So, you still use an OM1?

Well, yes I do. Although I haven't always used one. The saga of how I rediscovered film photography after too many years, and ended up with an Olympus OM1, has been the subject of two articles on the excellent 35mmc.com, here and here. 

To cut a long story short, I bought an Olympus OM10 in 1981, traded up to an OM2SP a few years later, found small point & shoot machines more family-friendly, and then drifted away to digital and phones for far too long. The chance discovery of an old Olympus XA3 led me back, and I have come full circle to an OM1. 

Why that one? The fact that I still had a couple of OM lenses from forty years ago meant that an OM camera made sense. I had spent a couple of years using even older cameras - a Kiev4a, a Contax2a, and several other purely manual cameras, so I wasn't looking for auto exposure, auto focus, bells & whistles. The considered opinion is that the single digit models are a bit more reliable after all this time, so the OM1 came calling. 

Purely manual, no need for a battery unless you want to use the meter, a big viewfinder, smaller than most, and (importantly) they don't cost a fortune. There are a few potential pitfalls to look out for, but shop wisely and you can get a classic camera, all working, for somewhere around £100. With a bit of luck, even less. 

And so to this blog. I thought it might be good to get my thoughts down, in case they help others in their search for a good camera, and to share some of the things I have learned along the way. I can't promise photographic excellence, but I will share a few of my shots as and when they fit. 

Back soon...

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