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[OM] Re: [OT] Big move for me

Subject: [OM] Re: [OT] Big move for me
From: "John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:40:48 -0500
At 04:35 PM 6/20/04, Moose wrote:
>I've never had, or wanted, a 2s. It is much more closely related to the
>OM-4 series than a 2N, in spite the numbering. Although I use a 4 more
>often than anything else, I would likely not take one one your kind of
>adventure.
[snip]
>The 2(N), unlike the 2s feels very much like a 1(N) and is highly
>reliable. I've been in rain forest happily using my 2N and watched a
>Nik*n wunderbrick literally short out inside and loose its mind, beeping
>and running the focus motor seemingly at random. Not trying to talk
>anybody into anything, just pointing out a real big difference in models
>that sound similar in name. The 2(N) is also still eminently repairable.
>
>Moose

I have an OM-1n, 2n, 2S and 4.  I agree about the 2n versus 2S for outdoor 
photography sans flash.  For that I actually prefer to use the OM-4 with 
OM-2n as backup.

For wedding work I use a "camera rotating" flash bracket with cable 
release, Tamron 35-105/2.8 (constant aperture), and a Sunpak 120J TTL with 
battery slab, Metz CT 60-4, or Metz 40 MZ-2/3i.   The OM-2S has become the 
mainstay in this application for a number of reasons.  It has a built-in 
hot shoe which is far more robust than the Shoe 4 on the OM-2n.  Even 
though the TTL modules are small and light, a coiled cord is usually 
tugging on it.  In addition, the shutter release button on the OM-2S is 
akin to the release on the OM-2n, and is more robust to installing and 
removing the cable release.  The OM-4 has a "soft touch" release button 
with the rotating momentary switch underneath.  I found it more difficult 
to thread and remove a cable release in it.  For this purpose, in AE mode 
using TTL to control the flash duration it has excelled.

In addition, all outdoor wedding shots are done using fill.  I've had great 
success tightening up the aperture until the AE metering in the viewfinder 
shows about 1/30th.  With the Oly lenses this might get a bit difficult, 
but the Tamron can stop down to f/32.  The flash can be forced to fire in 
direct sunlight with ISO 160 film; I've never had to stop down past 
f/22.  Nearly all weddings are indoors around here.  Weather is too iffy 
and no sane person would plan an outdoor affair here without having a solid 
foul weather backup plan.  I've done a couple outdoor weddings and forced 
fill on everything.  Lighting direction and quality is too variable and 
bracketed flash puts catchlights in the eyes.  That can get a bit hairy 
though.  One of the outdoor gigs was on a partly cloudy day.  I was 
continuously moving the aperture ring as clouds passed over the sun.

Last, but not least, AFAIK my 2S does not have the flash-ready LED 
modification and it's never died during a wedding.  The secret?  No more 
than two weddings on a set of 357 cells.  Considering the cost of a dozen 
rolls of Portra and developing them to proofs, a pair of 357 cells every 
other wedding is a drop in the bucket.  It's cheap insurance compared to 
the consequence of the dreaded shutter locked open and mirror locked up 
during a critical "must have" shot that cannot be repeated (e.g., the 
"first kiss" or when the bouquet is tossed).

The 2S manual "spot meter" mode had been nearly useless to me.  I have used 
it a few times doing outdoor manual exposures without flash.  Program mode 
on the 2S has been completely useless; I prefer more exposure control with 
shutter/aperture options that AE offers.

To be fair to the other bodies not yet mentioned:

The OM-2n is used at some weddings for available light work during the 
ceremony using Fuji Press 1600, or TMax P3200 at EI 1600 (push 1).  It has 
been great for that.  The majority of [indoor] weddings do not allow flash 
photography during the ceremony itself, so the 2n usually gets a minor 
workout with a roll of high speed film.

BTW, I use the OM-1n with monolights and it's been great for that.  Don't 
even have to turn it on!  Set shutter at 1/60th, set aperture to the 
reading from the flash meter, plug in the lights and start shooting.  Even 
if I'm using radio slaves, the transmitter is so tiny and light weight 
there's near zero risk to a Shoe 4 with it.  It's about half the size of a 
T-20 in all dimensions and weighs only a few ounces.

-- John Lind


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