Week 6 - My New Camera

My New Camera

Olympus OM-10 with Olympus Zuiko 1:1.8 50mm Lens

For my 22nd birthday this year, my sister bought me my first ever camera - The Olympus OM-10. 

Obviously, I was really chuffed with her thoughtful present and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and start taking some photographs. 

However, throughout my whole academic studies with video and photograph, I had never used film photography in comparison to digital. The only time I could say I had come close to film photography is well before I started study video and photography is when I used to buy cheap disposable cameras that I would take on school trips of the odd holiday. 

Now that I had my own film camera, it inspired to find out more about the OM-10 in regards to its functions and operations and analog film photography in general. As I had never really worked with analog film cameras, I wanted to get a stronger understanding of this area of photography and make sure I was comfortable with using the medium as mistakes in this area of photography are far more lengthy and costly than with digital, literally.

Here are the notes I have collated from the camera's manual and various other online texts from other Olympus OM-10 photographers to further expand my knowledge on the camera and film photography:

Olympus OM-10 - Instruction Guide

Source: http://www.olympusamerica.com/files/oima_cckb/Oly_om10.pdf

To An OM-10 Owner

The Olympus OM-10 is a single lens reflex, aperture priority camera of the finest quality in which the automation of photographic functions has been made possible by employing the most advanced electronics. To its acceptability of Olympus interchangeable lenses, a special film winder, a flash, and a host of other accessories are added to make it a complete system of photography. With the OM-10 you can gradually widen your enjoyment of the photographic art.

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Preparation Before Taking Pictures

Batteries

The OM-10's circuits are powered by two 1.5V alkaline-manganese or silver oxide batteries. Without them, the shutter of this electronic single lens reflex camera will not function. Two 1.5V silver oxide batteries SR44 (Eveready EPX-76) or equivalents can be also used.

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Loading the Film

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The Way to Automatic Photography

All the problems of exposure are electronically taken care by the OM-10. It is a single lens reflex camera which can be set for automatic control of exposure, and when set so taking correctly exposed, beautiful pictures could not be simpler.

Setting the Aperture

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Taking Pictures Automatically

This camera had a different method of focusing that I was not used too. With digital photography, I tended to zoom onto my subject, set the focus and the pull back the zoom so my subject has got a sharp focus. However, with the OM-10 and many other analog camera lenses, there is a central small circle

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Camera Techniques

The various functions of the OM-10 and the wide variety of lenses, flash, winder, and system accessories which can be used with it allow you to fully master all the techniques which automatic photography can make possible

Controlling the Exposure

When taking pictures in a place which is either too dark or too bright, there will be a tendency to result in whitish photographs (overexposure), or darkened ones (underexposure), or even blurred images. In these circumstances, make full use of the aperture ring in order to control exposure so as to obtain properly exposed photographs.

- When a red light turns on in the red zone at the top of the shutter speed scale in the viewfinder it indicates overexposure. In such a case, turn the aperture ring to the higher f-numbers (toward F16) until the light appears within the proper exposure range, and then proceed to take the picture. 

Photography with Shutter Speed Priority

When photographing fast moving subjects, there is a marked tendency to obtain a blurred image of the subject. This can be made use of as a technique to give the impression of movement, by intentionally allowing the image to be blurred, while making use of the shutter speed priority function. Pictures taken with this technique offer an interesting challenge. Turn the aperture ring until the light in the viewfinder appears by the shutter speed value suitable for the photographic situation, and then press the shutter release button.

- When the light appears below "30" (1/30 of a second), blur may easily occur. 

In this case, use a tripod or turn the aperture ring to the lower f-numbers (toward F1.8) until the light goes higher within a range in which blur is not likely to occur. 

- When the light appears at "1" (1 sec.), the shutter speed is 1 sec. or longer. In such a case it is recommended to turn the aperture ring to the lower f-numbers within the proper exposure range.

Exposure Compensation

When shooting against the light, or if the subject is standing before a window, the face tends to appear dark on the image. In this case, use the exposure compensation dial to obtain a correctly exposed photograph.

Lift the compensation dial and change the film speed set on the dial (within ±2). By this means, it is possible to obtain high or low key effects. (+) is for high key (overexposure) and (—) is for low-key (underexposure). However, it is not possible to obtain (-) compensation for ASA 1600 or the compensation for ASA 25. When you finish taking the picture, return the compensation dial to its original position.

Long Exposures

Indoors when it is dark, or when photographing at night, use the "BULB" setting and take the pictures by resorting to long exposures. Of course, blur can easily occur in long exposures so it is recommended to use a tripod and a cable release.

Using the Winder 2

OM-10 with the Winder 2

Fast-moving subjects, such as in sports, car racing, and the like, make you wish to take pictures at a faster pace. The time spent winding the film may mean that a great chance is lost. In these cases, an accurate, reliable power winder for automatic film winding can well be the perfect answer, such as the Olympus Winder 2 which can be attached on the OM-10 very simply, and switched to the single or sequence mode photography. On single mode, it can wind film immediately after exposure, ready for next chance to release the shutter at any moment, and on sequence mode, it can make sequential filming as fast as 2.5 frames per second.

Making Use of the Depth of Field

When you have a subject in focus, there is a range in the fore and the background which is clearly defined in the picture. This range is called depth of field. The larger the F number becomes, the wider this clearly defined range becomes, and the background becomes sharper. On the contrary, the smaller the F number becomes, this range becomes less wide, while the background loses contrast and out of focus. By using these properties of the depth of field with creativity and imagination, you will be able to take pictures which will have your own personal imprint.

Manual Exposure Control

Manual Adapter on the OM-10

When the optional Manual Adapter is attached to the OM-10, it is possible to revert to manual exposure control. When photographing fast moving subjects, when there is a possibility of camera shake, or when you want to capture the subject in its natural tones no matter what the illumination behind may be, this accessory proves to be very useful.
In order to control exposure in such a way as to obtain special effects to match the photographic situation or your own intentions, you must rely on your own expertise and practice. In photography with manual control of exposure, the mode selector lever must be set at the "MANUAL ADAPTER" position.

Camera Specs

Camera type: 35mm single lens reflex camera with electronic control automatic exposure and focal plane shutter. 

Image format: 24 x 36mm. 

Lens mount: Olympus OM Mount, bayonet type. 

Shutter: Electronically controlled focal plane shutter. 

Flash synchronization: X contact. Direct contact only. 

Automatic exposure control: Aperture-priority electronically controlled shutter. TTL direct light measuring system. 

Light measuring range: EV-0.5 to 18 from 2 sec. to 1/1000 sec. at normal temperatures and humidity with ASA 100 and F1.2 standard lens. 

Exposure compensation: ±2EV. 

Automatic flash exposure: Normal auto flash (at 2 aperture settings F4 and F8 with ASA 100 film) is automatically set to X synch. (1/ 60 sec.) in conjunction with the electronic flash T20. 

Manual exposure control: The optional Manual Adapter attached to the OM-10 permits a full range of 11 manual shutter speeds. (1 to 1/ 1,000 sec.) By setting the mode selector lever to the manual mode, the shutter speed can be set to 1/60 sec. 

Film speed range: ASA 25 to 1600. 

Battery checker: Battery voltage can be checked by both LED and PCV. Mirror lock to limit drainage. 

Power source: Two 1.5V alkaline-manganese batteries LR44 (A76), or two 1.5V silver oxide batteries SR44 (Eveready EPX-76 or equivalents). 

Viewfinder: Pentaprism type. 

Focusing screen: Microprism/sprit image-matte type. 

Finder view-field: 93% of actual picture field. 

Viewfinder magnification: 0.92X with the 50mm lens at infinity. 

Viewfinder information: 12-step shutter speed scale and flash charge indicated by LEDs.

Mirror: Oversize, quick return mirror. 

Film advance: Lever type with 130° angle, It can be wound with one long or several short strokes. 30° pre-advance angle. Power wind-

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My Favourite Cameras: Olympus OM-10

Source: http://filmadvance.com/2011/09/favourite-cameras-olympus-om-10/

Brief History of the OM-10

Olympus introduced the OM series of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras in 1972 with the M-1 (later renamed the OM-1). At the time, the camera caused quite a stir because it was so much smaller and lighter than anything previously available. Heft a Pentax Spotmatic or an older Nikon to get a feel for the pre-OM universe of SLRs. The OM-1 was followed by other “professional” models, including the OM-2, OM-3, and OM-4. 

The OM-10 arrived in 1979 and was the first of the two-digit OMs geared towards the “entry level” consumer. Olympus made some changes to bring down the production costs, and there’s no doubt that the OM-10 wasn’t designed to withstand the kind of abuse that the earlier OMs were, but apparently few cared. The camera became a massive success, which is one reason they’re so easy to find on the used market.

The OM-10 is a manual focus, aperture-priority camera. That means, you’re in charge of focusing and choosing the aperture setting, and the camera figures out what the shutter speed should be. However, by adding the manual adapter to the camera, you can take control of the shutter speeds, making the camera fully manual.

Self-Timer Perks

When you engage self-timer on the OM-10, the viewfinder mirror flips up as soon as you press the shutter release. By the time the shutter actually fires (12 seconds later), the “mirror-slap” vibrations have died off. In any case, this is a feature you should use often and for me at least, is one reason to choose the OM-10 over the OM-2. It also saves you the bother of having to remember to carry around a cable release.

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The Camera Site: Olympus OM-10

Source: http://www.thecamerasite.net/01_SLR_Cameras/Pages/olympus10.htm

The Black Olympus OM-10

Olympus OM-10 Quartz

To gain more professional look a black version was also offered. It has the same problem as most of the black cameras - compared to chrome versions, the black body shows often much more marks of use.  Thet had a fixed record-back which allowed you to print the time and date onto your pictures. Some OM-10 cameras are marked : OM-10 QUARTZ, though the marking is only for commercial reasons. The noun quartz was "cool" in the early 80s.