superb metering, titanium - light weight but VERY strong, full synchro flash (with F280), optics to rival some of the best in the world, top handling for people with small hands! (you can adjust almost everything with the camera at your eye)

no new system backup/support from manufacturer, only 1 shutter curtain, so rear-synch impossible (!!!)

An absolutely outstanding camera - a classic of its era that can still hold its own in terms of quality against the best cameras around. Handling may be a little slower than the conventional crop of lickety split AF machines for certain subject matter, but the stunning lenses and pinpoint-accurate metering encourage consideration and patient shooting. Referred to by some as "the Japanese Leica" and rightly so. Quirky, yet addictive and reliable - one of the best manual focus 35mm SLRs ever made.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

OM 2-SP, OM10, Canon EOS 100, EOS 5

very well made; small and relatively light; relatively quiet; full system camera; excellent optics; easy to use; very fine metering capabilities

as a new camera, probably too expensive for what you get; good in its day, but flash system now pretty clunky compared to modern TTL systems; lack of interchangeable prisms, if you need/are into that; lack of aperture info in viewfinder

My first camera some 20 years ago was an OM1. I've owned most of the line, the exception being the OM3.

When I go by car, don't have to walk far, have help, am not carrying much of any other sort of load, or have specific photographic requirements, I take the Nikon.

But when I do serious hiking and have my 2.5 yr old daughter on my back, I look to save weight. Those times, or even when I'm just walking around the park on a weekend and don't want to be too burdened, I turn the OM4. You only have to look at the size of the bag the OM4 fits in vs. a modern Nikon SLR -- much less pick it up -- to understand what I am talking about.

In their day, the OM's really competed with Canon and Nikon as pro SLRs. They offered some real advantages, the most important of which was their small size and matching optics. But they were -- and are -- full system cameras. They're quiet, too. The metering is superb: the multi-spot metering is a fantastic feature (I wish my Nikons did it). I, for one, like have the shutter speed selector on the lens barrel. Optics are terrific, even though they haven't been updated in some time; some of my best shots have been with this camera. It is easy to use

However, they are now asking $1,100 or $1,200 for this camera. When you consider that this is the same price as the F100 or the Eos 3, you realize that as a new camera, it is overpriced. What's more, the system is constantly plagued by rumors that Olympus is going to dump it. It is certainly true that new products seem to come rarely, and when they do, they are very expensive. Flash photography certainly seems clunky compared to modern cameras, which make fill-flash and multi-flash photography easy.

If you have a specific need for a manual focus camera, or for a small light weight SLR, I couldn't recommend one more highly than this. You will never regret owning it; but try to buy it used, rather than new, to match price to value.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM1
Olympus OM2n
Olympus OM2s
various Nikon pro AF SLRs

Wonderful strong build -light & small (ideal for the traveller requiring high quality). Excellent metering &, of course that multi-spot feature - very accurate.

Perhaps a little dated by today's standard with regard to seperate flash. No major problems.
OM system downgrade by Olympus nowadays.

Expensive - but what you pay for you get.
Would I have bought it today? (I have had this one 10 years or so) maybe, but would be tempted to compare other available cameras with up-to-date systems. I've been very pleased with the camera & can always rely on it to "deliver". I'm also disappointed by Olympus' turn away from The OM System in general.
To sum up...you get the quality you pay for -Titanium body etc., it is expensive but I'm keeping mine until it dies (or I do!) & I feel that is a good way off yet. Very reliable.

Customer Service

Excellent - Hong Kong & UK tried - Olympus recently supplied me with a complimentary hot-shoe for the camera after enquiry by E-mail (2 days!).

Similar Products Used:

Canon A1, Olympus OM system (various), Minolta 700Si.

Small size, FP Flash Sync, Durability, Ease of Use,Metering System

Olympus has cut back on it's support of the OM System

Quite Simply the GREATEST Manual focus Camera Body in the World and well worth the price of admission !!!!!!!!!!

Customer Service

It was very good 15 years ago, but I haven't needed them since

Similar Products Used:

All of the Pro Cameras out there

small and light compared to latest AF SLRs. After so many years, still the best metering system ever devised for the discriminating landscape photographer.

No AF (this has become more of a problem for me over the years; I use my Nikon N90 for parties and people shots).

Although I now use a Nikon N90 for people shots, parties, etc., where quick focusing is essential, this is still the system I take out when I go looking for shots of fall foliage, landscapes, "grab" shots on city streets. Its size is a factor: an OM4T with prime lens attached weighs a lot less than my Nikon, and that really adds up after a few hours. I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer who said that no matter how many other cameras you acquire, this is one you'll never sell. By the way, I've found the 280 flash is very good for fill flash.

Customer Service

It's been a few years, but I found Olympus very helpful.

Similar Products Used:

OM2S; Nikon FM2N; Nikon N6006 and N90.

Rugged body. VERY good metering system. Quiet. Feels very strong. I´m talking about OM4 only. The "ti" version is stupidly priced, in my opinion..

You must know what You are doing when You use the spot meter...

Asilky smooth camera with absolutelu highest performance in the metering system. For You that don´t use flash that often and know how to handle a spot meter, this will probably be "the" camera for You. It is for me...

Customer Service

Have not used it...

Similar Products Used:

Minolta x700, Nikon FE, FM, F501, F2, Canon AE1, EF , Pentax LX and more...

Small, rugged, easy to use.

A system that is dwindling... Olympus is putting its efforts elsewhere.

The OM series cameras brought a wave of lightweight cameras to the world. These cameras are very rugged, the lens series has some real gems, and the metering system still has some superior features to anything currently made. Unfortunately, Olympus has taken other directions for its product development. I recently changed over to Nikon, but I find myself wistful at times for the small SLRs that could go anywhere without feeling like an albatross around your neck. If you have the resources to own a classic, the OM-4T can still be found brand new... but not for long, I'm afraid. Olympus let the price float way up on the OM-4T and OM-3T, so I'm hitting the camera with a middle value rating.

Customer Service

Olympus would not service my OM-2n. They only service the current T body cameras anymore.

Similar Products Used:

OM-1, OM-2, OM-2n

Tough compact body. Excellent light meter. Long exposures for nights and dim light, up to four minutes, apparently Nikons and Canon only have a maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds. Excellent lenses, especially the 35/80 f2.8. Mirror locks up if you use self timer several seconds before shutter opens. Good used ones available for $ 450-500.

Hard to use in dim light. You need a flashlight to see seetings. Even in daylight I have a hard time reading the ASA dial, and it is not difficult to change the ASA setting when using the exposure compensation dial. Viewfinder light and highlight/shadow buttons hard to use when a winder is attached. Put a winder and the f2.8 35-80 lens on and you no longer have a lightweight - it then weighs as much as a F100 with comparable lens.
The T-32 is a more flexible flash than the f280.

Excellent camera - too bad Olympus has given up competing in the 35mm SLR arena.

Customer Service

They promptly repaired my OM-2 and winder when I dropped them. Parts for OM-2 and OM-1 aren't available.

Similar Products Used:

OM-1n
OM-2n

Multispot Metering
Long Exposure Time
Small
Rugged Body

Repaired it once after 10 years and it was because I dropped it on concrete real hard.

An article in Popular Photography basically said when it first came out that this was the most advanced camera ever made and that it was a standard for others to measure up. You know what? I agree. I've had mine well over 10 years and I still have not seen a metering system out there that can match it. The lenses are legendary and the only regret I have is that Olympus did not continue to improve on it. My advice to other OM4 owners: You can buy an F5, EOS3 or Maxxum 9 but never, ever, sell your OM4!! Those others are great cameras but the OM4 is one of those rare treasures you get once in a life time.

Customer Service

Never used it. I sent mine to a repair shop

Similar Products Used:

Canon T90
Canon F1
Olympus OM2
Konica T3

Small size/light weight, very high quality construction, extraordinarily versatile exposure metering, and excellent lens system.

Rare electronic circuit gremlins. On the other hand, one of mine has survived a sea-water dunking and still works perfectly.

Rugged, compact, and versatile camera well suited to the deliberate photographer, though lack of continuing development of the OM system by Olympus makes it a questionable option for the aspiring professional photographer. New bodies and accessories are quite expensive, but there is a thriving commerce in excellent quality used bodies and accessories at reasonable prices.

Customer Service

New parts availability is hit and miss. The OM line is no longer actively marketed.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS1n
Minolta XD-11
Nikon N90
Olympus OM2
Olympus OM1n