What's so special about the OM-1?

I have presumed that the difference in wind "feel" of the OM2sp (and even the OM40) is due to the double mirror mechanism in some way, but thinking about it, there is no reason for this to be so. My OM2sp has improved tremendously with use, but is still not as silky smooth as my OM2n. Fit a winder to the OM2sp, and the wind feel is no longer an issue.

The difference in wind feel is not related to plastic/metal changes or the mirror system. They changed the wind mechanism, apparently to give a more positive detent in the standoff position - I recall the OM1 getting a lot of flack in early reviews because the lever would return flush if you snapped it (never seemed like a problem to me, but I wasn't a magazine reviewer).... the OM2S has a ball-detent device in the wind lever that gives a positive standoff but adds a sense of heaviness to the wind action. I don't know that one design is sturdier than the other, but the later one might be a little more rugged. My own example of the 2S has taken a hammering (literally) as well as a dropping and a kicking, and it certaily has proven to be a tough camera.

Richard,

I've been an avid Olympus OM user since they were introduced and I've never heard your explanation given by anyone else. I seem to doubt that that is the reason for the difference. I do know there is a real difference, and that it is a result of a design change of some kind. Marc- also keep in mind that the more the camera body is used, the smoother it (wind feel) gets. Many closet queens (not just Olympii) feel stiff when you take them out. Regular exercise keeps the lubrication 'circulating' and keeps them free.

I'd always heard that the rougher wind-on in the later OM's is due to the fact that the springs that drive the shutter in the later models have considerably higher tension. This was supposedly an engineering necessity to accomplish the higher 1/2000th sec. maximum shutter speed.