Introduction

The Olympus OM-System was conceived by legendary camera designer Yoshihisa Maitani to be the most compact professional SLR-system capable of capturing everything from “space to bacteria”.

The OM-1 was the first model of the series - intended to lure professional photographers and amateurs into the OM-System.

Review

Some key specifications:

35mm SLR introduced in 1972
OM-mount
mechanical shutter with speeds from 1s to 1/1000 and bulb
Exposure mode: Manual
Center-weighted TTL exposure metering (battery operated)
Flash sync speed 1/60

Build Quality and Design

Design-wise I would compare the OM-1 with a Leica M6. Both cameras are condensed professional film cameras. No extra functions are included and the design language is minimalistic. Clear lines and edges define both cameras.

While the OM-1 is certainly a very well made camera, some functions feel a little less refined than they do in a Leica M6 (e.g. the cocking lever). Compared to a Nikon FM2N, the OM-1 is definitely more “premium” with its fully metal exterior.

Viewfinder and Focusing Screen

The Olympus OM-1 viewfinder provides a coverage of about 97% with a magnification of about 0.92.

The viewfinder image is bright and the focusing screen is of high quality for the time. Compared to a modern Olympus OM-3Ti (type 2-13) or a Nikon FM3A (type K3), the OM-1 viewing experience is a little bit dimmer.

The controls displayed through the viewfinder are minimalistic. Only a small match needle on the left is visible. While providing a very “Leica-esque” experience, it lacks the information a Nikon F3 or similar cameras would provide (shutter speed, aperture).

User Experience

Again, I am inclined to draw a comparison with the Leica M6. Both cameras are capable professional tools, but are made for a specific type of photographer: A photographer who is not necessarily interested in the most convenient tool for the job, but wants to make a statement with his camera. A minimalist statement.

The control concept of the OM-system shows this philosophy very well. The shutter speed is controlled with an easy-to-reach control ring at the base of the lens mount, while the aperture control ring is located on the front of the OM-lenses. Rotating the aperture ring to the left closes the aperture, while rotating the shutter speed dial to the right increases the exposure time. Small details like this show the well thought-out design.

Other than these controls there is also a mechanically operated self-timer switch on the front and a mirror lock-up switch to the right of the lens mount. A lever on the top left turns on the battery-operated center-weighted meter, which is of course not needed to operate the fully mechanical OM-1.

A photographer can check all settings with a simple glance at the Olympus OM-1’s top plate

Reliability and Known Issues

There are obviously no newly produced parts available for the OM-1 series. Fortunately, the mechanical design is of very high quality and should not fail unless used excessively or inappropriately.

A relatively unknown issue is prism damage, which is often mistaken for dust in the finder. Small foam pieces were used to provide some sort of padding between the prism and the metal housing. The original foam pads are degrading and through the degradation process, the prism is damaged irreparably. However, the issue can be spotted easily when looking through the viewfinder. Black spots that look like dust and do not disappear when cleaning the mirror box and focusing screen stem from such a damaged prism. Only an undamaged prism from a donor camera can help. If the damage is not excessive, a simple replacement of the degraded foam by an expert repairman will at least stop further damage to the prism.

Another thing is that the OM-1 meter needs a 1.35V battery (PX625/PX13) to operate accurately. An expert repairman can convert the camera to use an inexpensive 1.5V LR44 instead. Note that some cameras were converted by Olympus already.

In any case, I highly recommend sending a newly bought Olympus OM-1 to an expert if the previous owner cannot specify when the camera was serviced last time or whether the foam pads around the prism were replaced or not.

Consider the Germany-based Olympus OM-expert Gordon Friedrich: OM-Labor

Conclusion

The Olympus OM-1 is the quintessential SLR.

Its design screams “classic” and the way it is operated is inspiring for the photographer.

If you desire to gain access to the excellent range of Olympus Zuiko lenses, the OM-1 is a very solid choice.

Olympus OM-1