Olympus-OM
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [OM] Newcomer questions...

Subject: Re: [OM] Newcomer questions...
From: John Hermanson <omtech@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 12:54:09 -0500
The exposure times given in the books, service manual and instruction manuals 
are
times guaranteed by the factory.  ACTUAL low light exposure (eyepiece taped up, 
body
cap on) is between 3 minutes :20 and  3  minutes :30 seconds.
This is the "cutoff" that turns off battery drain if you do not reset the 
mirror when
it locks up.

John
Camtech.

Paul Van Tuyl wrote:

> John the specs list it at 120 seconds. Have you confirmed the 3 and 1/2 
> minutes?
> Paul.
>
> John Hermanson wrote:
>
> > Just for the record, the 2N has a long exposure limit of 3.5 minutes, not 2
> > minutes.
> >
> > John
> >
> > Ken Norton wrote:
> >
> > > Welcome to the list.
> > >
> > > The OM-1 is a fine camera and one that you wouldn't regret getting, 
> > > however...
> > >
> > > An OM-2 would probably be a better choice for you.  The OM-1 is strictly a
> > > manual camera with nothing automatic about it.  It has only the meter
> > > needle to inform you of proper exposure and that's it.  Also, it has no
> > > provision for long shutter speeds except for bulb setting.  Any of the 
> > > OM-2
> > > series of cameras (OM-2md, OM-2n, OM-2s, OM-2sp) will give up to 2-minute
> > > exposures with average ISO film.  Just put it in auto and fire away.  (The
> > > origional OM-2md will actually go longer in exposure as it didn't have the
> > > cutoff circuit).
> > >
> > > The OM-2 and OM-4 series of cameras have a very nice feature not found in
> > > any other camera line:  Off-the-film-metering.  In laymen's terms, this
> > > means that when you are taking your night shot and the lighting changes
> > > DURING the exposure, the camera adjusts accordingly as it is actually
> > > measuring the light falling on the film. This also means that the exposure
> > > is not affected by light entering the viewfinder either.  Add a flash to
> > > this system and the camera actually controls the flash during the 
> > > exposure,
> > > shutting off the flash when enough light has hit the film.
> > >
> > > You will not get aperature readings in the viewfinder on any OM camera.
> > > Shutter speed, yes, but aperature, no.
> > >
> > > Another nifty feature of the OM flash control is that the shutter speed
> > > will be 1/60 of a second with the flash (normal usage, I'm referring to
> > > here, not the wierd exceptions), but the viewfinder display will show what
> > > the ambient lighting level is.  If you are trying to keep your wedding
> > > shots from appearing like they were taken in a cave this is extremely 
> > > handy
> > > as you just adjust the lens opening to achieve the flash/fill ratio that
> > > you desire (up to 1:1).
> > >
> > > As far as lenses are concerned.  If nightime pictures are your primary
> > > focus, I would look seriously at the 50/1.8 or the 50/1.4.  Both are
> > > excellent, but flare control is probably a bit better in the 1.8.  I
> > > primarily use three lenses for nightime:  35shift, 50/1.4, and 100/2.8.
> > > All are top notch and produce razer sharp images regardless of the 
> > > lighting.
> > >
> > > Another option that you might look at:  Olympus has the IS series of
> > > cameras.  These are Zoom-Lens-Reflex cameras that do not take
> > > interchangeable lenses.  My IS-1 just got stolen and I'm looking to 
> > > replace
> > > it with an IS-3.  The lens is very good, the viewfinder bright and does
> > > show both shutter speed and aperature.  Furthermore, it has nightime modes
> > > which bring this camera into the must have for nightime work.  I have
> > > several nightime shots that have made into print and one into widespread
> > > use as a screen background from the IS-1.  One cool feature is the zoom in
> > > nightime mode.  You press the shutter and then the zoom button of the
> > > direction you want it to zoom and it will properly expose the shot and 
> > > then
> > > zoom in/out to achieve the "exploding lights" look.  Best feature of all,
> > > in the IS-1 is the spot metering.  (the OM-2s, OM-3t, and OM-4(ti) all 
> > > have
> > > spot meters)
> > >
> > > I wouldn't worry too much about buying a camera with the "hole in the
> > > bottom" provided it spent all of its life on a winder or motor drive.  The
> > > big problem is that the OM-1 and OM-2 cameras (non S models) have the
> > > internal mechanism pretty open and dirt/dust/moisture can really crud up
> > > the internals.  I would be asking serious questions about the camera's
> > > heritage and if you can't get satisfactory answers I probably wouldn't
> > > bother with the camera.  Especially if they are asking $200.  If it is in
> > > perfect condition and an OM-1n model maybe, but it might be a bit high
> > > otherwise.
> > >
> > > Again, welcome to the list.  I'll try to not be as verbose next time.
> > >
> > > Ken Norton
> > >
> > > ############################################################
> > > | This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
> > > | To receive the Digest version send mail to: listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > |    with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
> > > | To unsubscribe from the current list send a message to
> > > |   listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
> > > | For questions email: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > |    htttp://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
> > > ############################################################
> >
> > ############################################################
> > | This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
> > | To receive the Digest version send mail to: listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > |    with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
> > | To unsubscribe from the current list send a message to
> > |   listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
> > | For questions email: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > |    http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
> > ############################################################
>
> ############################################################
> | This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
> | To receive the Digest version send mail to: listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> |    with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
> | To unsubscribe from the current list send a message to
> |   listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
> | For questions email: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> |    http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
> ############################################################




############################################################
| This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
| To receive the Digest version send mail to: listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
|    with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
| To unsubscribe from the current list send a message to
|   listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
| For questions email: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
|    http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
############################################################


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Sponsored by Tako
Impressum | Datenschutz