Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

By Julian Tanase

29 July, 2024

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SLRs

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Olympus OM2 Olympus SLR SLR Camera

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As with most of my short reviews of cameras that I own or have owned in the past, I am going to discuss here how I personally see and understand this Olympus OM2n. Of course, the OM2n is not the most complicated camera, nor the most advanced there is, but it is a bit different from the, say, OM1 or OM10. What I am not going to talk about here is the technicalities and functions and whatnot of this beautiful piece of engineering by Maitani.

From starters I’m going to say that I am primarily a user of manual cameras, that is the reason I love so much to shoot with my classic Nikons, Nikkormats and Olympus, to name but a few (and of course, any manual focusing camera I have and own). My only “modern” cameras are a Nikon F4 and a Canon 300v, which I also enjoy using, but for different reasons. Generally speaking, I mostly like to use manual focusing cameras, working the photograph, trying to get the best out of a certain film, light, situation or indeed processing thereof. Sometimes I succeed, many times not so much, but is all about the journey, right?

If size is a deal maker or breaker for you, then you will be satisfied with the size of OM2n; small in comparison with say, Nikkormat or Canon, or even with the Nikon FM3a (though, in this case, not by much). It is a compact SLR, the size of which (when appeared in 1979, took the world by storm. Suddenly every camera maker wanted to downsize their product and follow suit. Some did, some not, but that is history.

What I like most about this camera is that it has the best of both worlds: manual and aperture priority: both engaged by just flicking a switch. I also appreciate the change of meter scale type when switching between the two modes: manual mode shows a +/- type of meter scale, while the aperture priority presents a classic scale in the viewfinder. I am accustomed to both of these, and while I preferred a classic meter scale in the past, I do enjoy the plus/minus one because of the Nikkormats, who sports the same type of scale (at least my FT and FT3).

I find rather easy to access the exposure compensation dial, although if I use my Nikon FM3a too long, it takes me a while to get re-acquainted with the exp. comp. dial on OM2n. The options presented by this dial are generous, though not much different from those found on other similar cameras ( two up, two down, simple job). Other than that, I keep forgetting to switch the meter off, with this lever configuration. I am much more used to the OM1 style, where there are only 2 positions. But this is nothing big, and is not by any means a deterrent to use the OM2n.

The film winding lever seems to be a bit more “domesticated”, as in it is not so loud, as my other OM 1 (or OM10) are. Not annoyingly loud, but the grating sound of the lever on my OM1 is a bit loud-ish. I am not complaining…

The lens I have on this camera is one of the best I have, Zuiko ones I mean. Fast and clean, is a pleasure to use. Granted, it gets sharp starting with f4, no wonder here, but is good to have a 1.4 when low light situations appear.

As said, I do enjoy using the aperture and shutter rings in this style; once you have a habit of looking for both of the rings in the (almost) the same place, is easier to operate the said rings fast and accurate. Being schooled on the FT/FT3 Nikkormat cameras, I simply got into the habit, and now is like a second nature to me. I am not saying that one is better than the other, they’re just different tools for the same job.

So, is this Olympus OM2n a camera that bridge both of the manual/manual & automatic worlds of Olympus OM classics? Could be; in my opinion it does so, and in a very effective manner too. True, the OM2n is not a OM1, if only for the fact that the first needs batteries (and stops working without those – but has 1/90 shutter speed available in this case), whereas the latter doesn’t (well, it does but only for the meter, otherwise the camera will function without).

One more thing: I am always amazed at how good the metering system is, in these cameras. Two examples here, Agfa APX 100, with a yellow filter; although the sun was really harsh, the meter managed to take in the shadows correctly, while not blowing the highlights sky high.

I am yet to ruin a film in my OM cameras, to be honest, they are what Maitani promised: a tool for doing the job, without much fuss, bells and whistles. What do you think?

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About The Author

By Julian Tanase

I am a traveller, entrepreneur, author and amateur photographer. A long time user of classic cameras and film, attracted mostly to photojournalism. I try to instigate people to see rather than look.

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Comments

Paul Quellin on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Nicely detailed write up Julian, sort of detail that would be useful for anyone looking to buy one. This generation of Olympus cameras are nice looking machines too. I always thought they looked compact and smart back in the day. The Zuiko glass always delivers. I have recently sold some nice Olympus lenses I came across, but the only Olympus SLR in my care at the moment is an OM101 I am trying to sell for someone. There has been absolutely no interest in that, although the lens is actually really quite good. I shed my Trip 35, but I acquired an Olympus mju in very good condition and again these little things seem to be a testament to the engineering at Olympus.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Paul, appreciated! Olympus mju II is the first camera I gave my daughter, when she started in film photography. That camera is a joy to use!

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Bob Janes on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

I think the OM2n is a lovely camera. The viewfinder is lovely, although it lacks info about the aperture set (not easy to do with the aperture ring at the far end of the lens).
It is a shame they didn't include an exposure lock, but in general the camera is a joy to use.

I didn't know about the 1/90 manual option. I think if you use the camera without power, the mirror does stay locked up, so in practical terms you need to use it with a battery.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

True, an exposure lock feature would've been a nice touch. But Olympus is Olympus, so I cannot hold that against them :) . Thx, Bob !

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Roger on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Yes, these are very nice cameras. I have several OMs and, although I have been using other cameras, when I return to an OM, I sometimes wonder why I don't use them whenever I want to use film. When I decide to use an OM, I will probably go for an OM4 first, because spot metering can be useful, but almost everything I do with that could be done just as well with the OM2n. Was the OM2 not significant in being the first camera to have off-the-film metering (and having the black and white checkerboard pattern on the shutter curtain, designed to have the same reflectivity as film)? This means that, in auto mode, the actual exposure time, metered as the picture is being taken, may not be the time shown in the display. And the Zuiko lenses, including the 50/1.4, work well even on high-megapixel digital cameras.

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Bob Janes replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Agree about the lenses, I have access to a lovely 85/f2.0

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Well, I guess Maitani had to work with what was available at the time; and the 1-digit OM series enjoyed the top places in those years. Zuiko lenses are well known to deliver, true that. Thank you, Roger!

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Jeff T. on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Thanks for singing the praises of Olympus! The Olympus OM1 and OM2 series were beautiful, precision-made, compact cameras. Not as rugged as their Nikon and Canon counterparts, they are ergonomically superior and the Zuiko lenses hold their own. They are a pleasure to use when working properly, but given the same amount of previous use they’re more likely than Canon or Nikon bodies from the same era to need repair, especially to the meter. Yet many were gifts that saw little use, and if you find one of these you may be able to get by without even a CLA.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Yes, they do need repair and/or serious CLA every now and then. I guess I was fortunate in getting good condition cameras with no major need for repair, but I have had a couple that needed surgery or whatnot. Seals get broken, curtains need repair, this button or feature is not up to par, yes, these things happen esp. when a camera is that old. But what a joy to use them, and I am not talking only about OM series; this is valid for any classic camera, be that Olympus, Nikon, Canon or other brand. Thank you, Jeff!

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David Hill on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

I have a few Olympus cameras - OM4, OM2 and a couple of OM1s as well as a lovely 35RC. I do like the way they hold and feel, but the OMs are not reliable in my experience. I have not used the OM4 much, but the fact I had to send it straight back to the supplier when received is not encouraging. Twice I have gone on holiday with an OM1 only to have it break down. I do like using them, and the results they give, but only when a backup camera is available. I find Nikon, Leica and Canon are my most reliable ancient 35mm cameras.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Sorry to hear that, David. I know how disappointing can it be, to get a camera and discover it doesn't do the thing it's supposed to be doing. I have had my fair share of this, but not with any OM I have, fortunate I guess. True, I have purchased them when they were much younger, and therefore more reliable. Good care and a good CLA every now and then, I believe. Thank you !

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Russ Rosener on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

From the late 1980s and through the 1990s a couple of OM-1n cameras were my mainstays. Having used them in many parts of the world and in all kinds of weather I can say that Their unreliability is a myth. Equally true of the OM-2 and OM-2N.
The Olympus models to avoid are the later OM-2S and OM-4. These have a serious battery drain issue, even when they were new. The OM-2N does NOT have this problem and the two cameras are luckily quite different internally.

I recently returned to Olympus when I found a black OM-2N body in the junk bin at a local camera store. It had been well used and the shutter was locked up. Total cost was $10 US! I installed new batteries, and used the tiny magic "RESET" button located on the bottom left side of the lens housing. Voila! It has worked perfectly ever since.
Some interesting facts about the OM-2N:
The viewfinder shows nearly 100% of what the lens sees.
The camera will meter and fire even in the "OFF" position.
It was the first camera to use TTL flash metering. Works only with Olympus flashes but is VERY accurate outdoors for fill.
With hotshoe removed, the pentaprism is slim enough to allow a near Leica effect of seeing both the viewfinder and the live action simultaneously.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Russ, really appreciated! Indeed, the OM2 and 2n are that, and more. What a steal on that black OM2n, lucky lucky you !

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Roger replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Russ, You are right about the battery drain problem on the OM4. However it has to be qualified. The OM4Ti does not have the problem and I believe that some OM4's, which have had their circuit boards changed, don't have it either. The problem is that it is hard to tell which one you have without putting in batteries and seeing whether they drain). As for reliability, my first OM4 failed completely, I think because its circuit board failed, and I was told it was unrepairable.But so far, touch wood, my other OM's have all been reliable. Also, I believe the OM4's battery drain problem can be mitigated if not cured completely, by leaving it in one of the mechanical exposure settings (B or 1/60th - yes, it doe have those two settings, marked in red on the exposure dial) that can be used if the batteries fail), though I haven't tested this systematically. There is, of course, the problem that, whatever the camera, batteries do not last for ever.

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Simon E replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

With the switch in the "OFF" position the longest exposure it will attempt is 1/30 sec. I don't think it has a 1/90 sec option for when the batteries are dead; as mentioned previously the reflex mirror will lock in the raised position when there is insufficient battery power in the 2 SR44 button cells. I've had the pleasure of owning an OM-2n from new in 1983. It was my only camera for a long time, later supplemented with an OM-1n. it has seen less use due to the time pressures of various other commitments but in the last year or two I've resumed shooting B&W again (I've given up on slides and negs, for anything in colour). I've used some other 35mm SLRs (Nikon FM2n, Pentax ME Super, my OM-1ns, OM-10, OM-40 and an OM-4Ti) but the 2n is the model I am most comfortable with. I found its centre-weighted metering over-sensitive to sky tones when shooting landscapes and many of my earlier slide films (mostly Kodachrome 64) were underexposed. I eventually switched to manual exposure and an incident meter and now use a Gossen Lunasix 3s. The pentaprism exposure needle in mine is unreliable and will flick about so I never trust the reading but I know the OTF exposure metering is still accurate so sometimes switch to "Auto" if I'm working in unpredictable conditions.

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Gary Smith on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Looks about the same vintage as my Canon FTb (which I'm gearing up to shoot this week). I'd be curious if anyone would know off-hand the size/weight difference between these two (I can look it up). I'm also wondering about the difference between "G.Zuiko" and "M.Zuiko" - is the letter before Zuiko a series indicator?

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Gary Smith replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

FTb is 8mm wider and 10mm higher with an additional 230g in weight (body only).

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Duncan Waldron replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

At least up to G, the letter indicates the number of elements: D has 4, G has 7, etc. Don't know about the M though, unless it's a 13-element zoom.

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Jim C on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

I'm a forty plus year Olympus OM user; OM1n, OM2, OM2n, OM2s along with a dozen or so Zuiko lenses, two winders, two T32 flashes etc. I installed a small on/off switch on the 2s to solve the parasitic drain issue and have cannibalized non functional OM10 bodies for their prisms (the dreaded foam rot issue with vintage OM1/n, OM2/n bodies) and other odd parts. For my monies, the OM2/2n are my go to bodies.

I'm also a medium format user (Rolleiflex 6000 and 6006) but that addiction is best left for another day.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

You are fortunate because you can do your own repairs; me, I have two left hands. Glad you sorted out the drain issue!

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CP93 on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

The OM2n was my main camera for years. Can't beat it.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

True that!

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Rich on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

I recently acquired 2 OM2n’s from my local camera store for a steal because they weren’t tested so sold as junk. Thankfully I got both to work. I gave one to a friend and kept the other for myself. I absolutely loved shooting with it and can’t wait to put more rolls through it. I also use the 50mm 1.4 as well as the 35mm 2.8 which is also fantastic.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Thank you, Rich; indeed, getting such a bargain is something to be glad about. Good luck with your photography !

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John haggerty on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

l have used om single no cameras for years and takes thousands of pictures.the om10 was a cheaper version with a fixed hot shoe and no manual metering without an adapter..l was disappointed with the Om 4 found the viewfinder dim and difficult to view the meter readings.also mine ate batteries compared with the other om's.the spot metering could be useful but compensating with the more easy to use 1 and 2 Om's could satisfy most.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

John, thanks. Never owned a 4, so I wouldn't know. I have heard it's a great camera, though. The OM10 (bought in the early 90s and now gifted to my daughter) is still going strong, despite the somehow simpler build. But is a wonderful camera, especially if a manual adapter is put on the camera. The meter is excellent, in my experience.

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John haggerty on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

love the om2n have had a few Om's the om4 was a disappointment dim view finder and ate batteries couldn't get used to the layout even though it was a more advanced camera with a faster speed spot metering and high and low features.l think it had a 60 second emergency feature when the batteries packed up

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 29/07/2024

Thanks, John, appreciated!

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Doug Ray on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 31/07/2024

Still own OM2n game changer then, even tho' dedicated to Sony mirrorless at that outset fir similar reasons of size, practicality, performance. Magic moments with Zuiko f2 20mm rectilinear lens.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 31/07/2024

Magic moments they are indeed. Hopefully, your OM2n will see some film through it soon :)

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John Greene on Olympus OM2n – Best of Both Worlds?

Comment posted: 16/09/2024

Over the years I have owned an OM1 2 3 4 and 10. The OM1 being my first SLR back in 1976. I’m back into collecting film cameras (seven to date) with the OM2 next on the wish list closely followed by a Canon A1.

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Julian Tanase replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2024

May your wish come true, as they say, John !

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