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53-550: Some common features of 35mm SLR photography were first seen on the Topcon RE Super . Among these is the through-the-lens exposure metering . This enabled improved exposure accuracy, especially in close-up macro photography using bellows or extension rings, and in telephotography with long lenses. In addition to this feature, the metering is at full aperture. For this purpose the RE -lenses have an aperture simulator that relays

106-519: 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

159-399: A feature of cameras whereby the intensity of light reflected from the scene is measured through the lens ; as opposed to using a separate metering window or external hand-held light meter . In some cameras various TTL metering modes can be selected. This information can then be used to set the optimal film or image sensor exposure ( average luminance ), it can also be used to control

212-409: A proper exposure is still used in automatic flash modes. Crush, Darren (Spring 2012). "Budget TTL flashguns". Practical Photography . Peterborough: Bauer. pp. 118–121, 123. ISSN   0032-6445 . OCLC   749128201 . Olympus OM-2 The Olympus OM-2 is a professional single-lens reflex film system camera produced by Olympus of Japan from 1975 to 1988. The Olympus OM-2

265-485: 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

318-721: Is extrapolated from the reflected flash light measured by the metering cells in the roof of the camera and is then applied during the exposure without any possible real-time feedback. There were a few particularly sophisticated film SLRs including the Olympus OM-2 , the Pentax LX , the Nikon F3 , and the Minolta 9000 , where metering cells located at the bottom of the mirror box were used for ambient light metering, depending on model either instead or in addition to metering cells in

371-443: Is not possible any more since a CMOS or CCD chip, used to collect the light, is not reflective enough. There are a few older digital cameras which still use the analog technique, but these are getting rare. The Fujifilm S1 and S3 are the most well known digital cameras to use this technique. Digital TTL works as follows: Before the actual exposure one or more small flashes, called "preflashes", are emitted. The light returning through

424-954: The Exakta Varex camera from Ihagee in Dresden , successor to the Kine Exakta of 1936. It was also inspired by the Zeiss Ikon Contax S as well as the Japanese Miranda T —most obviously the body shape by the former, and the detachable finder prism by the latter. However, it was not until 1963 the Topcon name became famous by introducing the Topcon RE Super, an event that took the entire camera industry by surprise: This camera featured through-the-lens ( TTL ) exposure metering, at full lens aperture. The RE Super

477-410: 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,

530-419: 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

583-410: 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

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636-419: 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

689-456: 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

742-448: The ability to adjust to changes in lighting during the actual exposure which was useful for specialist applications such as photomicrography and astronomical photography. Leica later used a variation of this system, as did Pentax with their Integrated Direct Metering ( IDM ) in the LX camera. A variation of this "OTF" system was used on early Olympus E-Series digital cameras to fine-tune

795-406: The advantages of metering with real-time feedback and without preflash. TTL metering systems have been incorporated into other types of cameras as well. Most digital " point-and-shoot cameras " use TTL metering, performed by the imaging sensor itself. In many advanced modern cameras multiple 'segments' are used to acquire the amount of light in different places of the picture. Depending on the mode

848-452: The amount of light emitted by a flash unit connected to the camera. Through-the-lens metering is most often associated with single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. In most film and digital SLRs, the light sensor(s) for exposure metering are incorporated into the pentaprism or pentamirror , the mechanism by which a SLR allows the viewfinder to see directly through the lens. As the mirror is flipped up, no light can reach there during exposure,

901-418: The base of the mirror box measured the light reflected from the subject bouncing off this pattern of blocks. The timing of the release of the second curtain was adjusted in real time during the actual exposure. As the shutter speed increased, the actual light reflecting off the film surface was measured and the timing of the second curtain's release adjusted accordingly. This gave cameras equipped with this system

954-551: The cameras using this configuration (e.g. the Minolta 9000) are virtually immune against measurement errors caused by light reaching the metering cells at larger angles, for example with tilt–shift lenses . Metering cells located at the bottom of the mirror box using light reflected off the film are also used in all film SLRs supporting the classical form of real-time TTL flash metering. Some early Pentax DSLRs could use this same configuration for TTL flash metering as well, but since

1007-404: 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

1060-506: The exposure just before the first curtain was released; for this to work, the first curtain was coated in a neutral grey colour. The process of calculating the correct amount of flash light can also be done 'through the lens'. This is being done in a significantly different way than non-flash 'through the lens' metering. The actual metering itself happens in two different ways, depending on the medium. Digital TTL works differently than analog TTL. The analog version of TTL works as follows: when

1113-399: The film (OTF). In OTF metering used by Olympus, metering was performed in one of two ways — or a combination of both — depending upon the shutter speed in use. In the OM-2's Auto Dynamic Metering ( ADM ) system the first shutter curtain had the lens-facing side coated with a computer generated pattern of white blocks to emulate an average scene. As the mirror flipped-up the metering cell in

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1166-426: The flash fires immediately after the shutter opens), the preflashes and main flash appear as one to the human eye, since there is very little time between them. When using rear-curtain flash (when the flash fires at the end of the exposure) and a slow shutter speed, the distinction between the main flash and the preflashes is more obvious. Some cameras and flash units take more information into account when calculating

1219-400: 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

1272-399: The incoming light hits the film, a part of it is reflected towards a sensor. This sensor controls the flash. If enough light is captured, the flash is stopped. During early testing of this system by Minolta and Olympus it was found that not all brands and types of film reflect the light to the same amount although the actual difference between brands was less than half a stop. The one exception

1325-455: The lens is measured and this value is used to calculate the amount of light necessary for the actual exposure. Multiple pre-flashes can be used to improve the flash output. Canon referred to this as Evaluative TTL (E-TTL) and later improved the system with E-TTL II . The first form of digital TTL by Nikon, called "D-TTL", was used in a few early models. Since then, the superior "i-TTL" system has been used. When using front-curtain flash (when

1378-509: 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

1431-409: 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

1484-412: 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

1537-563: The mirror surface letting a fraction of the light through to the CdS cell placed just behind it. Identifying the different models (elsewhere/USA) All models were available in chrome or black enamel finish. Tokyo Kogaku KK Tokyo Kogaku KK launched their first 35mm SLR camera in 1957, about two years before the Nikon F and the Canonflex . This was the Topcon R, with bayonet lens mount from

1590-424: The necessary amount of exposure needs to be determined before the actual exposure. Consequently, these light sensors could traditionally be used for ambient light TTL metering only. In newer SLRs as well as in almost all DSLRs, they can also be utilized for preflash TTL metering, where the metering is carried out before the mirror flips up using a small preflash of known intensity and the necessary amount of flash light

1643-417: The necessary flash output, including the distance of the subject to the lens. This improves the lighting when a subject is placed in front of a background. If the lens is focused on the subject, the flash will be controlled to allow for proper exposure on the subject, thus leaving the background underexposed. Alternatively, if the lens is focused on the background, the background will be properly exposed, leaving

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1696-422: 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

1749-582: 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

1802-553: 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

1855-500: The photographer has selected, this information is then used to correctly set the exposure. With a simple spot meter, a single spot on the picture is selected. The camera sets the exposure in order to get that particular spot properly exposed. On some modern SLR systems the spot metering area or zone can be coupled to the actual focusing area selected offering more flexibility and less need to use exposure lock systems. With multiple segment metering (also known as matrix or honeycomb metering),

1908-410: The preset aperture to the exposure meter at full aperture, retaining a bright viewfinder image while determining the correct exposure, avoiding the stop-down method. The meter also works independently of the pentaprism finder, which allows for different viewfinder configurations. The meter cell is actually incorporated in the camera's reflex finder mirror. This was accomplished by milling narrow slits in

1961-488: 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

2014-423: 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

2067-460: 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

2120-460: 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

2173-434: The read out of the image sensor itself for exposure metering in these modes. This also applies to Sony's SLT digital cameras, which use the image sensor for exposure metering all the time. As of 2012, no digital SLR or SLT camera on the market supported any form of real-time TTL flash metering using the image sensor. However, it can be expected that such methods will be introduced as image sensor technology progresses, given

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2226-440: The reflectance properties of image sensors differ significantly from those of film, this method proved to be unreliable in practice. Therefore, digital SLR cameras typically don't support any real-time TTL flash metering and must use preflash metering instead. The ambient and flash light metering is then carried out by a metering module located in the roof of the camera (see above). Digital SLRs supporting live view or video will use

2279-417: The roof of the camera. Depending on model, the light was reflected down there either by a secondary mirror behind the half-transparent main mirror, a special reflective coating of the first shutter curtain, the surface of the film itself, or combinations thereof. One of the advantages of this approach is that the measuring result requires no adjustments when changing focusing screens or viewfinders. Also, some of

2332-521: 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

2385-422: 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

2438-605: The subject in the foreground typically overexposed. This technique requires both a camera capable of calculating the distance information, as well as the lens being capable of communicating the focal distance to the body. Nikon refers to this technique as "3D matrix metering", although different camera manufacturers use different terms for this technique. Canon incorporated this technique in E-TTL II. More advanced TTL flash techniques include off-camera flash lighting, where one or more flash units are located at different locations around

2491-420: The subject. In this case a 'commander' unit (which can be integrated in the camera body) is used to control all of the remote units. The commander unit usually controls the remote flashes by using flashes of visible or infrared light, although TTL-capable radio triggering systems are available. The photographer can normally vary the light ratios between the different flashes. The technique of using preflashes to get

2544-527: The values of the different segments are combined and weighted to set the correct exposure. Implementations of these metering modes vary between cameras and manufacturers, making it difficult to predict how a scene will be exposed when switching cameras. The first camera to feature through-the-lens light metering was by Japanese company Nikon , with a prototype rangefinder camera, the SPX. The camera used Nikon 'S' type rangefinder lenses. The Japanese company Pentax

2597-475: Was Polaroid's instant slide film which had a black surface and could not be used in TTL flash mode. Nevertheless, for most applications analogue TTL flash exposure metering was more advanced and accurate than systems used previously and permitted far more flexibility - with bounced flash exposures in particular being more accurate than manually calculated equivalents. With digital, this way of direct reflection metering

2650-399: 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

2703-786: Was fully prepared for professional work, supported by a choice of lenses and accessories to complement it. The United States importer was the Charles Beseler Company and it was sold as the Beseler Topcon Super D. The interchangeable lenses for the RE Super The following lenses have their own focusing thread: In addition, a range of special lenses without focusing thread (to be used with bellows or focusing extension tube) were available for macro work: Through-the-lens metering In photography , through-the-lens metering ( TTL metering ) refers to

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2756-453: 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

2809-583: Was the first manufacturer to show an early prototype 35 mm behind-the-lens metering SLR camera , which was named the Pentax Spotmatic . The camera was shown at the 1960 photokina show. The first TTL light metering SLR was the 1963 Topcon RE Super , which had the CdS metering cell placed behind the reflex mirror. In the 1970s Olympus marketed the OM-2 camera, which measured the exposure directly off

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