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[OM] Age and history

Subject: [OM] Age and history
From: wiliam.wagenaar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 12:10:01 +0200

Hello gang,

Here is my testimony. My current age is 35 years. I own a OM-1 + 50/1.8 since
1977 When I lived in Germany. Before that I photgraphed with an old Voigtlaender
vito-B from my father. He hasn't touched it since and I still have it as a
collectible. I was lead to the OM-1 by my neighbour wha was the only amateur
photographer my father and I knew at the time.

After the first roll of film I had to send the camera to Olympus Hamburg. The
meter needle did not move when I changed aperture. I had to let go of it for
allmost a month. What a pain! It was concluded that the lever on the lens could
not reach the connector in the body to transmit the aperture setting to the
body. I do not know anymore if this was caused by the lens or the body.

A Metz 40CT1 was added by santa that winter and I have used this combo
exclusively until 1979 when I had finally saved enough money (by mowing lawns
and working in a Tshirt-printing factory during summer) When I bought myself a
brand-new OM-2n black, I had been lusting for ever since I had the OM-1. I could
only manage the money because I still lived in Germany and my father was in the
military, so we could buy everything in the PX shop at low rates and without the
taxes. This saved abouth 500f the price back then. Thanks daddy for joining
the army. Shortly after that I bought a Vivitar 200/3.5 and a 3x! TC. I still
have both, but hardly ever use them anymore.

Since I have the OM-2n I only use the OM-1 when I need two bodies
simultaneously. 990f the time I use Auto OTF (which it was designed,
manufactured and bought for after all) When I want more control I usually use
the exporure compensation dial instead of the manual function. I really love the
OM-2n. It has never left me down, not even after several drops out of my hands
and travels to cold and hot places (Winter '79 in Germany at -35 C and Persian
Gulf '82-'83 with temperatures close to 50C at some times. Even in the engine
room of the ship I was sailing on at that time with temperatures of up to 70C it
allway worked as it should.

My love for the OM-2n even grev after buying a T32 in '82 before I went out to
sea. I have visited the American east-coast the persian gulf and the
mediteranean area several times during that year. In Dubay I bought a 24/2.8 tax
free again. From then until the mid-90's I did not use the camera to much, but
then I wanted to do some more with photography again and joined a local
photoclub. I have seen the camera's of all club members, including some
"wonderbricks" but still feel I should stay with the OM's, especially since I
have added even more lenses, flashes and other accesories. I just think there is
nothing to the feel of the OM's. Everything is located at the right place and
they don't contain anything that is not needed.

Since adding an auto-bellows and 90mm(Tamron, because Zuiko was not available at
comparable price) I have come to appreciate macro photographing as you may have
seen om the gallery. I also like to shoot know object from different angles or
in different lighting and composing "difficult shot's"

Would I like AF? sure, when photographing my kid's! Or when I eventually will
shoot Formula-1 (as long as entry fees for the events are over $100,- I will
spend the money on OM stuff instead!
Would I like EA with multi-segments? Why?
Would I need programmed AE with protrait, landscape, sport and macro options?
No, that is only for the ones that don't know anything about apertures and
shutterspeeds!
Would I like built in motordrive? No, attaching the winder when needed is just
fine!
Would I switch to Nikon or Canon? Ever comapared the super wideangles of OM with
either? then you know!
I really like Windows-like operating systems for PC's but not on my camera.
Another reason not to switch to wonderbricks!

I really think it's for 90% the photographer and circumstances that makes the
picture and only 10% the camera(system), but in many cases the system can
support you in making some of the best shots. I feel thet the OM's do just that
without adding any fuss to woory about.

My thoughts only and you are free to disagree. Now I will prepare myself to take
a shot at the full moon tonight (and see if it comes down) with different lenses
and TC's. I want to know how they perform before I will shoot the eclips later
this summer.

OM and Zuiko Forever!
Wiliam



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