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Re: [OM] OM-2s Circuits [was "Are OM-2S Circuits Getting A Bad Rap?"]

Subject: Re: [OM] OM-2s Circuits [was "Are OM-2S Circuits Getting A Bad Rap?"]
From: clintonr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 15:23:09 -0600
Gary Reese wrote:
> 
> Here is something to ponder. Perhaps the OM List, by collectively
> repeating "conventional wisdom," puts an undeserved bad rap on certain
> OM System components? Case in point: the circuits in an OM-2S. OK, we
> all know correctly that they are no new ones available anymore. But,
> there are old ones from carcass cameras, if it even made sense to
> transplant one. It is kind of like giving heart surgery to your old cat.
> There comes a time when it's best to let the cat pass on and, when you
> are ready, replace it.
> 
> Do we really know if bad circuits are a significant problem in OM-2S
> bodies? I don't think we do, but the conventional wisdom is that they
> are a problem. I would argue that the "problem" isn't the reliability of
> the circuits, it is their availability and the cost of replacement.

We've still got new OM-2s main circuits at Photosphere in Dallas --
problem is, even at cost ($140), unless your body is EX+, it's probably
not worth the price plus labor.  (Putting a 4T circuit in a 4 presents
the same economic limitations.)  And "harvesting" used circuits is
extremely rare -- first, most of the few non-abused (and I stress "few"
and "non-abused") OM-2s's that are "dead" are dead because of a bad main
circuit.  Second, it's very, very labor intensive to safely remove (and
install) the main circuit -- it winds from the mode switch around the
rewind knob and across the prism, down across the front casting with one
leg, down into the LCD with another, down to the self/silent switch with
another, and lastly down the side of the mirror box to the head amp/SBC
under the mirror!

But Gary's right -- the vast majority of OM-2s's work fine -- they
always did.  The early problems like poor grounds in the MD switch and
erratic ASA inputs were addressed and corrected, though we still see
them occasionally even today.  But every time they're used, a certain
tiny (again -- stress "tiny") percentage of them will "die" -- it's the
same with any camera.  I use the analogy of a light bulb -- every time
you turn it on, you run the risk that it'll burn out.  An electrical
circuit is basically the same.  But that's no reason to consider the
OM-2s a "risky venture".  If it's working OK, it's as dependable as any
camera.

> But I
> guess there was a niche of users will to pay the price, perhaps due to
> the rising costs of new OM bodies?

That's becoming more and more of an issue.  Time was when even an
excellent OM-1 wouldn't bring more than $100 on the used market.  When
the only new "traditional" SLR to replace it was an OM-4 priced at
upwards of $800, OM-1's became alot more interesting!  And fixing a
good-condition OM-2s for "only" $250 looks alot better, too, except that
used ones aren't selling for much more, and often less.  The only
problem with that is that the used one may have problems of it's own --
but probably _not_ a bad circuit!

> 
> The reason I question if the OM-2S circuits should even be considered
> unreliable is that doing an analysis of what was wrong with all the
> OM-2S parts and as-is camera sold on eBay in the last three years, only
> two were related to circuits. Well, it turns out the shutter is more
> problematic!

> ... But its all the data
> I have to go on and my conclusion is that the OM-2S gets a bad rap here.
> 

I doubt very many OM-2s sellers would be able to recognize the
difference between any of the numerous maladies that represent a
"repairable" malfunction and those that would require a new main circuit
-- even those sold by the most experienced users, "professionals", and
camera stores.  (Of the hundreds of Olympus cameras we get each month
for repair, even from camera dealers, I would guess that only about half
have a complaint that acurately reflects the "real" source of the
problem -- "bad focus" in a compact camera is often due to a dead flash,
for example....)  An erratic ASA, for example, might result in the
notation that the "shutter has unreliable exposures".  But the
conclusion is still true, I believe -- a bad main circuit _is_ a
relatively rare problem.

I think the problem with the OM-2s now is the same as when it was new --
with spot metering and OTF, etc., it was too "professional" for the
amatuer, and with the Program mode it's too "amateur" for the
professional!  It never "found" it's market, and died of lack of
interest.  They sold for less than the OM-2 on the used market -- and
often still do!  But I believe it's unjustified -- the 2s is an
excellent design.

> Some conventional wisdoms that do match the as-is data:
> Battery covers on OM-77AF
Old age(brittle plastic), albeit much too soon after production

> Oily magnets on the OM-10
A problem from the very start -- ruined the reputation of an otherwise
excellent design, hurt Olympus, got lots of people laid off (including
me! ;^).

> Foam rot on OM-1 prisms
Old age

> 
> Undiscussed Achilles Heels:
> Cords on the Recordata Back 1 and 2
Old age, I suspect -- frequent use, wires break when bent....

> Screw anchoring on the Eyecup 1
Old age(brittle plastic)

> Flimsy fresnel frames on the T-32 Zoom Adapter
Can't say I've seen this, though a Zoom Adapter isn't something we'd get
for repair....

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