Olympus OM-2

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Olympus OM-2 SP

The Olympus OM-2 was a single-lens reflex camera produced by Olympus of Japan.

The Olympus OM-2 was a fully automatic camera based on the successful OM-1 body. When it was introduced it added the convenience of automatic exposure to what was already acknowledged as one of the quietest and lightest SLR cameras on the market. All of the OM-1 accessories and lenses fitted without modification, offering a robust photographic system which could be carried easily. Although outstandingly good it didn't have the same recognition as Nikon or Pentax and some professionals considered the lenses inferior. Exposure timing was outstandingly accurate thanks to the twin "blue cell" mechanism which measured light reflected off a curiously-patterned surface on the lens side of the shutter blind. Fine-tuning of the exposure was calculated from light reflected off the film surface during the actual exposure. The camera also offered a manual light-meter mode, as in the OM-1, for those who thought they could do better than the electronics or who wanted special effects.

The camera can stand the test of time and is both excellent quality and good value. One potential failing of the OM-2, which the OM-1 also shared, was a weakening over time of the spring mechanism which closed the lens aperture to the pre-set stop during exposure. If the aperture didn't close, the camera jammed and the lens had to be removed to 'complete' the exposure cycle and reset the mechanism. Older or larger multi-component lenses and loss of lubricant probably exacerbated this problem.

Another common failure is the camera locking up with the mirror halfway down. This is usually caused by trying to fire the shutter with dead batteries. To correct the problem, install fresh batteries, then set the shutter speed control to the B position. This will release the mirror and allow further operation.

The motor-winder attachment was also a disappointment, doubling the weight of the camera and being slow and unreliable. Fitting the motor-winder required removal of a dust-cap over a gear in the base and it was possible to lock the camera up completely if it came loose. Battery life of the winder was unpredicatable, often dying in mid-sequence.

A nice feature of the OM-2 was the integration of the two available electronic flash guns into the exposure system. The camera set the duration and intensity of the flash prior to exposure using its inbuilt sensors and then measured the light reflected from the film during exposure to calculate the exact exposure time. This ensured excellent, although rather standardised, results under difficult conditions. the cameras come in silver and black.