It is hard to cover all aspect of the whole system in a website. I have spent quite sometime to compile some of these useful information that may benefit some entry users. On a personal note, I had almost bought my first SLR in a Olympus OM2 during the mid-70 if not put off by the high price tag on the motor drive by the local distributor. Anyway, may be I am just using this site to patch some of my regrets for not owning a Olympus camera, but these two little jewels from Olympus has redefined some basic concept of camera design while on the other hand, inspired other manufacturers that it is possible that a professional class SLR camera be made compact while not compromising on built quality, performance, system integrity and reliability. As demonstrated by the two OM-bodies - ALL within a dimension of 786 x 83 x 50 mm and weighs less than 500grams which I thought that was a truly amazing.

By the way, some dedicated Olympus users have been maintaining a very good FAQ (52k) - which by far, I would easily rated it as one of the best among all FAQs on camera information in term of quality, accuracy of content, and wealth of technical information. You are encouraged to download a copy for your personal reference.


logoOMold.gif As a matter of record, this OM site is made out of 1,863 items (HTMLs, GIFs, JPEGs, PDFs) with a combined folder size of 25.5MB, including the upcoming Zuiko Lens section. A Quick Reference for years of made: M1(1972), OM1 Chr/Blk (1973-1979), OM1MD Chr/Blk (1975-1979), OM2 Chr/Blk (1975-1979), OM10 (1979-1987), OM1n Chr/Blk (1979-1987); OM2n Chr/Blk (1979-1984), OM20/OM-G (1983-1987), OM20/OM-G (1983-1987), OM30/OM-F Focus Assist (1983-1987), OM-3 (1983-1986), OM2sp (1984-1988), OM-4 Chr/Blk 1984--87, OM-10 Quartz (1984-1987), OM40/OMPC (1985-1987), OM77AF (1986-1991), OM-4T (OM-4Ti) champaign 1987-1995, OM88 (1988-1991), OM-3T (OM-3Ti) 1995-....., OM-4T (OM-4Ti) black (1996-...), OM2000 (1998-.... )

Olympus OM-1(n): Main Index Page (5 Parts) | Camera Operations (6 Parts)
Specifications:
HTML | PDF | Main Reference Map: HTML | PDF (217k)
Olympus OM-2(n): Main Index Page (6 Parts) | Camera Operations (9 Parts)
Specifications:
HTML | PDF (48k) Main Reference Map: HTML | PDF (203k)
Olympus OM-
2SP: Camera Operations | Other Issues
Specifications | Main Reference Map / nomenclature

Shared Resources:

Motor Drive and Power Winder: Main Index Page (4 Parts)
Motor Drive 1 | Motor Drive 2 | Winder 1 | Winder 2
Flash Photography:
Main Index Page (4 Parts)
T45 | T32 | T20 | F280 | S20 | Quick AUTO 310 | QA300, 200, 200S
Macro-Photography:
Main Index Page (3 Parts)
Manual for
Photomicro Group (3 Parts)
Macro Flash Units:
T10 Ring Flash, T28 Twin, T28 Single, T8 Ring Flash
Accessories:
Databack 1-4 | Screens | Finder Accessory | Remote | Cases

Olympus OM2n Gold Limited Edition
Variant(s): Limited Edition GOLD OM2n with Gold Zuiko 35-70mm f/3.6 - by Meinhard.Schmitt

OM-1n in Gold
(
A, B C) produced by Olympus, Netherlands.
A few views of an
Original Olympus M1 - by Larry Shapiro
Unusual views of an OM-1n in lizard/snake kinned outfit

Sinaron-Digital OM lenses Sinaron-Digital OM lenses
The Eyes of OM system: Zuiko Lenses

OM's Zuiko lenses for
Sinar cameras ? No joke ... Credit: Mr. S. Martin for the various images of the Sinar's Sinaron Digital lenses which were based on the original OM 's Shift & OM Auto Zuiko Zoom to convert. Steve, who has also contributed various image files of the Instruction Manual of the Auto Tube 65-116mm.

Info on Olympus Prototype ZUIKO 85mm f/1.4 by Marco Cavina, Italy

Rare outfit of an OM-1N

Supplementary Articles for OM beginners: TTL Metering, Depth of Field, Shutter Speed & Aperture

A little personal note.
Glossary of Photography
A good external source for
used Instruction Manuals for various OM SLRs and Accessories.

| Message Board | for your favourite Olympus OM-1(n) and OM-2(n) series models
| Message Board | for your Zuiko Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for OM Photographic Equipment

About this photographic site.

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Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.

Maintainers for OM Sites & Message Board: Mr. Rick Oleson <rick_oleson@yahoo.com>; Mr. Bruce hamm <bhamm@magma,ca> Mr. Simon Evans <ruralwales@yahoo.com>; Mark Dapoz <md@dementia.org>;

Credit: My old time buddy, Ahmad Ikram, Dr of Rubber Research Institute (RRI), Malaysia who shares the same passion with me and also lending his OM-1n, OM-4 and the Motor Drive 1 to me for preparing some images in this site; Mark Dapoz <md@dementia.org>for reminding some broken links; Mr Poon of Foto Poon, Ipoh, Mr Richard, Ampang Park, Mr Lim and Miss Jenny of Foto Edar for their generosity for their OM1(n), OM2n camera and some Zuiko lenses. Mr Hans van Veluwen for mistakenly using some content earlier from his OM website; J Sorensen for providing some useful images to rectify some technical "flaws"; Mr Gen Holst for helping during the early stages of development of this OM site; Mr Andy Radcliffe <AndyJRadcliffe@aol.com> for his contribution of the Zuiko 200mm f/5.0 lens; Mr KKLow for some of his earlier images on the OM-1appeared in this website; Miss Wati and Mirza for helping me to convert this Operation Manual into a HTML format. Mr MCLau for rectifying some mistakes made on the earlier preview sites. A personal tribute to the creator of the OM system and also a site dedicated to all the fans of Olympuses and Zuiko Optics worldwide. Some of the content and images appeared in this site were scanned from OM official marketing leaflets, brochures and instruction manual(s) for educational purposes. Olympus is a registered tradename of Olympus Optical Inc., Japan. Site created 'unfortunately' again with an IMac.