My First Film Camera
An Introduction to the Olympus OM10
Impressed by the style and look of photojournalism of the '50s and '60s, as well as artists like Henri Gartier-Bresson and Robert Doisneau, I decided nearly one year ago to try out analog photography.
Because I already used OM-Lenses on my Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II, I was looking for an option in the Olympus OM-System. After some research I found the Olympus OM10. Which seemed to offer a "good bang for the buck". One eBay auction later, I was a happy owner of the Olympus OM10. One other OM10 Body and an OM10 Manual Adapter should follow.
Some general information about the Olympus OM10
Single-lens reflex 35mm
Dimensons and weight: 136 x 83 x 50 mm and 430g (Body only), 601g Olympus OM10, Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 50mm 1:1.18 and Olympus OM10 Manual Adapter
Mount: Olympus OM Lens-Mount
Range of sensitivity: ISO25-ISO1600
Shutter: Electronically controlled focal-plane
Shutter speed: 1s - 1/1000s and Bulb
Winding film: Lever
Rewind film formula: crank
Battery: 2xLR44
The Olympus OM10 was introduced by Olympus in 1979 as first consumer OM-Mount-Body. With the Olympus OM10 you are able to use all Olympus OM-Mount Lenses, as well, as the Olympus Winder 1 and the Olympus Winder 2. But there are some limitations. The Focusing Screen can not be changed. Same with the back. Olympus T-Series Flash can be used in manual and normal auto, but not in TTL-Mode. At this moment I have no experience using Flash on the Olympus OM10.
My two Olympus OM10 Bodies - one with the Olympus OM10 Manual Adapter - and one Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 50mm 1:1.8
In use
The Olympus OM10 operates normally in Aperture Priority Mode. The Mode can be changed from Auto to Manual Adapter and Bulb on the ISO-Dial. You have to pull the winding lever back, to be able to reach the adjustment switch. Of cause Manual Mode can only be used with the Manual Adapter. The use of the Manual Mode feels for me quite strange and very unintuitive. The current Shutter Speed is displayed in the Viewfinder with an LED - Flash, 1/1000s, 1/500s, to 1s. When set on Bulb, Shutter Speed is still displayed. Exposure value compensation - +/-2 - can also be found on the ISO-Dial in 1/3-Stops. The Olympus OM10 features the same great metering system as the Olympus OM2. The viewfinder of the Olympus OM10 offers a 0,93x magnification with the Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 50mm 1:1.8 at infinity.
Olympus OM10 with Olympus Manual Adapter and Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 50mm 1:1.8.
Conclusion
The Olympus OM10 offered me a good start into analog photography. Since the bodies are fairly cheap, I bought a second one, to load one body with BnW- and one with Color-Film.
I still use the Olympus OM10, but only in Aperture Priority Mode, especially on dog walks. Small size and low weight come in handy.
