Film advance, rewind, exposure, and focus may be done manually using the Olympus film camera, a 35mm film SLR camera made by the company. It is designed to be mechanical, except for the light meter, which works fine without it. The camera bodies and Zuiko lenses are made in Japan and built to a high standard.

Introducing OM1

The OM1 was first introduced 1972 as the M-1, but it was not a rangefinder. It is small for a 35mm film SLR, not quite Leica dimensions, but it is about as small as making an SLR camera with a mirror inside it. Constructed primarily out of metal, the body can take some knocks, but it also means that it is pretty heavy for its compact dimensions.

Functioning

Functions on the OM1 include an aperture ring mounted at the end of the lens just behind the filter thread, a camera shutter speed selector, and an inbuilt light meter that can be adjusted for ASA 25–1600 film. The camera accepts a traditional shutter release cable, an inbuilt shutter timer, a mirror lock-up, a Flash PC sync socket, and a hotshot mount.

The viewfinder is big, bright, and beautiful, with 97% coverage. Focusing is carried out through a split image concentrating zone in the centre of the viewfinder. Zuiko lenses have a nice feel and focus smoothly and efficiently without excessive or too little rotation on the focusing ring. Even the used 35mm film camera of Olympus still stands out because of these features. The motor drive version of the OM1 accepts the Motor Drive accessory, but it makes the package much bulkier.

Lenses available for the OM system are pretty good quality, accepting the limitations of film. The Zuiko lenses are exceptionally compact for their performance, with the 50mm F1.8, 28mm F2.8, and 35mm f2.8 being reasonably priced and compact lenses compared to modern glass. The lenses have the depth of field indicated just behind the focusing ring.

The lenses are all manual focus with the aperture adjustment on the end of the metal body. They are pleasing to use with a nicely balanced composition. The OM1 is an excellent choice for those looking to experiment with film photography and enjoy the simplicity and beauty of the camera.