Throwback Edit Version: I edited this in December 2024, checked the links and converted it to the new WordPress blocks format. 

Today is World Photography Day, 177 years since photography was ‘invented’. So what better day for a blog post, not that I need an excuse? I have already tried an OM1. I reskinned it and sold it to a friend. I saw it recently when he brought it to a work event. My first thought was “Ooh what a pretty camera!”, then I realised which camera it was and regretted selling it. So, when I saw another in the junk bin I had to have it. This time it was the OM1n, which had a few improvements to the original version. I left the sale tag on to remind me how lucky I am, an OM1n for less than $20.

From what I have read there isn’t too much difference between the Om1 and the OM1n, just a few extra exposure controls. To be honest I didn’t see much of a difference. I found this one deep in a junk bin with a 50mm lens attached, a filthy lens which I took off immediately. I might try taking the lens apart later. I had a handy wombled lens that I had previously tried and attached that.

 

I will not go into the details of the camera function as I have already talked about a very similar one. Plus this website has a fantastic review of this particular camera. A great blog and super photographer.

I was fairly confident this camera worked after I put in a hearing aid battery, A675/D6 which is a good replacement for the old mercury batteries. I didn’t even bother putting in an adapter. I just took off the blue label and left it for 30 minutes to activate it, then carefully put it in the clean compartment. I made sure it touched both connectors. Then I slapped in an expired film and went off to see some sunflowers.

The only issue I had with the camera was the film advance, it was a little stiff, but not overly so.

Here are the test film results.

 

Ok, so the other issue I have was the quality of the scans. Here is the index print from the developer.

It doesn’t look so bad. But my scans on a Canon 9000F MarkII were very different. This is an expensive hobby so I want to cut costs where possible. That means scanning the negatives myself, but the difference is sometimes heartbreaking. On the plus size the camera worked perfectly so I saved a few quid there. I think, with an OM10, Om4 and Om1n, I have all the olympus SLRs I will ever need or want. I have yet to add the OM10 to this site, but I will eventually.

Keep or sell: hello contax 167 MA , since getting that I have decided to sell my Olympus collection…bar one, I haven’t decided on the one but probably OM4. This one…sold.