Olympus OM20 Vintage SLR 35mm Film Camera with f/1.8 50mm Prime Lens

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While the crop factor of MFT format cameras boosts the telephoto abilities of lenses, it makes the design of ultra-wide optics more of a challenge. The M.Zuiko 7-14mm f/2.8 Pro is a remarkable wide zoom lens with a minimum focal length of just 7mm, delivering an astonishing 114-degree viewing angle, similar to using a 14mm lens on full-frame cameras.Like other lenses in the Pro line-up, it’s immaculately turned out, with fabulous build quality. Contrast and sharpness are outstanding, while color fringing and distortions are negligible. As with many ultra-wide lenses, however, the hood is built-in so there’s no filter attachment thread.

Olympus produced a wide variety of OM camera models over the years. These were divided into two distinct series. Cameras with single-digit model numbers were the 'professional' series, optimized for more advanced features and durability. Two-digit (or more) model numbers, or letters, meant a 'consumer' camera designed for ease of use. Something interesting I found with the OM-G is that it’s never actually off. Even when in the “off” position, the camera is meant to be ready to shoot. This makes me curious as to the point of the off position, as the only thing it seems to turn off is the LED readout in the viewfinder.

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In its standard configuration the OM10 offered aperture priority automatic exposure, simple and accurate enough for a consumer camera in most lighting situations. It also offered exposure compensation for more complicated lighting situations and for more advanced users. Selection dial upon the top allowed for selection of Aperture Priority, B and Manual adapter, The small plug-in manual adaptor was available as an accessory to enable manual control of shutter speed, if no Manual Adapter was plugged in and the camera switch set to Manual Adapter then the camera shutter speed was set to fixed 1/60 for flash work. Legendary Olympus designer Yoshihisa Maitani’s entire professional life’s pursuit was miniaturization. In his earliest days developing the Pen half-frame camera (Olympus’ first major sales success) he was driven by the compactness and quality of his Leica camera. For the rest of his life he pushed Olympus to design and produce smaller cameras with better lenses. The culmination of this pursuit (and the final Olympus camera that Maitani personally designed) was the Olympus XA. AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL: Type: Aperture-preferred electronic shutter. Measuring method: TTL Direct Off-the-Film (OTF) Light Measuring. Measuring range: 2 sec. to 1/1000 sec. (ASA 100) (ASA 100, at normal temperature and humidity). Exposure compensation: +/-2 EV in 1/3 increments on rotating dial. Flash Synchro: Automatic X synchro, with T-series flash units (1/60 sec.) To change ISO /ASA, all you need to do is rotate the knob located at the top right plate. The same knob can be used to adjust exposure compensation.

The OM20, also known as OM-20 and OM-G, was a 35-millimeter single lens reflex (SLR) film camera with an electronically controlled horizontal focal plane shutter manufactured by the Olympus Corporation of Japan in 1983. It was a competitively priced alternative to the OM10 with additional functions, and capable of using the same lenses and accessories available in the OM system. This film camera requires a pair of SR44 or LR44 batteries to operate, and without battery power, the film advance lever and shutter will appear jammed. In its standard configuration the OM10 offered aperture priority automatic exposure, simple and accurate enough for a consumer camera in most lighting situations. It also offered exposure compensation for more complicated lighting situations and for more advanced users. A small plug-in manual adaptor was available as an accessory to enable manual control of shutter speed. The manual adaptor is possibly not as easy to use as the typical shutter speed ring around the lens bayonet on the OM-1. We test lenses using a mix of both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-word testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics. This vintage film camera is ideal for beginners, amateurs and professionals. It’s in excellent condition and is ready to produce another lifetime of fantastic photos! As a camera designed for the consumer with an aperture priority mode, the Olympus OM-10 also has a built-in light meter that can be used with the camera in manual with the special manual adapter that plugs into the side of the camera. This is something that I found incredibly helpful when I recently used it for the first time. Whilst at university, I was taught how to take exposure readings with an off-camera light meter of the Sekonic brand, but once I graduated and no longer had access to this I had to find a suitable and affordable solution for the time being. This resulted in me using a meter reading app on my smartphone instead.Notably Olympus has done some things a bit different from their competition in regards to lens construction and functionality. Placement of the aperture ring has been located at the front of the lens, usually a place reserved for the focus ring. While this certainly takes some getting used to, it’s not a problem, and in some cases actually makes more sense. It’s easier to glance down the camera and see the selected aperture, for example. The 50-200/2.8-4 will be easily outperformed by cheaper 3rd party 100-400/150-500 lenses"—haha, maybe in your hallucinations, surely not in reality. And then we've not even talked about its ability to take 1.4x and 2x teleconverters with good results. All features of the camera have been designed ergonomically to make the camera easy to handle—even for beginners. So here I am, a few days later putting the final touches on the latest edition of our ongoing feature, The Essentials. We’ve already listed the very best from Nikon, Minolta, and Canon, and today we’re showcasing the best of the best from the brand that Maitani built. From impossibly small rangefinders to never-miss point-and-shoots, revolutionary SLRs and even the odd Olympus TLR, here are some amazing Olympus cameras to add to the collection.