At 11:48 AM 4/15/1998 -0700, you wrote:
>Thanks to all who participated in my survey concerning the OM-2 versus the
>OM-2SP. Without taking an official tally, it appears that the majority of
>the OM-2SP list owners who responded are generally satisfied. I've decided
>to take the plunge ...
snip
John,
Glad to hear it, John. I recently purchased the 2SP to accompany my OM-1. I
had the choice of an OM-2 and OM-2SP when I purchased mine. I almost went
for the comparative Spartan simplicity of the OM-2 but the shutter locked up
in the camera shop as I was giving it a workout. (Turns out they were
powering with lithiums; a couple 357s might have straightened everything out.)
I had just joined the list about that time and got ENORMOUS help from other
members. What a comfort! And the superb FAQ. It's almost worth buying
Oly's just to be able to join.
My Olys mirror my other system, Nikon FM2 and FE2. I fancied myself a macho
manual kinda guy and purchased the FE2 from my brother-in-law on a whim. I
wish cameras had just stopped at that stage. Manual or aperture priority.
Who really needs anything else? (A rhetorical question, not trying to start
a thread!) The OM-2SP seemed to give me all the same stuff as my FE2.
And then some. I still have not shot a single exposure in program mode.
Maybe I'll give it a try at my son's next soccor game. But the spot metering
is a terrific feature, and even that bane of my existence when I forget to
turn it off -- the self-timer -- is marvelous for long exposures on the
tripod. Much more sophisticated and useful than the Nikon self-timer
(although you can make Nikon's last a shorter duration). But you do have to
remember to turn it off! And you can actually use the exposure compensation
dial on the OM-2SP. The FE2 has one, but I just switch to manual and bracket
with the aperture ring. Trust me; it's the only way.
Someone, perhaps it was you, said the OM-2SP seemed to have a cheaper or
flimsier feel than the OM-1. Hmmm. Compared to Nikons it has a miniature
feel to me. I can't say I believe that it feels any different from the
OM-1. Absolutely wonderful with a winder. It has the feel of a precision
instrument for me. After I really got to know the camera pretty well, I
would occasionally pick it up just to hold it. I actually got out of bed
once and picked it up, sorely eager for the coming light.
There has to be a certain amount of concern about the circuits -- their lack
of availability, and perhaps more importantly, the significant expense of
repair. I was getting a little depressed about this as various people
indicated that the 2's and 4's were a fraught with risk, so I started a
thread asking how peoples' Oly's have died through the years. I don't
remember anyone saying the circuits just gave up. The impression I got is
that they are rather rugged cameras. They die good deaths. People drop
them from high places or into great bodies of water. One OM-4Ti survived a
point-blank pistol shot (his owner too). I'll take my chances.
So, ride on, John. Welcome to the OM-2SP club. Good shooting, bro.
Joel
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