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43-552: The Olympus OM-2 is an aperture-priority automatic-exposure camera (with full manual operation selected via switch), based on the earlier, successful Olympus OM-1 body. The OM-2 was introduced in 1975, and combined the light, sturdy camera body style of the manual-only OM-1 with a new automatic exposure system. One of the main selling points of the OM-2 was that all of the OM-1 accessories and lenses would fit without modification, offering

86-467: A compact system and an easy upgrade path for OM-1 owners. The solid design together with the OM camera system and the new automatic exposure makes the OM-2 camera still a popular choice for 35mm photography almost 50 years after the initial release. A number of famous photographers used the OM-2, including Patrick Lichfield , Kon Sasaki , Roy Morsch, Jacques Schumacher, Robert Semeniuk, and James Sugar. Of

129-500: A concomitant loss of flash range. A black-finished version of the OM-4T came out in 1990, listing for $ 1250 (the champagne-finished body remained available for $ 1200). In the US market the OM-4T was renamed OM-4Ti in 1997 ($ 1819 list) when the replacement 4T top cover supply became exhausted and it was deemed too expensive for Olympus Japan to create more. The 4Ti had no feature changes over

172-586: A graduated, linear LCD shutter speed display at the bottom of the viewfinder to precisely indicate its readings versus the actual camera settings. The major improvements of the OM-4 compared to the OM-2N were the stronger chassis, gasket weatherproofing, permanently affixed, dedicated hot shoe and TTL flash cable connector, linear liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter speed display, provision for spot-metering, and flexible integrated-circuit electronics. Accessories for

215-432: A lower ISO to enhance the image quality by reducing the noise. When shooting a portrait in dim lighting, the photographer might choose to open the lens to its maximum aperture in hopes of getting enough light for a good exposure while maintaining the shortest possible shutter speed to reduce blur. This photography-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Olympus OM-4 The Olympus OM-4

258-407: A new electronic flash-control system. Normally focal-plane shutters are limited in their maximum flash synchronization speed, because of the way they provide fast shutter speeds – timing the second shutter curtain to close more quickly after the first shutter curtain opens. This causes a narrowing of the slit "wiping" the exposure on the film. In effect, a horizontal focal-plane shutter made of cloth

301-424: A user might select a small aperture when photographing a waterfall , so that the camera will select a slow shutter speed (to allow a sufficient amount of light to reach the film or sensor for proper exposure), thereby causing the water to blur through the frame. At the contrary, a larger aperture allows to shorten the shutter speed reducing the hand jitter by taking a picture without a tripod or, in alternative,

344-663: Is an interchangeable-lens, 35 mm film , single lens reflex (SLR) camera ; manufactured by Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (today Olympus Corporation ) in Japan, and sold as OM-4 from 1983 to 1987 and as OM-4Ti from 1986 to 2002. The OM-4 was the successor to the OM-2N and represented the highest evolution of the Olympus OM-series SLRs (introduced in 1972). Other Olympus OM top models were the OM-1 , OM-2 , OM-1N, OM-2N , OM-2 Spot Program, OM-3 and OM-3Ti. They all used

387-406: Is necessary. Aperture priority mode also finds use in portrait photography , where a wide aperture (identified by a low number, e.g. f/1.4 or f/2.8) and therefore smaller depth of field may be desired to throw the background out of focus and make it less distracting. Another common use of aperture priority mode is to indirectly affect shutter speed for a desired effect. In landscape photography,

430-417: Is often used to allow the photographer to control the focus of objects in the frame. Aperture priority is therefore useful in landscape photography , for example, where it may be desired that objects in foreground, middle distance, and background all be rendered crisply, while shutter speed is immaterial. To obtain this large depth of field, a narrow aperture (identified by a high f-number, e.g. f/16 or f/22)

473-450: Is only fully open and usable for flash exposure up to 1/60s. Any faster and a typical one-millisecond flash burst would only partially expose the film - the part open to the slit. The OM-4Ti overcame this problem by having the new Olympus F280 Full Synchro flash pulse its light continuously over 40 milliseconds, long enough to illuminate the slit as it crossed the entire focal plane, even at shutter speeds as fast as 1/2000s. There is, however,

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516-410: The "MD" badge appeared in the late 70's models. OM-2 and OM-2 MD cameras had the hot shoe 2 or 3 for attaching a flash unit. This had the central sync contact plus one other (either in-line or off to the 10-o-clock position when viewed from the rear of the camera) and a single, threaded post on the prism used to secure the shoe or a post with one small recess for a connector pin (Shoe 3). Additionally,

559-503: The 1970s and 1980s, with intense competition between the major SLR brands: Olympus, Nikon , Canon , Minolta and Pentax . Between about 1975 and 1985, there was a dramatic shift away from heavy all-metal manual mechanical camera bodies to much more compact bodies with integrated-circuit (IC) electronic automation. In addition, because of rapid advances in electronics, the brands continually leapfrogged each other as they brought out models with new or automated features. The OM-1 introduced

602-419: The 4 o'clock position on some OM-2's, but not on others. The general understanding is that all OM-2's are motor drive and winder 1 or 2 capable (and included the coupler opening and removable cap), at least the U.S. "legally imported" ones from Ponder and Best. The re-worked base plates (and other modifications) were only required for early OM-1 models. It's unclear what modifications (if any) were implemented when

645-657: The 4T. The 4Ti was discontinued in 2002. Olympus failed to make the transition to autofocus (AF) 35 mm SLRs in the wake of the introduction of the landmark Minolta Maxxum 7000 in 1985. Most manual-focus SLRs disappeared by 1989. The OM-4 and OM-3 models were retained because Olympus had no appropriate successors. Their rugged construction also appealed to professional photographers, and some traditionalist amateurs who preferred manual-focus cameras. The Olympus OM-4 sold steadily to Olympus enthusiasts, but more and more slowly over its lifetime, as it became increasingly outdated. It remained in limited production until 2002, when

688-410: The OM-2 and OM-2 MD models had a reset position on the shutter speed dial adjacent to the B setting. This was used to reset the shutter mechanism in the event of mirror lock-up when the batteries were drained. OM-2N MD The OM-2N MD, manufactured from 1979 to 1984, has a smaller upper-case "N" engraved next to the model number on the front plate at the rewind lever and on the top plate, to the left of

731-419: The OM-2 line. While the older OM-2 models could routinely withstand harsh conditions, they were never advertised as having any environmental protection features. The OM-2S offered only 3.5 frames per second when coupled to the motor drive 1 or 2. The camera used an LCD display with a 90-second power-saving limiter for metering indications and warnings. This was visible to the left of the viewfinder area. All

774-622: The OM-4 included all the Olympus motor drives made for the OM-System cameras. Motor Drive 2 was introduced with the OM-4 and, in addition to automatic film advance (up to 5 frames per second), featured motorized film rewind. The camera accepted the Olympus 250-exposure bulk film back (10 meters of film = 250 frames) and the Olympus T-system flashes. The T45 handle-mount electronic flash (guide number 148/45 (feet/meters) at ASA/ISO 100)

817-405: The OM-4 shutter mechanism but without the 1/2000 sec top speed, using instead 1/1000 as the maximum. It did, however, retain its mechanical Bulb setting as well as 1/60 second speed for use when batteries were depleted. This addressed a failing of the older all-electronic OM-2 models which were unusable without batteries. Additionally, a basic level of weather-sealing was provided as a new feature in

860-525: The OM-4's manual spot-metering represented Olympus's intention to provide precision for the professional and advanced amateur photographer. In 1986, a special ultra-durable version of the OM-4 with champagne-colored titanium top and bottom plates, upgraded electronic circuitry and improved weatherproofing, called the OM-4Ti (OM-4T in the USA), was released, with a US list price of $ 770. The OM-4Ti also introduced

903-671: The compact body size that inspired similar sized SLRs of competing manufacturers (Pentax M series, Nikon FE/FM). Through-the-lens (TTL) off-the-film (OTF) electronic flash control was pioneered by the OM-2 in 1975. The OM-4 and its mechanically controlled companion the OM-3 were quite conservative designs, despite their very sophisticated spot-meters. They can be described as the OM-2 and OM-1 with electronic spot-meter controls grafted on. The OM-4's deliberately limited, but tightly focused, features were not intended to appeal to beginners. Instead of offering every possible automated 'bell and whistle',

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946-404: The duration and intensity of the flash during exposure using its inbuilt sensors by measuring the amount of light reflected off the film. This ensured excellent results under difficult conditions. Exposure calculation was unique thanks to the twin "silicon blue cell" sensors which, for shutter speeds of 1/60s and above, measured light reflected off a graduated patterned surface on the lens side of

989-400: The following order: OM-2, OM-2 MD, OM-2N MD and thereafter the heavily revised OM-2S/OM-2 Spot Program, which was, essentially, a new mechanism within a similar body. The OM-2, OM-2 MD and OM-2N MD camera came in chrome or black finish. The OM-2S (In USA) and OM-2 Spot/Program (elsewhere) came only in black. OM-2 and OM-2 MD The principal difference between the OM-2 and OM-2 MD models was

1032-458: The lens mount which were aimed at the first curtain/film surface. The meter needle for the viewfinder was driven by another pair of CdS cells mounted in the prism. The OM-2S used the same metering cell for all operations and light for the preview reading was sent to the cell via a secondary mirror mounted behind the semi-opaque main mirror as in the OM-3 and OM-4 models. The self-timer on the OM-2S

1075-503: The lens mount, instead of a top-mounted shutter speed dial. The OM-4 accepted all Olympus-made OM bayonet-mount lenses, which were marketed under the Zuiko brand name. The OM-4 was a battery-dependent (requiring two 1.5-volt silver oxide SR44, V76, 357 cells - use of a 3-volt 1/3N lithium cell is not recommended) electro-mechanically controlled manual-focus SLR with manual exposure control or aperture-priority auto-exposure. The OM-4

1118-417: The lighting conditions as measured by the camera's light meter . This is different from manual mode, where the user must decide both values, shutter priority where the user picks a shutter speed with the camera selecting an appropriate aperture, or program mode where the camera selects both. As an image's depth of field is inversely proportional to the size of the lens's aperture, aperture priority mode

1161-409: The main central sync point. This shoe used two small pins to make contact with the camera circuitry. For this purpose an OM-2N MD will have the large securing threaded recess used for shoe 1 on the older OM-2 MD plus two smaller recesses for the added contacts visible on the rear of the prism above the viewfinder. The flash shoes are not backwardly interchangeable between models. The OM-2N MD added, via

1204-410: The many features the OM-2 boasted, the most commonly advertised feature was that it was the first camera to offer a through-the-lens (TTL) direct metering system for film, named Auto Dynamic Metering (ADM). This "off the film" metering was the method's first ever release in a camera. Another feature of the OM-2 was the integration of two available electronic flash guns into the system. The camera set

1247-422: The older OM-2N MD offering aperture preferred automatic exposure with averaging metering off the first curtain and/or film to determine which shutter speed would be used for the exposure. The "Manual" mode metered in the central microprism collar area only (roughly 2% of the field) - giving the spot metering in the camera's model name. Information on the spot metered value was provided on an LCD bar-graph version of

1290-582: The older match-needle system used on the OM-2N MD. Both shutter speed and aperture were under the photographer's control. Metering circuit changes versus the OM-2/OM-2N The OM-2S still made use of the direct off the film metering although the OM-2S used a single metering cell in the base of the mirror box for all metering. On the earlier OM-2N MD model series the dynamic metering was accomplished via two silicon blue cells mounted just behind

1333-504: The pc-socket was set to. The OM-2SP Spot Program (OM-2S in the USA) was a thorough overhaul of the OM-2 innards to make the model more competitive. It has more commonality with the OM-4 than the previous OM-2, a fact which simplified production for Olympus which had, by the time of the OM-2S launch, released the OM-4 and the OM-3 models. It was manufactured from 1984 to 1988. The OM-2S used

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1376-433: The previous focusing screens and accessories (with the exception of the flash shoe attachments) available in the OM system were compatible with the camera. The camera body had a fixed hot-shoe and a plug on the front-left for coupling of the Olympus flash group's TTL connector cable (previously the OM-2N MD series required removal of the flash shoe and the attachment of a TTL connector to facilitate this). The rewind release

1419-423: The prism. Additionally, the re-set function was moved to the top of the camera via the power-switch and the word "Reset" is engraved next to the word "Check" on the top plate of the camera. The "N" model had a new, re-contoured advance lever which had smoother, rounded edges as opposed to the OM-2 and OM-2MD's advance lever's slimmer and sharper edges. The OM-2N MD used hot shoe 4 with two additional contacts above

1462-460: The provision of a removable cap on the base-plate to permit attachment of the OM system Motor Drive 1 (or the later Motor Drive 2) for film advance at 5 frames per second and the placement of an "MD" badge on the front left face of the camera. The non-MD badged OM-2 cameras needed to go to a service facility to enable attachment of a motor drive. There is some confusion about the MD badge that appears at

1505-460: The purchase of special program-compatible lenses. The only proviso to using program mode was that the lens in use be set to the highest f-number to permit the program mode to operate. If the aperture was not set to the highest number, the LCD display would flash an aperture symbol (and, if activated, the camera beeper would sound) to warn of the problem. The "Auto" mode operated in much the same manner of

1548-450: The same body configuration, but with developing aluminum alloy chassis, electronics, feature levels, and external controls and cosmetics. The OM-4 used a horizontal cloth focal plane shutter with a manual speed range of one second - 1/2000 second (up to 240 seconds was possible in automatic mode), plus bulb and flash X-sync of 1/60 second. Unlike most SLRs of the era, the OM-4 used a familiar OM-series shutter-speed ring, concentric with

1591-521: The shoe 4 circuitry, the following features to the OM-2 MD: A flash charge-ready light in the viewfinder and correct flash exposure confirmation by flashing this same green LED after exposure. The "N" also had a contact inside the film chamber for the Recordata back. Finally, if used with a T-Series flash, the flash and shutter would sync at "X" setting regardless of what position the sync switch around

1634-421: The shutter. For shutter speeds below 1/60s, exposure was calculated from the amount of light reflected off the film surface during the exposure. The shutter was a horizontal-running cloth type. In auto-exposure mode the camera was capable of giving exposures from 60s-1/1000s (OM-2N, 120s-1/1000s). The camera also offered a metered manual-exposure mode, with speeds of 1s-1/1000s, plus B. The model series appeared in

1677-446: The viewfinder for use in dark conditions. [REDACTED] Media related to Olympus OM-2 at Wikimedia Commons Aperture-priority Aperture priority , often abbreviated A or Av (for aperture value ) on a camera mode dial , is a mode on some cameras that allows the user to set a specific aperture value ( f-number ) while the camera selects a shutter speed to match it that will result in proper exposure based on

1720-475: Was also introduced with the OM-4. The original OM-4 was available in only one color: all black. The introductory US list price for the body only (no lens) was $ 685. Note that SLRs usually sold for 30 to 40 percent below list price. The camera dimensions are 87 mm height, 139 mm width, 50 mm depth and 540 grams (19 oz) weight. The Olympus OM-series SLRs were influential in SLR design changes in

1763-399: Was electronic. On activation the mirror would lock-up until exposure. If cancelled at any point the shutter would complete the exposure. The self-timer switch, placed where the previous-generation models had a mechanical self-timer arm, permitted the battery check/self-timer beep to be silenced. A button to the right of the prism provided a 16-second illumination of the LCD metering display in

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1806-453: Was moved from the front right faceplate to the top of the camera between the ASA setting dial and the advance lever arm. The OM-2S had three operational modes. The most noted was the provision of a program setting which permitted totally automated selection of aperture and shutter speed by the camera circuitry. Olympus offered a program mode without the need for modification of existing lenses or

1849-450: Was the first camera with a built-in multi-spot exposure meter (2% of view; 3.3˚ with 50 mm lens) which could take up to eight spot measurements and average them. Another unique feature was the selectable option to assess the darkest or brightest part of the scene, the camera adjusting the exposure based on that measure. The light meter used a dual-concentric segmented silicon photodiode to provide spot or center-weighted readings. It used

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