I have a love/hate relationship with Olympus…… I’ve been disappointed in several of their film cameras, that others rave about…… oddly, one day at an antique mall, I became intrigued with a big monster Olympus SLR, that had a cheap price on it. Getting it home and reading up on it, I found out that the OM 77AF/ 707AF, is one of Olympus worse rated dogs of a camera, but I put batteries in, taped the battery door shut ( the battery door being a problem since day one ) and proceeded to shoot with what was supposed to be a very slow AF system….. but when my film was developed, I had some of the sharpest, most properly exposed B&W photos that I had ever taken…… I love that camera…. qwirky, big, heavy, slow….. but it does the job well! I get it 💕❤️!
I have lots of OM cameras, from M-1 to OM-4T. My pride and joy is a late production OM-3T that is flawless. It's also absurdly valuable, so I rarely risk it. My goto in lieu of the OM-3T are OM-4/4T or, more recently an OM-2S. However, I just bought an OM-3 in excellent condition, flawless mechanically, but with some minor cosmetic wear. That will be my new everyday SLR and the meter is still smaller, faster, and better than my separate spot meter as a companionfor my meterless pre-war cameras.
I’ve just bought my first OM4 after much debating over an OM1. First roll of film still needs developing but eager to see the results. I’ll never buy a camera without spot metering, that’s my downfall or not.
Battery drain is a myth. People put in cheap LR44 batteries, have sound turned on, and probably have the bat check switched up, by accident. I have shot thousands of frames on two SR44 bats, over. Period of one to two years. This on two OM-4 's for over ten years. I never had to switch to 1/60. PEople should read their owner's manual carefully!
Not a myth at all but it didn't affect every OM-4. Some camera just wouldn't turn themselves off. I've had 3 or so OM-4s and didn't have that problem with any of them. There is a simple test you can do to see if an OM-4 hast he battery drain problem which I've forgotten but it's out there. The OM-4(T) and the OM-1 are my favorite all time cameras. Add the Pen EES-2 to that list.
I have the same camera and it really is the best one I had. It's like the bridge to the modern DSLR cameras. Two major problem I have with this is 1) There is no on/off switch. Switching it in and out of Bulb is too much work and uncomfortable. 2) The paint work is poor. I bought mine surprisingly looking new, few months later it looks like I had it for years already. But everything else, top notch.
The Spot metering dot readings are not shown in the view finder, once I press the Spot Meter button, please advise the reason why. Many Thanks & Best Regards.
I enjoyed this video. Are you required to only use zuiko auto lenses to take advantage of all the features? I have an OM1 with older lenses that are not auto. Thanks
Thank you Jaime! All Olympus OM lenses will work on the OM-4. If your lenses are not marked as "Auto" then they potentially are the newer versions of the lens. Olympus dropped the Auto naming convention when they added the MC for multi coating on their lenses.
I’ve just got this camera but I’m quite confused by it’s functions, if anyone knows of a in-depth video breaking down all the buttons etc. Please help. This video was awesome still love the plain presentation
I’m glad you liked the video! I would recommend David Hancock’s videos on the OM-4. Part one is the features of the camera and part two is how to use the camera.
@@JCrofts awesome I’ll watch that although I’ve shot with it now and it’s great, so responsive, and of course the spot meter is awesome. I’m only 19 so I’ve been used to digital and I can’t believe this isn’t a feature used more often. One thing I don’t enjoy is the annoying battery situation, I think I do actually have the updated system however it still drains a lot, a pack of Duracell went out in 2/3 days of shooting, not bad but not ideal. I’ve since learnt that leaving it on the 1/60 or B mode reserves power so I will do that next. Thanks for the suggestion and keep up the great content, it’s nice to see you interact with your viewers, keep well and happy shooting.
Nice video! I just got me one at a flea market , after doing some research about the camera and lenses to get familiar with the system, I found the lenses to be radioactive, what’s your opinion about this? Thanks in advance!
i had been shooting mostly Medium Format and digital but I came across an OM-1 with a bunch of Zuiko lens for cheap. The thing has me excited about 35mm all over again but it's in need of an overhaul. Just wondering if i should fix it, or get something newer like an om-4 or om-4ti?
Hi Jack, very interesting. Thanks for the information! Repair is not as big an issue as I bought a 'for parts' OM-1 for ten bucks. To my amazement, the thing is perfectly functional! working great. The only thing that doesn't seem to work is the flash port on the side. When i attach the strobe it doesn't trigger. I hardly use flash, especially with vintage camera so no biggie. After I pay my bills, i may consider sending the other one in to Zuiko.com. He seems to have a good reputation, so for 122 bucks i could have another good body... IDK. That or some more glass. :) glad to join the OM Zuiko cult! Frank
Greetings. I have seen a dif. video, where he states that the tbing that leaving the OM4 in bulb, will keep it from draining battery, should be taken with a grain of salt, as he was not sure. Is it true it orevents it from eating battery? I hope so. Also, is that not a lens from OM-Labor, by Gordon Friedrich in Frankfurt, Germany? It sure does look like one customized by him. www.om-labor.de Regards Klaus Lehrmann Denmark
Hi Klaus, Thank you for commenting! I do typically leave mine in bulb mode but have found that it still drains the battery, either that or I buy terrible batteries haha! The 28mm was not a OM-Labor lens just one that was incredibly worn down. I bought it off eBay for £10 a couple of years ago. My guess would be that someone stripped most of the paint and tried to polish it. It wasn't polished up to Gordon's standards and still had some deep scratches. I didn't use that lens very often so I gave it away to a friend. Many Thanks Jack
4:50 The battery drain horror was fixed in later OM-4s and with the OM-4T
I have a love/hate relationship with Olympus…… I’ve been disappointed in several of their film cameras, that others rave about…… oddly, one day at an antique mall, I became intrigued with a big monster Olympus SLR, that had a cheap price on it. Getting it home and reading up on it, I found out that the OM 77AF/ 707AF, is one of Olympus worse rated dogs of a camera, but I put batteries in, taped the battery door shut ( the battery door being a problem since day one ) and proceeded to shoot with what was supposed to be a very slow AF system….. but when my film was developed, I had some of the sharpest, most properly exposed B&W photos that I had ever taken…… I love that camera…. qwirky, big, heavy, slow….. but it does the job well! I get it 💕❤️!
I have lots of OM cameras, from M-1 to OM-4T. My pride and joy is a late production OM-3T that is flawless. It's also absurdly valuable, so I rarely risk it. My goto in lieu of the OM-3T are OM-4/4T or, more recently an OM-2S. However, I just bought an OM-3 in excellent condition, flawless mechanically, but with some minor cosmetic wear. That will be my new everyday SLR and the meter is still smaller, faster, and better than my separate spot meter as a companionfor my meterless pre-war cameras.
The OM-4 doesn’t have high speed flash sync with the F280 flash. That feature came on the OM-4t.
I’ve just bought my first OM4 after much debating over an OM1. First roll of film still needs developing but eager to see the results. I’ll never buy a camera without spot metering, that’s my downfall or not.
This is the best review format!
Agreed!
Battery drain is a myth. People put in cheap LR44 batteries, have sound turned on, and probably have the bat check switched up, by accident. I have shot thousands of frames on two SR44 bats, over. Period of one to two years. This on two OM-4 's for over ten years. I never had to switch to 1/60. PEople should read their owner's manual carefully!
Not a myth at all but it didn't affect every OM-4. Some camera just wouldn't turn themselves off. I've had 3 or so OM-4s and didn't have that problem with any of them. There is a simple test you can do to see if an OM-4 hast he battery drain problem which I've forgotten but it's out there. The OM-4(T) and the OM-1 are my favorite all time cameras. Add the Pen EES-2 to that list.
Thanks Jack for a very enjoyable video
Glad you enjoyed it
Jack really interesting overview of a lovely camera.
I have the same camera and it really is the best one I had. It's like the bridge to the modern DSLR cameras. Two major problem I have with this is 1) There is no on/off switch. Switching it in and out of Bulb is too much work and uncomfortable. 2) The paint work is poor. I bought mine surprisingly looking new, few months later it looks like I had it for years already.
But everything else, top notch.
The Spot metering dot readings are not shown in the view finder, once I press the Spot Meter button, please advise the reason why. Many Thanks & Best Regards.
Love it. Thanks for your thoughts.
I really want one of these...Fllm Cameras
I disagree with you i think it looks great 😆
I agree with your disagreement xD
I enjoyed this video. Are you required to only use zuiko auto lenses to take advantage of all the features? I have an OM1 with older lenses that are not auto. Thanks
Thank you Jaime! All Olympus OM lenses will work on the OM-4. If your lenses are not marked as "Auto" then they potentially are the newer versions of the lens. Olympus dropped the Auto naming convention when they added the MC for multi coating on their lenses.
Any lens with an OM mount supports all features. The camera has no knowledge of what lens is mounted nor has reason to care.
I think Olympus camera are as good looking as any camera ever made.
The om4 can't sync at 1/2000th with the f280, that's the om4t(i). You can tell by the hotshoe, it needs 5 contacts.
Mi iso ring roes from 6 to 100 I don’t understand 😢
I’ve just got this camera but I’m quite confused by it’s functions, if anyone knows of a in-depth video breaking down all the buttons etc. Please help. This video was awesome still love the plain presentation
I’m glad you liked the video! I would recommend David Hancock’s videos on the OM-4. Part one is the features of the camera and part two is how to use the camera.
@@JCrofts awesome I’ll watch that although I’ve shot with it now and it’s great, so responsive, and of course the spot meter is awesome. I’m only 19 so I’ve been used to digital and I can’t believe this isn’t a feature used more often. One thing I don’t enjoy is the annoying battery situation, I think I do actually have the updated system however it still drains a lot, a pack of Duracell went out in 2/3 days of shooting, not bad but not ideal. I’ve since learnt that leaving it on the 1/60 or B mode reserves power so I will do that next. Thanks for the suggestion and keep up the great content, it’s nice to see you interact with your viewers, keep well and happy shooting.
Nice video! I just got me one at a flea market , after doing some research about the camera and lenses to get familiar with the system, I found the lenses to be radioactive, what’s your opinion about this? Thanks in advance!
i had been shooting mostly Medium Format and digital but I came across an OM-1 with a bunch of Zuiko lens for cheap. The thing has me excited about 35mm all over again but it's in need of an overhaul. Just wondering if i should fix it, or get something newer like an om-4 or om-4ti?
Hi Jack,
very interesting. Thanks for the information! Repair is not as big an issue as I bought a 'for parts' OM-1 for ten bucks. To my amazement, the thing is perfectly functional! working great. The only thing that doesn't seem to work is the flash port on the side. When i attach the strobe it doesn't trigger. I hardly use flash, especially with vintage camera so no biggie. After I pay my bills, i may consider sending the other one in to Zuiko.com. He seems to have a good reputation, so for 122 bucks i could have another good body... IDK. That or some more glass. :)
glad to join the OM Zuiko cult!
Frank
Newer? Ha ha ha
Nice video
Greetings. I have seen a dif. video, where he states that the tbing that leaving the OM4 in bulb, will keep it from draining battery, should be taken with a grain of salt, as he was not sure. Is it true it orevents it from eating battery? I hope so.
Also, is that not a lens from OM-Labor, by Gordon Friedrich in Frankfurt, Germany? It sure does look like one customized by him.
www.om-labor.de
Regards
Klaus Lehrmann
Denmark
Hi Klaus, Thank you for commenting!
I do typically leave mine in bulb mode but have found that it still drains the battery, either that or I buy terrible batteries haha!
The 28mm was not a OM-Labor lens just one that was incredibly worn down. I bought it off eBay for £10 a couple of years ago. My guess would be that someone stripped most of the paint and tried to polish it. It wasn't polished up to Gordon's standards and still had some deep scratches. I didn't use that lens very often so I gave it away to a friend.
Many Thanks
Jack
Honestly the om-2s program is much uglier than this om-4
Not "much" uglier as I don't think the OM-4 is ugly at all.