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Re: [OM] A Love Story - 35 Year Anniversary with the OM-2S

Subject: Re: [OM] A Love Story - 35 Year Anniversary with the OM-2S
From: Ken Norton <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2021 17:24:07 -0900
> Please elaborate.  I bet I have heard some of the info but it is very nice to 
> review this. IIRC, it doesn't have the multi-spot metering, right?

The OM-2S is super slick when it comes to handling and mode controls
because of HOW it can used. Let me explain with a couple of examples:

1. Standard outdoor photography. Use the manual metering to establish
a base-line exposure. This can be achieved with the live spot metering
(as opposed to the OM-3/4 series which only has a fixed spot metering
when button pushed), or through "Sunny 16" exposure estimation. Let's
say my film speed is ISO 100, and my desired aperture is f11, then I
will manually set the shutter speed to 1/250. I now have a fixed
standard exposure to fall back on. Flip the lever to Auto and let the
camera take care of the shutter speed for my shooting. The exposure
should go up or down slightly depending on the framing and subject
being photographed. Just keep an eye on the exposure scale. If the
indicated shutter speed gets too far afield from 1/250, just flip the
lever back to manual, take your shot and flip it back to auto. Easy as
that. When the lighting starts to drop and the shutter speeds start to
get lower, just flip it to Program and the camera will open up wider
than your selected aperture (but never smaller) as necessary. Unlike
other branded cameras, the OM-2S allows Program mode to work with ANY
selected aperture. It will open up, but never close down. Again, as
lighting gets difficult, you can always take a manual spot meter
reading and lock the aperture/speed in and then flip back to the auto
or program mode.

2. There are two ways to "meter" the scene. In manual mode, the live
spot-meter is used with the match-needle display. Or just use the auto
mode to tell you what the camera thinks the shutter speed should be
using the center-weight averaging sensor. If it is showing 1/125, then
adjust your shutter speed to 1/125. Flip the lever to manual and it's
set. This works with all non-OM1 bodies, though.

3. Mixed mode lighting and event photography. I've been able to
achieve similar traits with other cameras, but not as slick as the
OM-2S. If I'm using ISO 400 or 800 film, auto mode, with the flash
turned off, I set the aperture so the shutter speed is reading 1/30 or
1/15. Turn the flash on and using OTF flash control, the camera/flash
will properly expose the subject, the shutter speed locks in at 1/60
and the background will stay nicely knocked down by enough to have the
subject stand out, but not so much to turn the scene into a coal mine.
Here is where things get fun. In most event photography, there are
almost always two different scenes being photographed at the same time
with different lighting. Use the manual mode to have an alternate
exposure dialed in with the shutter speed. Just turn the flash off,
flip to manual, shoot, flip back, turn flash back on. Or just leave
flash on and use manual as the alternative setting. Easy as can be.

4. The left-side exposure/metering scale is so much better than the
bottom scale on the OM-3/4 bodies. The eye is able to sense position
of the exposure without actually needing to look at it. The bottom
scale position is in a blind spot where we have to look away from the
focus screen to "read" it. One you have to read, the other you sense.

5. Live spot metering mode. It's multi-spot metering without having to
push any buttons.

AG Schnozz
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