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The OM 1/2/3/4 are much better.
Care to elaborate?
I have not worked with them much to be honest - to me they were just somewhat fiddly to use.
Also they tend to be more expensive on the used market and tend to have more 'issues'.
salad-
Sounds about right, it’s costing me the best part of £350 to fix my OM4 Ti, purely because replacing 30 year old electronics is pretty difficult these days
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In short the single digit OMs were all part of a camera system. They’re basically modular, so everything from focusing screens to film-doors are interchange. Being a ‘professional’ system they’re relatively feature rich and durable.
They’re all tiny / unconventional but very smartly designed: shutter speed ring is on the body by the lens, the lens-release is on the lens (impossible to drop) etc.
Differences between the single digit OMs are well documented online but basically they start mechanical with matchneedle metering and gain reflective metering accurate over insanely long durations (OM2n) and then it just gets more sophisticated with zone and spot metering (and auto) options from there.
Problems;
OM1s will have had their the foam around their prism degrade by now. It’s not hard to open the camera and clean this off, but if left uncleaned it stains the prism, darkening the view through the finder. They are also designed for old zinc batteries. It is possible to get the meter recalibrated or there are easy workarounds you’re probably familiar with already.
OM2s had an issue with battery drain. This was fixed at some point during production. The info is out there as to serials etc.I think an OM1n (overhauled), OM2n (with the later circuits), OM3, OM4, OM4ti are all great.
The 3 and the 4ti are collectible so the prices are high.I have two black OM1n bodies, a 28mm f3.5 and 85mm f2 for occasions were I know I’ll get some static portraits. It’s easy to pack/carry and I’m unlikely to want anything more.
TooTallTim
miro_o
Just a couple of thoughts Jack;
The OM 1/2/3/4 are much better. Sadly they will cost more and do have a couple of issues relating to battery life/type and prism foam.
If you're on a tight budget but still want a great camera I'd have a read, and look for Konica, Minolta, Yashica bodies. You can still these on the ffordes or LCE websites sometimes.
Some of the motor driven, plastic Nikons like the N90(?) are cheap and supposed to be ok but I've not used them. The Nikon EM is another one to look for and a really nice camera.