Absolute best metering system, compact,light, durable, fantastic macro system. 16mm, 18mm, 21mm, 28/2, 50/2, 100/2 & 180/2 are some of the best from anyone.

None, other than quite pricey now.

Durable, comnpact, best metering, and top lens.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

OM1, OM2, OM3, Pentax 645, Nikon RF.

small, light, strong, excellent metering

none

The OM4T is a little jewel. The multiple spot metering system is like having permanently engaged exposure lock - it gives you the control of manual with auto exposure convenience. The body is really tough, and the interior mechanism appears to be equally strong - my OM4 has taken bashes hard enough to dent the body and squash in one corner of the top plate, but it still works perfectly. A few criticisms - the lack of some form of viewfinder aparture display is a glaring omission, and the overall handling, while good, is a bit old-fashioned (it is an 80's camera, after all) - for example, operating the top plate shadow/highlight and spot buttons is awkward when a motordrive or winder is being used. It doesn't have the integrated handling of more modern cameras that have comparable metering, such as the later Nikons or Canons. Finally, the 1/60 sec flash sync is a drag. While the F280 flash gets around this, the F280 isn't a great flash for the money (low power, slow recycle, eats batteries, no head tilt) - it's sole selling point is the ability to give fast sync. Even a "conventional" 1/250 sync would be great.
I use fixed focal length Zuiko lenses - 28, 50, 100, 200. I love these.
In summary - the OM4 is a camera for those who like to spend a bit of time thinking about the pictures they are taking - it's a bit like a Saab - a rather quirkey design you either love or hate. I love it.

Customer Service

none required

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM-1n
Minolta SRT100X
Pentax ME Super

Lightness of body, lenses and related accessories, therefore excellent for field work (particularly hand-held nature photography), best metering available in any camera (OTF, multspot-metering,precisely metered multiple flash control, easily changed focusing screen (essential for 1:1+ macrophotography), excellent lenses, ergonomic, etc.

Manual focus, the ingenious metering technology has unfortunately not been followed up in newer models (except in the relatively new manual OM3). Servicing is becoming a problem due to lack of parts. 'New' bodies are now X3 more expensive compared to when they first came out over 10 years ago.

From my experience the camera and some of the lenses still have no equivalent, particularly for nature photography. But as Olympus has not made itself clear as to wether the production of the OM range will continue, it would be unfair to recommend this camera to 'novices'. Most of us 'veterans' are using camera bodies some 10 years old. They are taking it - but until when?

Customer Service

OK but take a long time, problems with parts

Similar Products Used:

OM1, OM2, OM3

lightweight, spotmeter, memory, mechanical shutter in case of batt failure.

fiddly selftimer, paint, hotshoe, sync/topspeed, battery consumption

The Fujica was fun for starters but was a disaster in the electronics department. Then I saved money to get me an OM-4. Superb metering, if you know what you are doing. But the lack of highsyncspeed led me to the OM-4ti with the f280 flash. Great combo for sports. Too bad it has a mind of it's own. It tends to overexpose (use the compensationdial), but then again it sometimes underexpose when you think you outsmarted the meter. A manual override on the flash in conjunction with the spotmeter on the camera would be perfect. That's why I kept the OM-4 with a T32 next to my Ti/280 combo for a while. My main lenses are a 1.4/50 prime, 2.0/24 wide and a 2.0/135 tele. The 2.0/24 is super but the distortion is not up to present level. Always keep sparebatteries at hand. Since the body doesn't have a lock you can drain the batteries easy when you put it away in a bag and something presses down the meterknob slightly. Fortunately you can always make use of the mechshutter of 1/60s. This is also the answer to the battery problem for you out there. When you put your camera away for the day, turn the speed ring to the mech 1/60 or B setting. This wil cut of all unwanted batteryconsumption. Why don't they mention this in the manual?

For greater handling get that piece of way expensive plastic for better grip on the body. The motordrive is cool but too darn expensive compared to the buildin motors of todays rigs. So the winder2 is OK but ergonomical flawed unless you've a crooked finger.

I upgraded my focusingscreen with the new one from the OM-3ti. Much brighter!!
A few years back I traded my OM-4 for the Eos 5. The Eos 5 I use for the no brainer shots, too much buttons to push when you really want to take pictures. Therefore bottom line. I love my OM-4ti for it's straight forward ease of use, ruggedness and plain sexy looks. A timeless classic.

Now for a word of advise: If you see one cheap buy it! You won't be disappointed. She may be quirky sometimes but hey like in a real relationship time will overcome and you'll appreciate her quality more and more.


Now if only Olympus came up with an OM-5..........

Customer Service

Different at times. 1 up to 6 weeks.

Similar Products Used:

Fujica AX5, Olympus OM-4, Canon Eos 5

A fine piece of engineering (a "reica"). Light, strong & precise. Had one years ago, kicked myself for selling it (I was broke). Finally found another today. Macro flash - OTF metering, spot metering. Those lenses. I did tests with Technical Pan & you could SEE the focus plane. smooth too, especially for a lightweight.

Doesn't have the whizz-bang brochure gadgets - it makes you think. Er, hang on, that's a strength, innnit ? If it's eating batteries then the circuit board may be on its way out. I kept an OM1N spare when I was using it to make money & I used it - once. With the new board the OM4 was 100%.

Rare as rocking horse do-do on the used market here in Oz (always a good sign). Despite its quirky antiquatedness it really is one-of-a-kind. Makes you think about your pix & rewards you for doing so. If you're looking for a no-brainer - keep looking.

If you've ever owned an Alfa Romeo....

Customer Service

Dunno. I got to techs recommended by peers. Factory service is overrated (in every industry).

Similar Products Used:

Nickanonolta, RB 67, Blad (not mine!), Fuji 6x9 (for when size does matter) other MF. A few big 'uns & a few APS's - did anyone say 110 ?

Strength! Spot metering.
of the film metering is great and acurate.

No AF...

One of the best light metering sys ever made!
Srongly recomended if you don't need AF.
Very large selection of lenses and cheap to!

Customer Service

Good.

Similar Products Used:

N90s, EOS5, EOS rt, Minolta 7i, 600si, Olympus OM4Ti, Pentax K1000.

Multi spot metering, Quietness.
One thing I rarely see praised is its water tightness. I took this camera out in the pouring rain in one of the wettest places in our country.The camera was actually swimming in water in my camera bag. The cartons covering the extra film turned to pulp. I had the 35-105 zoom attached to it and the 65-200 was also in the bag. None of the equipment, ie the camera or either lens suffered from water damage. I recently took the Nikon F100 and my wife the Nikon F90X in a very moist rain forest. They both failed after using them in the damp enviroment after three days. They eventually recovered after using a hair dryer to dry them out. They did not even get wet to the same degree as the Olympus OM4Ti.

When I first got the camera, the circuit board failed after almost a year with the flash failing to fire. This was repaired under warranty but failed again within another year with the same fault. This time I had to pay for the repair. I was so annoyed I wrote to Olympus Japan. I was shocked to get a reply that stated that if I no longer trusted the OM4Ti I should take a second camera with me every where I went in case it failed. I have kept this letter since I purchased the camera 12 years ago as a souvenir.

I have the titanium coloured version with the paint now wearing off although it has not been subject to professional use but light ameteur use with tender loving care. It doesn't look too bad. I would be a little more annoyed it I were to buy the black version and the paint wore off that. It would be alot more obvious

A beautiful camera to hold. The lens have a beautiful feel. It would be nice to have the apeture in the view finder. Has been trouble free for the last ten years after the second repair.
Quality of the photograhs superb with Zuiko lenses.

Customer Service

Poor as stated in the weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F90X
Nikon F100

Size, titanium shell, spot meter, results

quirky camera - sometimes I love it, sometimes it frustrates me. Film-advance crank can be sticky. Mirror return spring has broken necessitating warranty repair

A cracking piece of kit - frustrations notwithstanding. I think that it errs slightly on the side of overexposure and mine is set permanently to -1/3 compensation for slide film (maybe its the Fuji emulsions?). Feels great in the hand and once it becomes familiar it is a very intuitive camera to use.

Customer Service

Only used dealer warranty which was effective but slowwww - three month turnaround to fix broken mirror return spring and shattered viewfinder glass

Similar Products Used:

Pentax P30

Om 4 ....light weight, small size. Control locations, metering system

Electrical contacts, system: tends to "eat batteries"

Exposure metering system is accurate, but does not always come on..hence my coments re electrical contacts. Heavy use on batteries..when not in active use, now I remove the batteries entirely. Placing on "B" setting or manual 60 sec.otherwise. "Accquired" the camera for travel, where light weight and compact size is important. I have the OM4 model,amd when its working, its a great camera and lens system ! Wide range of top quality lens, priced reasonably on the used market. May buy a new OM3 sometime down the road. Then only the exposure meter would be subject to electical problems.

Customer Service

Olympus America provided at no cost, Instruction manual.Otherwise, you are on your own it seems.

Similar Products Used:

Canon A1 and F1,Pentax, Nikon plus medium format

Small, light, great lenses, metering, over-all feel.

Film harder to load than most, manual setting of film speed.

Great camera. I purchased used from an individual on the internet. It is the easiest for metering I have ever used. Since I purchased this camera, I have had no pictures that are too dark on my subject, if they have back-lighting. I believe it is worth the full purchase price of about $1,200, even though I didn't pay that much. Not a "point and shoot", but it is not intended to be.

No autofocus, but I have my XTSI for that.

I do some macro work, and have olympus attachments for that. I have not seen anything of better value for theses accessories.

Don't forget to set the film speed!

I would purchase it again in a minute.

I love the system.

Customer Service

Not Needed

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM10, OM1, Minolta XTSI