"...The OM-1 has re-defined a new standard for SLR back in the '70. It created the "compact SLR" concept and changed the course of 35mm SLR development. Despite its ultra compact physical dimensions, it has proven its ability to withstand the extremes of climactic conditions, and the battering by professional photographers on hazardous assignments. Part of the total Olympus OM System, the OM-1 enables you to capture life as it happens, from photomicrography to astrophotography, from photojournalism to portraiture. With its many system components, the OM-1 permits an infinite range of photographic capabilities ... a camera that grows as your needs expand..."
Read this FIRST: There can be many reasons why you are in this site. Regardless whether you are thinking of buying a OM-1 or have already owned one, to ensure you get optimum results from your camera, carefully study this manual. Contents appearing in this site are based on an OM-1MD, thus, some sections in this site may not apply to certain earlier models. However, most of them are just confine to ways of attaching or enabling using of certain system accessories. IF you are not certain which exact OM-1 model are you owning, download this Mini-FAQ (52k) : Credit: Maintained by R. Lee Hawkins & Michael Covington & also a group of dedicated Olympus users on the Net.
Tips: Unless you are very familiar with the OM system, it is always encouraged to | click open a new window | before you attempt to carry on reading these section of User's Manual. If you have problems understanding photographic terms used in this site: Refer to the Glossary of Photography section.
Basic Camera Operations
Mount the Lens.
The OM-1 camera is not available as new anymore. So, chances are high that your OM-1 camera could have come with a lens attached. If it doesn't, these two section are essential for a relatively new OM user. Unlike other camera which has lens release button to unlock the lens to enable detaching, OM bodies have quite a different way to detach a lens, because it would require pressing lens release button which is actually on the lens itself rather on the camera body.
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To mount a lens, grasp the lens firmly and align the red dots on the lens flange and the camera mount ring. Turn the lens clockwise until it locks in place.
The lens release button will spring up and you will hear a positive "click" when the lens has been fully engaged.
Caution: Do not apply pressure to the lens release button during the mounting procedure. This will assure proper coupling between the lens and the meter,
Detach the Lens. To detach the lens, press down on the lens release button and turn the lens counter-clockwise. Grasp the lens firmly and remove it from the camera body. The mounting and detaching process is easy and swift, although it may be a little too confusing to a non-OM user as there are a couple of button, manual shutter speed ring grips around. Anyway, with a little pratice, that should not be a problem and in fact, provide very logical operational ease and handling as your left hand is controlling the inner ring of shutter speed, a button for checking depth of field, the next ring with different texture and grip for focusing and the further ring of altering aperture values.
Caution: Protect your lens and camera. Always attach the front and rear lens caps when the lens is removed from the camera to prevent any possibility of damage. Never leave the camera body in direct sunlight with the lens removed. If you plan to store the camera without the lens, the use of a body cap is recommended. mountlens2.jpg
Inserting Battery(ies) The OLYMPUS OM-1 is a mechanical SLR camera. It will still operate even there is no battery(ies) installed inside the camera. The power is confined to power the metering circuit to guide the photographer on exposure information via the match needle display system. It is supplied with a 1.35V mercury battery (JIS H-D type) to power its through-the-lens exposure metering system. It will last approximately one year depending upon use and must be replaced with an Eveready (UCAR) EPX625, Mallory PX625 or equivalent. One of the primary problem with OM-1 is sourcing for replacement of batteries for the mercury cell it was designed to work with.
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Note: The exposure meter does not function when the battery is not loaded, is inserted incorrectly or is drained. If the exposure meter needle does not move, remove the battery and load it again, or replace with a new one.
The OM-1 has no energy saving feature and thus you must turn the meter off by sliding the mode selector switch to off position
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Warning: Olympus WARNS Alkaline battery cells such as (LR44, A76 etc.) may not be suitable to be used on Olympus OM-1.
Most Silver oxide batteries have voltage of 1.5v and may not fit well in the compartment. Alternative: try Wein lead-air button cells.
Some other issues relate to batteries
1.
When the batteries are drained, or there are none installed in the camera, or if it fails to function normally due to extreme change in temperature, unlike electronic SLR bodies, the mechanical OM-1 body will still operate normally EXCEPT the metering information inside the viewfinder will not be available.
2
Should the battery be left in the battery chamber for a long period, insufficient contact may occur due to battery leakage. Thus, it is good practice to periodically clean the battery and the contact section in the battery chamber with a soft cloth. If the battery chamber is contaminated with a leaking battery, remove the battery at once and clean the chamber. Before doing so, try to clean and removed any deposits remains inside, esp the clips housed inside the compartment and do a few test shots, but I would strongly suggest you to send for examination of the damage done.
3
For safety reasons at home. After removal of the cells, remember to keep them away from children. Never attempt to throw them to fire place, it may explode. In any case, the camera is not the cause for any mishap - only the carelessness of its owner. Mercury cells are generally regarded as not environmetal friendly and could cause pollution, handle with care or look for subsitutes.
4
Battery power falls off in extremely cold temperatures and this may cause the camera's photometric circuit to cease operating. In this situation, use new batteries and protect the camera body from the cold. Note that battery power will be recovered as soon as the temperature becomes normal.
5
Regardless of whether the camera is switched off or not, the OM-1 always discharges a small amount of electricity and it will drain the power easily if left unattended with the Mode Selector Lever set at "ON" position.
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Film Loading Unlike modern SLRs that would perform auto loading, film advancing and even Auto DX film Indexing, OM-1 would require you to manual do all these process to set p your camera properly to take pictures. The first step is , of cause, loading film roll into the camera. The process can't be more simple:
(1) Pull up on the rewind knob to open the camera back.
(2) Insert a film cartridge in the film chamber.
(3) Push the rewind knob back into its original position.
(4) Draw out the film leader and insert it into one of the slots in the film take-up spool. Make sure the film is aligned between the film guide pins.
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(5) Advance the film using the film advance lever. Make sure that the film perforations engage the sprockets on both sides.
Warning: When you pull across the film strip, please note undernealth the film is the shutter curtain, avoid pressing at that zone as indicated.
(6) Close the camera back until it clicks into place.
(7) After closing the cover, fold out the rewind crank and turn it slowly in a clockwise direction until a slight resistance is felt. This will take up any slack in the film.
(8) Turn the lever to the right as far as it will go. The film can be advanced by one frame in a single stroke or in multiple short strokes.
Note: The film will not advance after you've shot the last frame; DO NOT force the lever. Rewind the film.
Exposure/Frame Counter
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Each time the film is advanced by the film advance lever, the exposure counter automatically adds one frame to the total. The counter is indexed in even numbers from "S" (start) to 36 and "E" (end). Whenever the camera back is opened, the exposure counter automatically returns to "S".Counter.gif
Setting Film Speed (ASA/ISO) It may take a little while for a non-OM user get used to the location of the ASA/Film Speed setting. It is on top of the camera where usually shutter speed ring is located. It has a film speed dial locking button to prevent accidental shift of film speed setting. In order to change ASA/ISO film speed, first depress the button and turn. The film speed range is a fair ASA 25-1600 by modern standard but should be adequately sufficient for more than general use.
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(1) Press the film speed dial release button and turn the film speed dial until the ASA rating for the film being used is opposite the black line engraved on the outer ring of the shutter release button. (2) Release the button making sure that the dial clicks securely into place and does not move.
The Aperture Ring • Aperture Ring Another unusual setting of the OM system is the aperture ring, it is situated at the furthest of the extension of the lens. The amount of light allowed to strike the film is represented by "F" numbers (or "F" stops) engraved on the aperture ring.
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The higher the F number, the smaller the lens opening (less light).When setting the aperture ring you can use either the click-stop positions or any in-between setting to obtain precise exposure. Note: Almost all lenses in the OM SYSTEM provide fully automatic diaphragm control allowing you to focus and compose your picture with the lens "wide ope