Jim Simon photography

Film Photography and some other stuff, you'll see



Olympus OM system



Olympus OM... That's a biggy.

I could mention all the well-known stuff; the lightness of the gear, the unbelievable size and brightness of the viewfinders, the superb optics, the durability... lots and lots of positives. But what it's all about is the sheer ease of use; the see-shot-take-shot simplicity. Is this experience different from that one might expect from other SLR's? Yes it is if you've had to carry gear about a lot, and yes it is if, instead of this being there sensation, you've got a poky dark rectangle to look through to focus and frame. If you've not tried it you really ought to. I bought the above OM1n new in the late 1970's and it's never missed a beat. I recently had it gone over by someone here in the UK and it came back with an internal tweak so a 1.5v battery was adjusted for and I'd say it's good to go for another few decades.

I have so many images from this and my OM2SP that there's no point in just putting up photos. I just want to get across how perfect OMs are.





Olympus OM1n | Zuiko f1.8 50mm | Tri-X@1600asa | HC-110 stand developed

I don't know why I've chosen this image from thousands, but I've just been to Devon and wandered about the fields with the family and - well, it's my website and I can do what I like. Here it is. Sheep. Dartmoor. It's a photo. There could be a lot more, but we've all seen photos before.



Olympus OM 1n | Zuiko f2.8 28mm | HP5 | Perceptol 1+1

...and because I can, here's waking up for me. Handheld at something like 1/4s. Did I mention it's a stable camera?



Olympus OM1n | Zuiko f2.8 24mm | Fuji Neopan | DDX

Did I mention I had a bike? Not just any bike!

Sadly, I have to report that although this was my bike for many years, I no longer have it... My clutch hand got so sore that I've now got a Honda thingy with DCT auto... Cop out? Not especially. As nice to run as a Guzzi? Definitely not!!! My Mille GT and I went all over.



So, if it's so perfect, why do I have other cameras? Well, there are times when even the smallness and lightness of the OM's is beaten by the pocketability of smaller cameras, albeit with the compromises that using other cameras entails, such as ultimate control and the ability to use interchangeable lenses. Also, an OM isn't as discrete as, say, a Mju-II or a Trip. Or XA. People don't notice small cameras, but they do see an SLR. And, again, if push comes to shove, the resolution of my Summaron on my M2 is greater than the Zuikos on the OM's. No surprise there, given the design restraints on interchangeable lenses and the need for there to be space behind the lens for a flipping mirror.

A note about the Zuiko lenses... Well, my experience of them that is. To be honest I'm not as gung-ho or effusive as many devotees appear to be. Now, of course, there is the age factor creeping in and some performance may have dropped off as tiny imperfections may have accumulated, and I also believe there is some sample variation, possibly from new or from ageing issues. In any case my stand out superb Zuiko lenses are an f2.8 24mm, both f1.8 50mm standards I have, and an f3.5 135mm telephoto. These three form my clutch of lenses when I go out. I also have an f2.8 28mm and an f2.8 35mm which are really, it seems, not up to much unless you're able to operate around f5.6. They're ok, of course; photos get taken and everything works, but an image is just not as resolved as it might be. My first second lens was a Vivitar f2.8 28mm lens and this was as good if not better than the comparable Zuiko I bought more recently. It wasn't a Series 1 or anything; just their standard OM-fit offering. If anyone isn't hung up on the Zuiko name and want a 28mm - go for it, you won't be losing anything, and for all I know this holds true to any other focal length.


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