om1 or om2?

Do you recommend om1 or om2, I have om10 at the moment and I want a new model.

I'm not sure of the differences and would like to hear from those who have

experience of both the om1 and om2.

 

thank you

OM1 is all manual. Light meter takes outlawed mercury battery. OM2 has aperture-priority auto-exposure and manual, takes readily available batteries. My OM2 shutter sometimes stays open, then has to be reset. I prefer the OM1, only occasionally checking the meter against what I think is the correct exposure.

I'm not familiar with the OM-2, but I'm in love with my OM-1. I use a Wein air cell battery, which some folks will tell you gives an inaccurate meter reading due to a slight voltage difference, but I have not found that to be a problem.

Many thanks William and John, can I assume batteries are readily available for om1?

Hi Carmen. I own the two cameras and I prefer the OM-1. However, since you're used to an

OM-10, you probably would miss the Auotoexposure mode if choosing the OM-1. Both are

superb cameras and as John has said, batteries are available for the OM-2, I think this is the

most important advantage of the OM-2 over the OM-1. The OM-1 is one of the most purest

way to take pictures and I just love its simplicity, but the OM-2 is excellent, too. Saludos!

Thanks Luis, I use my om10 with manual adaptor...

I bought my Wein air cell batteries at a Wolf Camera a couple of years ago, and I think you can also get them on-line from B&H or Adorama. One hint: The battery will last a lot longer if you remember to turn the meter off when you're not actually shooting....

If you get a C.R.I.S. adapter, you can use standard silver batteries in an OM-1 or any other PX625-designated vintage camera. They're ~$30. I've had mine for 15 years; they're very durable.

 

The Wein zinc-air cells work great, but unless you tape over the holes when they're not being used, they run down in ~6 months.

 

Skip

I've used them both but prefer the OM-1. There is something about the simple elegance of the OM-1. I have a black one. The biggest diffrence is that the OM-2 can be used in either manual or automatic modes and the OM-1 is, as was said above, manual only. Kinda depends on what your preference is, though I can say, that I used an OM-2 for work when they were new and almost always found myself shooting in manual. The OM-2 is a fine camera if you prefer automatics and the OM-2S has a spot metered option in manual (I think). Battery availability for the OM-1 is a non-issue. #675 hearing aid batteries provide the exact voltage needed and are available just about anywhere. I think my last ones cost about $7.00 for a bubble pack of 6 or so. Yes, they are physically too small for the battery compartment; however I found that a #9 o-ring from any hardware store fits the compartment very well and centers the battery. The batteries are air cells which supposedly don't last very long, but I've been getting about 3/4 of a year out of mine. I hope this helps.

The battery thing is not a real problem. 675 hearing aid batteries from ANY drug store work great as a replacement for the mercury batteries. Running price is about $1 apiece and they typically come in a 6 or 8 pack. I love my OM1 and Ive got two non running OM2's... Im not sure if I just have bad luck or if there are some serious issues. The OM2 has a computerized controlled shutter as opposed to the OM1's all mechanical shutter... which might make the OM2 more prone to failure as they get older. The OM1 will run without batteries... the only thing it requires batteries for is the light meter. If you are good at guessing light or have a hand-held meter you can run an OM without batteries at all. The OM2 will not run at all without batteries but has a very advanced metering system if you are going to be working with flash or long exposures where lighting might change during exposure. Handling is basically the same and when the OM2 is set to manual mode the meter changes so metering and controls are identical to the OM1.

I rarely see a 2/2N that has failed from a bad circuit (which are available new anyway). In some ways, the OM-1/1N is more likely to be a service problem. New meters are long gone, replacements have to be taken from junk bodies. Whereas I still have "lots" of brand new OM-2/2n meters. Overall, I'd say the 2/2N is every bit as reliable as a 1/1N. Main difference is the OM-1/1N has a mechanical shutter, works without batteries, while the 2/2N is battery dependent for shutter operation. John, www.zuiko.com

that figures i just have bad luck. computers see me coming and fall apart.

I'd go the OM-2. If both cameras are in proper working order then the manual mode in the OM-2 works exactly the same as an OM-1 (manual vs electric shutter aside).

 

An OM-2 is the same as an OM-1 with the following differences:

 

- the OM-2 has autoexposure with OTF metering or metered manual, the Om-1 only has manual exposure

 

- The om-2 has an electronic shutter, the om-1 has a mechanical shutter which can operate without batteries

 

- The OM-2 does not have mirror lockup (but the OM-1 does)

 

- The OM-2 can use TTL flash

 

So go figure, if you like using Manual then OM-1 all the way. If you think you'll prefer auto or you are using film which requires accurate exposure such as E6 then the OM-2 is probably a better choice.

 

I use my Om-1n for mostly black and white because i can just guestimate the exposure and it will come out ok.

oh, just thought i'd add.... if you do alot of:

 

-B exposures

 

-Astrophotography

 

-Use an external meter

 

-Studio

 

-Landscapes and things where you have plenty of time to prepare the shot

 

Then the Om-1 is better because of the mirror lockup and won't drain batteries in long exposures. Also good for landscapes or photos where you

OM-2 will do low light exposures on auto up to 19 minutes or so at lowest asa and gets proportionally longer as asa increases. 19 minutes at asa 12, 19 SECONDS at asa 3200. 2N is limited to about 3.5 minutes at all asa's (though instruction book says, I think, 2 minutes.) If going for a plain 2, look for high serial number body, above (say) 400,000. Om-2N began around 650,000. John, www.zuiko.com

Alternative to the more expensive Criscam battery adapter is Jon Goodman's (Jon_Goodman@yahoo.com). For $10 he'll send you his adapter, works just as well as the other.

 

I am a big fan of the OM-1 because of the smoothness in operation. OM-1's mechanical shutter sounds and feels nice.

 

Either way you go, get one, and send them to John Hermanson for CLA. You'll be taking pictures happyly for the next 20 years, I think that's how long you guarantee your CLA, right John? :)

 

(kidding, just kidding)

20 year guarantee.... John you might be seeing my name on a box sometime soon if that is the case. ;)

I own 2 of each and although I cut my teeth on a fully manual camera and b & w darkroom (later colour and E6) must admit I prefer the 2/2n/2Sp. They are built like tanks (not the 2Sp) and you've got the best of both worlds plus otfp flash exposure.

 

If you decide on a 1(n), the 625 battery is an easy fix, regardless of which approach you take. Of course, you could buy one of each!

 

Jim

I know you're kidding, but I'll just say, I have the standard 6 month warranty. John, www.zuiko.com

Thanks to all of you for your advice.....

I know that this is probably a little late, but I would like to leave a comment anyway. I have been taking photographs in digital for a year now. I have had an OM1 for a week and have already learnt more about photography than I did for an entire year of shooting digital. It is photography broken down to the very basics. It is so simple. The camera does nothing for you, and you have to think every shot through by yourself. My dad had an OM2 years ago and unfortunately it got stolen, but I gather it was also a fantastic camera. For me though, the OM1 is so brilliant because it doesn't allow me to be lazy. It is also beautifully engineered. Can you imagine that any camera made today will still be in full working order in fourty years? Anyway, I should imagine that it will be my main camera for some time to come. I am putting digital down for a while and really learning about photography.

 

Thanks.