What it does it does perfectly.

Has no ''convenience'' features; batteries for its meter are no longer available, but there are ways round that (see other reviews).

Olympus cameras really are photography’s best-kept secrets. If any camera should win the accolade of ‘camera of the century’, it should be the Olympus OM1. It cannot be over-emphasised just how much this camera radically transformed professional SLR’s in the early 1970’s, and how its small, light, precise design made everyone else go back to their drawing-boards. It’s also very, very reliable (look how many there are about: the oldest ones are nearly 30 years old!), with a superb range of (admittedly, mainly used) optics. Metering is basic compared with today’s multi-segment, honeycombed jobbies, but when you get to know through experience how the camera will react to various lighting situations, you’ll subconsciously compensate for its shortcomings. It’s a small, indestructible, all-mechanical, all-manual masterpiece that won’t let you down. What possibly more do you REALLY need from a camera? Anything that this camera hasn’t got can really just be classed as a conveniece feature; okay, some features are very handy (like AE and AF), but they’re still only convenience features. This camera has just the bare essentials; if it were a Hi-Fi amplifier, it would have an power-switch, an input for your CD player, output for your speakers and a volume control, but the sound would be unbeatable. Surely nothing else matters?

Customer Service

You mean they sometimes break?

Similar Products Used:

OM10; OM4Ti (see my review of it on this site)

Has never failed me in the 20 plus years that I had it! Mechanical wonder that is small in size yet has all the controls in the right place. Extremely bright viewfinder.

The PX625 battery is a rare mercury type nowadays because of environment unfriendly issues. But, there''s an adapter available to use SR44/S76 battery. The adapter steps down the voltage to the required 1.35 volts. Don''t use the alkaline LR44/A76 battery.a

An excellent all-mechanical manual camera with mirror lock-up capability, change of focusing screens. Motor drive/winder capibility. The battery is only required to give a meter reading.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM-40, Nikon FM, Nikkormat EL, Minolta 7000 and 9000 (early autofocus SLRs)

compact size for easy handling, ergonomic controls, quiet shutter, quality mechanical construction, large bright viewfinder.

with smaller lenses the The handling between the shutter ring and apeture and focus got a bit fiddly on small lenses.

One of the all time classics! The only other camera I feel as much affection for is the similar Nikon FM/2. A true photographer's camera as opposed to a point & shoot. The zuiko lenses, especially the 50mm f1.4 is one of the sharpest ever. I regret selling it and being seduced by the hype of the AF generation.

Customer Service

Never had to get fixed - even after contact with rain and snow , dropping it on the run from an angry subject. Small but tough!

Similar Products Used:

had 3 Om-1's, OM-10, OM-2, canon eos500, nikon fm2, pentax spotmatic II.

A simple, compact, clean mechanical design without any gimmicks. Construction is solid, but the camera is still relatively lightweight. This camera is reliable (I have one that I have used for over 20 years with no breakdowns) and has excellent lenses. Everything but the light meter will work without batteries. Clean used ones are still available at relatively low prices. I think the shutter speed ring is actually easier to use than a top-mounted knob, once you get used to it.

The main weakness is that it's not made anymore, and its replacement (the OM-3) is outrageously expensive. Some parts are getting hard to find (like the motor drive socket caps), and the mercury batteries it was designed to use are no longer available. The battery problem can be solved by having it converted by a repairman or using an adapter for 1.5v silver cells. Olympus seems to have lost interest in the OM line in favor of P&S and digital cameras. Don't expect them to introduce new lenses and accessories.

The detachable hot shoe design is awful. The plastic base cracks even with normal use. I just leave it off the camera most of the time. New ones can still be bought, though.

If you like to make your own decisions about exposure and focus, and want a solid, mostly metal camera, but like to travel light, then this camera is hard to beat. You have to be willing to buy used equipment, though. A new version would be nice, but considering Olympus' recent history (like the "film is dead" ads promoting digital cameras), I'm not holding my breath.

Customer Service

I have limited interaction with them. They do send manuals free of charge, though.

Similar Products Used:

None

Timeless design; mirror lock-up and depth-of-field preview; interchangeable focusing screens; compact zooms and macro lenses available at good prices

Unconventional shutter speed dial; lack of spot metering; batteries

When Maitani engineered the OM-1, he created the SLR equivalent of the Leica rangefinder: an elegant, simple camera for the thinking photographer. It is still that. The OM-1 holds its own both mechanically and optically (though I would still rate the classic Topcon Super D and Konica Hexanon lenses as tops in these categories, respectively). And as a system camera, the OM-1 is probably the best ever made.

Customer Service

You'll probably never need it

Similar Products Used:

Many other manual SLRs

Small (I'd say, perfect) size. Easy to operate. BEAUTIFUL. Rugged. Silent. MLU. Great lenses; I mean, GREAT, both optically and mechanically.
A dream of a camera

None that I know

I dream of owning an OM1n with an updated light meter in it. But still the way it is it is one of the very best cameras I have tried.
What the hell were those Olympus gentlemen thinking (assuming they were thinking, in the first place) when they took such a camera out of their product line.
I think it was a mistake the same size as Canon's EOSs not taking their older fine lenses...
I'm sure serious photogs would more than welcome this beautiful old lady back in the market.
Who should buy it? Everybody who likes doing photography and enjoy it.

Customer Service

What for?

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2n, Minolta X-700, Leica R4, Leica M3, Canon T70, Nikon F-601, Yashica TLR

Nicest shutter I've ever used, best quality of construction I've ever seen, perfect size, great viewfinder. This camera is a mechanical masterpiece. Zuiko lenses are among the world's best: Zeiss, Leica, Nikkor, etc.

Hot shoe is too weak for large flashes, mercury batteries are required for accurate slides. Mercury batts are rare, and mods are expensive.

If you can find an OM1N in decent shape, go for it. Quality used optics are easy to find an cheap. You'll either need to find a source for mercury batteries or get the camera modified to accept new technology batteries. If you only shoot prints, don't worry about it; just use alkalines. Is 5 thumbs up all I can give?

Customer Service

N/A (it's never needed it!) just don't be stupid and drop it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2N, Olympus OM4, Nikon FM, Canaon FTb, Nikomat FT, Minolta SRT-101.

small,light,perfect camera.

Only wish Olympus was still making it

one of the best 35MM SLRs ever. There never has been and probably never will be a better quality camera built. The OM-1(n)doesn't have the fancy features of todays modern cameras but when you come right down to it, it has every feature needed to take great pictures. Zuiko lenses are also some of the best in the world.

Customer Service

no longer available from Oly but parts are readily available and qualified technicians are easy to find. Actually the cameras rarely need service.

Similar Products Used:

None

Exellent design, although it takes some getting used to. very reliable,high quality construction , with the winder 2 this camera is the most balanced camrea out there. light weight, rugged, very quiet, bright viewfinder, east to focus, interchangable screens, motor driven 250 exposure back makes it perfect for sports.

out of poduction

I started with a Minolta SRT 2000 camera,which was a great camera. After I started getting more involved , and knew alot more about what to look for in a camera, I set out to find the prefect camera for me. The om1n turned out to be the one. I know that even with all the bells and whisles on the modern cameras, if I had to do it over today I would still pick the om1n. This is really a jewel of a camera! My images are razor sharp.I once photographed a state capital that had a flag flying, the flag in the photo is about the size of a hole in an average shirt button. with a loop I can count the strips!!! Too bad that the ratings only go to "5" because this camera is definitely a "10"

Similar Products Used:

om2n

Small, light, pro quality.

None.

I honestly feel this is one of the greatest cameras ever made and will still "hold it's own" with any camera on the market today.

Customer Service

Although Olympus no longer services the OM-1 they will still answer any questions about the system and provide free service literature

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 220SL, Nikon FM, Olympus Stylus Epic