#olympus om4

[brushie-photo]

Kodak 400TX - Just realized my own film was warning me where the negatives stopped.

[shoot-the-street]

Manchester Street Photography.

Camera - Olympus OM4ti

Film - Lomography Color Negative 400

[usafphantom2]

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird 64-17980 9th SRW take-off, Air Fete 86, Mildenhall by rac819 Via Flickr: Air Fete 96, RAF Mildenhall Olympus OM4 Zuiko 65-200m Ilford FP4

[neilkesterson]

Serenity by Neil Kesterson Via Flickr: A major traffic artery is about 50 yards away. Olympus OM-4, Ilford FP4+, HC110 1+63

[mysteriouscam]

[ultralowoxygen]

Untitled by bric_35 Via Flickr: Mallorca Olympus OM4 Ti | Olympus Zuiko Shift 35mm 1:2.8 | Kodak Ektar 100 Shot at Iso 100 1/125 f8 Scanned with Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 Home developed in Cinestill C41

[shutterfox5555]

Camera Showcase

Olympus OM2 Spot Program

Pictured: Olympus OM2 Spot Programs with all owned OM specific lenses, flash units and motor winder

In the OM series of cameras, double digits such as the OM10 were consumer grade, whereas single digits were professional grade. First manufactured in 1984, the OM2 Spot Program (OM2S in the US) was a thorough overhaul of the OM2 to make it more competitive, meaning it's internals have more in common with the OM4 than it's predecessor.

Personally speaking, this is the most feature-rich, reliable 35mm film camera I have owned, making it my go-to workhorse for 35mm work. It’s compact design was very well-thought out and lightweight compared to other cameras before it.

Pictured: Top view of the OM2 Spot Program highlighting camera controls

One of the really well-thought out designs of this camera is how the shutter speed, aperture and depth of field preview controls are all in the same area on or next to the lens, meaning with one hand you can set all the main exposure controls without looking away from the viewfinder. Instead of a shutter speed selector on top, it’s a combined ISO speed/exposure compensation dial.

The OM2 Spot Program has 3 shooting modes: Program, Auto and Manual/Spot. In Program, the lens is set to the highest/tightest aperture and the camera will set both the aperture and shutter speed according to the light levels. In Auto, the camera shoots in an aperture priority mode where the user sets the aperture and the camera deals with the rest. In both Program and Auto modes, the camera meters centre weighted but in the full manual mode the camera switches to spot metering. This is an extremely useful feature when shooting high contrast images and with light sources behind the subject matter.

Another great thing versus it's predecessors is that it has a mechanical 1/60th shutter speed option, meaning if the batteries are depleted mid-shoot there's still a way to take photos depending on light levels.

Pictured: 3 shots through the viewfinder showing the current focus screen's split centre and microprism centre, the Program/Auto mode metering and the Spot/Manual's digital match needle meter

The viewfinder's light meter is a LCD style display which can be illuminated for 90 seconds for better viewing in low light scenes. In Manual/Spot mode it switches from a bar depicting the shutter speed to a match needle style display. The viewfinder itself (dependant on chosen focus screen) is very clear and bright making composition a lot easier.

Pictured: A selection of various attachments for the OM series of cameras. teleconverters, extension tubes, right-angle viewfinder, motor winder and flash units

The OM series of cameras have a wide range of accessories to further extend the capabilities of this camera. The motor winder allows for shooting up to 3.5 frames a second in continuous mode. The right angle viewfinder is especially useful when shooting at awkward angles or with telephoto lenses on a tripod, and has a toggle switch to add a 2.5x magnification to it for really dialling in the focus. I have a T20 and T32 flash for my cameras, and although the more lightweight and smaller T20 is more portable and uses half the amount of batteries, I prefer the T32 as it allows for bounce flash photography. Both flash units have 3 modes: TTL camera auto, flash unit auto and full manual. I have only really used the TTL camera auto mode but with the lens set to f4 I haven't had any photos with blown out highlights or muddy shadows.

Pictured: three different focus screens and an OM2 Spot Program with no lens and the current focus screen unclipped from the camera

A great thing about the OM2 Spot Program and other single digit OM cameras is the ability to fairly easily switch focus screens. Different lenses and scenarios work better with different screens and the ability to change really increases the versatility of the camera. For example, for general use I tend to use a split centre with microprism focus screen to give me 3 ways to focus, but with a telephoto (especially with teleconverters) the split centre goes black due to the low light levels. At that point, I have the option to switch to a microprism only or ground glass screen to make it easier to focus.

All in all, a fantastic camera with a solid design, accurate light meter and a wide selection of lenses and attachments which if in good condition will be a fantastic addition to any vintage camera collection.

[laugardagur]

the redline

[nickjosephphoto]

[brushie-photo]

[vsjogren]

[nanananokaxxx]

[neilkesterson]

Golden Spiral by Neil Kesterson Via Flickr: Cove Spring Park, Frankfort, KY Olympus OM-4, Ilford FP4+, HC110 1+63

[mysteriouscam]

House of Non-Judgment

West Virginia, late last year OM4t On Flickr © Eben Ostby March 31, 2022 at 01:50PM. All rights reserved

[ultralowoxygen]

2023_064 Kodacolor 200 by Rubén Blanco Via Flickr: Kodacolor 200 Olympus OM4t Revelado y escaneado en Carmencita Film Lab