Olympus OM10 - A good option?

[Dave Young]

Its been a long time since I last shot film, but a chance conversation has whetted my appetite to supplement my digital with a little bit of film.

I was thinking maybe the Olympus OM10 as a starter, cheap as chips apparently, but wondered if it's a good starter SLR?

In truth I'd probably only marry it up to a 35mm lens so I doubt I'll be looking at anything greatly adventurous. I'm interested to know opinions as to suitability really. I may even try and get my young daughter on board with it too, and see if I can get the photography magic to rub off on her a little.

 

[Brian Moore]

Dave I picked up an OM-2N a while back and it came with a 50/1.8 and 28/3.5. It also came with a longer lens but I don't shoot with telephoto lenses so I can't even remember what it is right now. Nevertheless, I grew to love that OM very quickly indeed. Granted, the OM-10 is a different camera but I imagine when paired with good Oly glass you'll get some very nice images.

Of the lenses I got with the OM-2N I have shot 99.9% of the images I have taken using the 50. The bokeh is lovely.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Good decision, I love those OM cameras much more over the larger old Canons I have. My daughter certainly loved them from a young age, prior to her teens and is the camera that got her at the point today, which is to use and prefer film over anything digital.

 

[Dave Green]

The OM10 is a fine camera - it'll almost certainly come with the 50mm lens. try to get one with the manual adapter on.

 

[Brian Moore]

The OM10 is a fine camera - it'll almost certainly come with the 50mm lens. try to get one with the manual adapter on.

@Dave Green: What's the "manual adapter" you mention?

 

[Dave Green]

The OM10 is essentially an aperture priority camera. The manual adapter lets you set shutter speed manually as well as aperture.

 

[Brian Moore]

The OM10 is essentially an aperture priority camera. The manual adapter lets you set shutter speed manually as well as aperture.

Thanks

 

[Dave Young]

Thanks guys, well in the end I won on the bay of evil an OM20, which I believe to be a slightly more user friendly option to the OM10, and at just £15.00 quid, I don't think it's going to owe me much. If nothing else it can sit on my bookshelf and look pretty.

Turned up today, and jeez you forget just how tactile a film camera is don't you? A quick wipe over with a wet wipe or two and it looks great, it's got a couple of dings on it, and the aluminium has a couple of scrapes, but simply battle scars I believe.

It all looks to be working fine, so other than the sensor looking a bit dirty hopefully it's a winner! I'm going to buy a couple of Poundland films to run through it and see how they look before tackling the sensor.

I can feel a new love affair coming on though

Olympus OM20

 

[Dave Green]

Sensor? Huh?

 

[Dave Young]

Haha, I mean the mirror!

 

[Dave Green]

Ah right lol

 

[Pete Askew]

Haha, I mean the mirror!

Don't forget that it is mirrored on the surface, so only use air, don't touch it with anything.

 

[Dave Green]

Also - the dust etc you're seeing through the viewfinder could just as easily be on the focusing screen rather than the mirror.