This is the normal behaviour of the OM-1 & OM-1n (and others). That
settings are out from the meter's range. The OM1's manual says the meter's
limit is 1/2 sec. at ASA 100 and lens wide-open. A simple calculation gives
1/30 sec. for ASA 1600 film, also at maximum aperture. Assuming you were
using a 50/1.8, f/2.8 is about 1 stop closed, so the meter's range will
start at 1/15 s, which should show slight underexposure with the lever at
the OFF position, in order to allow the circuit raise the needle when
metered light matches exposure controls -- there's no way to measure such a
dim light to need 1/8 s at f/2.8 and ASA 1600.
This only checks the mechanical coupling of the meter system -- it works
the same even without battery. Since the lever is at OFF, no current flows
in the circuit and it won't respond to any change of light.
Old M-1's had a 'warning switch' intended to make the needle jump when
going off limits -- like changing from 1/15 to 1/8 in your sample. The very
early non-MD OM-1 still had this device, but it was dropped shortly after.
...
Carlos Santisteban
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