Introduction and Overview

Why, in the day and age of modern cameras that automatically focus (AF), expose (AE) and instantly give you back results would anyone in their right mind prefer to shoot with a relic like the OM-1 that continually requires new film and was probably salvaged off the rotting corpse of the person who bought it over 30 years ago? Keep reading to find out!

You may not know this (I sure didn’t), but unlike today where Nikon and Canon reign supreme, the camera market of the late 1970s and early 80s pretty much belonged to Olympus. Originally introduced in 1972, the Olympus OM Camera System designed by Yoshihisa Maitani was a revolutionary change from competing SLRs of the time in that it was much quieter, smaller while still rugged enough so that you could use it in hand to hand (or hand vs bullet) combat. Okay, enough hype, what are the real draws of this very old school camera?

What’s Loved

One thing I’ve come to love is that the Olympus OM-1 is entirely mechanical, sorta like a wind-up watch, which means it doesn’t require batteries at all! Except for the optional light meter (seen as the +/- arrows below) which serves as a handy guide telling you whether the current camera settings (aperture and shutter speed) will lead to over or underexposure of the image in the current light.

(Image taken from MIR Photography)

I haven’t mentioned the Viewfinder yet have I? If your background is with small digicams (like me) or affordable dSLRs (the one’s that don’t cost more than cars), looking through the viewfinder is like sex for your retinas; everything is so clear and bright that manual focusing is not only bearable – it’s a joy and alot more reassuring than AF could ever be for me. I remember a lot of the first shots that I took were of quickly swooping and flying birds returning home on a spring day, something I would never have been able to capture on my old slow-focusing digicam.

The size of it with the normal 50mm lens (which I absolutely love), is smaller than even the smallest dSLR and yet still much more comfortable and intuitive to hold and use. Cradling it in your hand and I can feel like, in an almost instinctual way, that this is a special camera.

But camera’s aren’t for lusting and cradling! With a little bit of practice, it’s quick enough even for candid street photography and unassuming and unpretentious enough so that it doesn’t scare people away when you decide to be un-candid.

Photography is also more than just the camera body, what about the lens? Well right now, I have only 1 simple lens – the early single coated 50mm f/1.8 Zuiko. Alot of people may say such lenses are antiquated (my version especially), but judging from the shots I’ve gotten back, it’s amazing little workhorse. Expendable too, I look forward to really subjecting it to the limits even if it dies because replacing it would only cost me like 30$ Canadian. It’s laissez-faire worry free photographing that I wonder if owners of lenses 400$ and up could ever experience.

As for other Zuiko lenses: Of course, there are many superb Olympus OM lenses available, more than any one person could ever possibly need. But, as for me, I think I really prefer shooting with just a single lens (or two); relying on my trusty 50mm prime.

(Image from OM1 Brochure)

The Non-Loved

Is the camera perfect though? Not really. You see, the light meter needle in the viewfinder that goes up if you’ll overexpose and down if you’ll underexpose is hard to really read at night or in the dark. When I first discovered this on my own, I was really disappointed, I thought that here I had a camera that was only usable in the day or in the best lighting conditions, but actually (as I found out at the UTSC Formal/Prom thing), all it takes is a bit more practice and some educated guesses and you’ll be 100% accurate with color negative film.

(Cara and Sheryl – Taken at UTSC Formal)

Another problem that only becomes apparent in the field is the maximum shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second. While this may sound really fast, if you want to take a portrait or control the Depth of Field on a bright sunny day you may not be able too because that speed is still too slow and will allow too much light on to the film. The solution I found was to buy a Neutral Density filter (ND4 or 8) which is basically like a pair of sunglasses for your lens, with one of these screwed on top, the light is dimmed down.

In changing light, like when the suns going down and there are large shadows cast everywhere, you may have to take the filter on and off often and that could get annoying depending on how picky you are. It always helps to have a sexy assistant handy.

And finally while the camera is small for an SLR, it’s still an SLR so you still have to look through the viewfinder (instead of having an LCD) and you’ve still got the lens sticking out of the body..
“Is that an SLR in your pocket or are you just really happy to see me?”
I guess, all in all though, it’s probably slightly lame-ish to go to parties with any SLR and the solution is to rock an equally trustworthy point and shoot.

Films used

Kodak Gold 100
Kodak Gold 200 (Cara gave me like 6 boxes of this expired film, I wonder how it’ll come out?)
Fuji Superia 200 (surprisingly good in low light – so far my fav)
Fuji Superia 400 (haven’t developed it yet)
Fuji Sensia 100 (Slide film; didn’t like it much)

What to Look for if Buying Used

Because of their old age, alot of old cameras such as the OM-1 will need service which is pretty costly, so make sure the camera you’re going to buy has working and accurate meter readings and shutter speeds. As well make sure that the light sealing foam around inside has been replaced and isn’t gooey, falling apart and degrading as it naturally does over time. Besides that, you should be fine. Good luck!

About Olympus (quote from Photoethnography)

Although people think that Olympus must be a recent company, it actually has very old roots. It was founded in 1919 as “Takachiho Seisakusho” as a manufacturer of optical goods, with its first product being a microscope. In 1921, they released their first “Olympus” brand product. Their first camera came out in 1936, the Semi-Olympus with 75mm f/4.5 Zuiko lens. In 1949, the company changed their name to “Olympus Optical Co.” after their main brand. One of their designers Yoshihisa Maitani, is famed for some classic designs.

On the Net

• MIR Introduction to Photography page
• MIR Olympus OM-1 A better article than this one in too many ways.
• Buying an OM Camera on Ebay A pretty useful guide
• Unofficial Online Olympus OM Library
• Flickr Olympus OM Group Discussions and great photographs

Final Thoughts

Using a no-frills manual camera, just like driving a car with a manual transmission, has it’s pros and cons:

+ Manual focus is more accurate (especially with practice)
+ Viewfinder bright and clear; makes your retinas orgasm
+ Usable without a battery
+ Small size yet still comfortable to use
+ Unobtrusive and quiet

– In alot of ways, not as quick as Auto cameras
– Film is fuck expensive in Toronto
– None of the advantages of Digital (instant image review, no developing, etc.)
– Can’t be used as an extension of wallet/penis size

Overall, you know I love it ;) ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Phew! That was got a lot longer than I thought it would. You’ll have to forgive me, it’s my first ever camera review, Although I’ve handled almost all the dSLRs in stores nothing I’ve seen really does it for me – especially when the body alone for a new digital is in the area of $1000 Cdn (+tax) and my whole OM-1 kit (body, 50mm lens, ND8 filter, thrift store hardcase) was like $175. Even the cost of film and developing can’t justify it for me yet :)

Photos //