The birth of advanced picture taking

Lots things going on here like more talk about those beatles records at various sites and as befits 2024 youtube videos, instagram and all but given much of that is just discussion with speculation we won't be referring to that this week, only more nearer the time.

A bigger thing really was it being around thirty years ago when I started to get more ambitious around photography as much of that was done mainly on a 35mm compact that had a wide angled lens with an so-called "macro facility" which wasn't true macro but more a close up akay for groups of coins by that was about it.

 Although I had borrowed a couple of Dad's cameras including an Olympus OM1n and had picked up cheaply a Russian made Zenith-E finding the ability to change lenses and see more or less exactly where the lens was pointing most useful I was still mainly using that compact I'd picked up in 1989 before I went to college in Surrey, England.

What I picked up and bought was a used Olympus budget model discontinued several years previous which was a small light weight camera, the Olympus Om10 which by design was semi-automatic model for simple picture taking with some control of how sharp things were in front and behind the subject.

You could even preview that!

It did have a useful track that took it a step up, an option to have a manual shutter speed selector that plugged in and that came with the one I had

Getting to grips with that, learning, adding as funds allowed extra lenses, taught me a lot about photography and really altered how I saw taking pictures even if just for my own enjoyment.

That's what I'm marking today even if I have a DSLR and Bridge camera.

R.I.P Olympus Cameras

On Thursday last June 25th, It was announced that Olympus would no longer make cameras and that the different divisions such as optics would be repurposed.

To me there was no sadder day previously than when in 2003, it was announced Minolta/Konica were sold to Sony and that brand with a large legacy would be no more.

Olympus made photographic history often getting to them before Nikon and Canon and today I'll touch on a couple of notable cameras of theirs and why they mattered. 

The Olympus OM1 in differing forms was one of longest running cameras in production from its introduction in 1972 until being phased out in 1987, beginning a whole new line of cameras.

Prior to its launch, system cameras that used separate lenses and had a single lens reflex system with a mirror so you could see the image focusing it before the picture was taken were very heavy being designed more for photo journalists.

It was a manual exposure only camera with just the suggested meter reading powered by a battery of if that failed you could continue to film so long as you had some means or figuring what the exposure 'should' be as you set that by hand.

Everything on this camera bar the metering is mechanical, made of cogs and metal, a feat of miniaturized engineering.

Other small systems lacked the full range of extras such as attachments for taking pictures from microscopes, lenses that covered every focal length you could want and even winders with film packs to take masses of film for industrial use without having to wind the film on by hand that Olympus offered.

It had everything a photographer wanted in a small, sleek design.

The OM1 was massively popular with explorers and travel writers because they now had a lightweight full system camera that could go more or less anywhere with them in jungles and up mountains not having to rely on pocket cameras with limited control when in confined spaces.

 This in its 1983 version is one I know and loved first hand because by this point, the camera's in the OM system had gained Aperture Priority auto exposure when for any given setting it set a suitable shutter speed, making quick picture taking easy, especially when it metered it at the moment of actually taking it rather than just before which when also matched to a specially designed shutter blind resulted in some of the most even automatic exposure systems ever.

This had also been carried over to the flash system that could take multiple in series flash guns for advanced work and had macro flash units to fit around lenses for extreme close ups evenly illuminated.

It added two wonderful things for serious photographers, an auto exposure lock so if you needed to get an exposure reading from one part of scene only to ensure it all came out well (as all reflected light systems can and do fail), you could hold it for up to 60 minutes and at the same time balance that Exposure Value in the camera to any combination of aperture and shutter speed.

It also had a extremely good up to eight position spot metering system which with the exposure lock enabled meant you had the means at hand to deal the trickiest of exposures getting perfectly exposed slides no matter what.

It was also blessed with a very easy to use set of controls on the top plate with everything you needed to hand so you for all that sophistication just get on with taking pictures and not hunting menus and hidden buttons.

That in its last form remained on sale until about 2002 and was wonderful.

Introduced in 1968 and only discontinued in the late 80's, this was a fully programmed compact camera fitted with an exceptional 40mm lens which was powered by solar power no less, taking some of the best pictures possible on such a small compact camera

The Olympus XA from around early 1980 was a unique compact camera that used a superimposed image that when aligned with the main one in the viewfinder allowed easy accurate manual focusing on mirrorless camera.

It was backed up with a Aperture Priority auto exposure system making it possible to use a bit of creativity in a small compact camera which again was fitted with a top quality lens, this time a 35mm moderate wide-angle.

This was a popular model for photographers who had a system camera but wanted something very good to literally put in their pocket and use anywhere.

It came with a detachable automatic exposure flash gun which could be used for "fill in flash", helping with outdoor portraits.

That is just four reasons why I miss Olympus as a owner of several bodies and numerous lenses.

Photographic spring cleaning

At least she knows the correct way to handle a camera unlike some even though I hold mine so the viewfinder is over my left eye that usually requires dioptre adjustment to see clearly though it being unable to close my right eye independently.
I've been checking through some of my older film camera equipment as thanks to things such as needing to have pictures ready to blog within a week and being totally dependent on mail order processing losing the local branch of Jessops several years back who apart from selling equipment also did most of my print photography means I can't just drop a roll of film off on Monday morning and pick them (plus a disc of jpeg scans from them) on the Wednesday, they haven't had as much use as they did when this blog started.
I was taken aback when I came to checking over the Olympus T32 flashgun I've had for ages to find I'd forgotten to take out the four AA cells and worse still being also Zinc rather than alkaline weren't just dead but had leaked on part of the battery cover and one contact that I ended up scrubbing with a wire brush, washing the reminder off and praying it hadn't gone on the circuitboards .
Thankfully having retested afterward with four fresh alkaline cells, it still fires up correctly with the usual whining sound before you trigger the flash.
Surprisingly the OM10 body still worked even though when I unscrewed with a one pence piece the battery chamber the LR44 cells had started to breakdown so I cleaned that up to ensure the connectors would not corrode.
Of course today most of my posts have all digitally taken images rather than analogue film to digital conversions.

This is fairly recent picture I took indoors using an all digital system camera and macro lens which gives an idea what modern systems can do even if it still doesn't look quite the same as it would off film.
I might as well add I axed my Google + account and from that the Olympus OM user group I moderated as it would of gone in a month's time anyway

Zoom lenses for the Olympus cameras

This is actually really good a seven element, seven group Tamron type 17A 35-70mm co-called "standard" constant F3.5 zoom with a 1:2:8 reproduction ratio at the 70mm end complete with Olympus OM mount and even a Hoya 1A filter fitted.

Serial # 556389

It only weighs in at 330 grams which isn't bad while the viewfinder image is fairly bright making it handy for quick picture taking where changing lens isn't so easy.

Making quick changes to how you frame the image is something that's easy to achieve with a zoom lens without having to move around a lot.

It came in their original packaging with the OM40 having instructions and foam too.

For more years than I really care for  arguments have raged over the qualities of lenses that cover several focal lengths  over fixed focal length ones.

Olympus themselves had manufactured a good number during what might in hindsight  be called the "Golden Era" of the OM system  in the late 1970's and 1980's that met their exacting standards.

Just what is the argument against them?

I think the first is for serious landscape photography they are harder to use with filters, specifically those square ones like Cokin's that screw on the filter thread of a lens because most zoom lenses have front elements that rotate when you focus whereas on fixed length ones they do not.

The other is during that era many cheaper zoom lenses came on the market that weren't so well designed spoiling their image. 

It was said at the time you needed to spend two to three times as much for a zoom lens of a similar quality to two or more fixed length ones and many amateurs just were not prepared to spend that.

This said, a good one has real uses like being able to easily control the final image you take very precisely not least on transparency film and this example I own, the 75-150mm F4 is a good example as it provides a very high image quality, offers a wide range of telephoto lengths and yet weighs little more than single 200mm lens which is comfortable for hand hold usage. 

I find its coverage is a good match for what I want in the field saving me carrying the 90mm and 135 and rarely need the 200mm as it's top end of 150 is adequate while saving me from changing lenses frequently.

It also uses a 49mm filter thread just like the regular standard and wide angle lenses which makes working with polarizers and square filters more straightforward for not having to double up on attachment rings and screw in filters.


As the OM system in the early 1990's moved very much toward  advanced amateurs and professionals with the OM4Ti being the only 'new' body available, while only a  few fixed length lenses went from the lens range such as the 135mm, all the Zooms did until they introduced the 35-80 F2.8 in 1995 issued with the OM3Ti.

A 300mm telephoto for the Olympus cameras

I was thinking early on about getting a longish telephoto lens but it's taken now to find an affordable quality option for my OM10 and 40 bodies as most of the independent options from the late 1970's and 80's were rather so-so at best and you are normally talking of around £100 upward for Olympus's own.

Shopping around I found something that would work, the Tamron Adaptall 300mm F5.6 which was originally introduced  in 1976 and phased out in 1979 for the later Adaptall 2  close focusing version.
The early Adaptall lenses do take the later mounts and although this as bought came mounted for the old M42 screw fitting, changing to Olympus OM is quick and easy and for £36 was a bargain.

Technical notes



Lens construction: four group 4 elements
Minimum aperture: 22
Minimum focusing distance: 2.5m
Filter diameter: 58mm

Weight: 580g

Extreme wide angle lens for the Olympus camera

For a long time I had considered  the advantages of so-called ultra wide angle lenses as I found the 24mm lens a focal length  that didn't seem to offer too many advantages over a 28mm  for the inevitable extra weight of lugging it about without offering some of the advantages  in terms of getting heaps more into the frame or its creative uses building on the perspective distortion when shooting subjects such as cars close.

Around  2000 Vivitar and Cosina had out a 19 through 35mm ultra wide-angle zoom lenses in a variety of manual focus camera fittings including Olympus OM that appealed but tracking down the OM fitting proved difficult and some other options such as the Centon/Sirius 18-35 while plentiful used had terrible reputations for image quality.

As had been a while since I'd bought a 'new' lens, I ordered the Tamron 17mm F 3.5 Adaptall 2 in the high performance SP series

This is the later 151B version that dispensed with the built in black and white photo filters to simplify construction as well as reducing costs and adding a more modern feel to this longstanding lens.

Independent lens tests put this at the same quality as the Zuiko 18mm F3.5 which is some 60% more expensive used and exceeding it's equivalent by Minolta in the MD system.

As with all Adaptall 2 lenses, armed with the appropriate attachable mount they can mounted on nearly all manual focus bodies.

Moderate Telephoto lenses for the Olympus cameras

This is the classic Zuiko 135mm F3.5 moderate telephoto lens good for sports, isolating people at events and air shows.

Although this is half a F stop slower compared to the regular F2.8 version the viewfinder is such you can't notice it and you save quite a bit of weight together with the advantage of using the same size filter thread (49mm) as your wide angle lenses. It makes for an easy to use lens handheld as well as on the tripod.

200mm lens are not the sort of thing you use everyday that's for sure but they have their place in the photographic scheme of thing such as Landscapes - mountain images - where their stacked perspective is easily recognizable 0r for sports photography.This is the Zuiko F4 which as such lenses go is quite light so you can use it handheld although support in the form of Monopods or Tripods really is best as the greater magnification increases the risk of camera shake.I bought mine in May 1997 and really like it's quality

The Olympus Standard lens

As standard you got the 50mm F1.8 lens whenever you bought a new Olympus camera and many used are sold with one.
I find them very useful for nature photography and the Olympus one is really clear and can be used with Teleplus's 2x Macro converter for 1:1 close ups if you don't own a dedicated macro lens.
I wouldn't be without it.

Wide angle lenses for the Olympus cameras

I consider wide angle lenses to be a basic requirement allowing you the opportunity to take broad landscapes, photograph groups of people at social functions as well as travel pictures and have two for the Olympus OM bodies I use.

In general I am not given to using standard zoom as I find the image quality falls below that which is obtainable from so called fixed length lens and many have the apertures varying as you zoom which messes up manual and spot metering readings.

As I use a tripod making small adjustments to frame the image and keeping it all level is not a big deal to me

For general landscapes I use the Olympus Zuiko 28mm F2.8 pictured below a lot liking its colour renditions and ease of use. The construction of Olympus's own lens is extremely good being all metal.

Another good feature of them is the aperture settings are at the front making for rapid focusing and metering while you are looking through the viewfinder.

 I bought this lens in September 1996 for the OM10 when I was test driving it.

My first love though is the 35mm F2.8 which I bought around 2002 from Camtech over the phone. 

I found whenever I used a zoom most of time I was using around this focal length because it's ideal for travel photograph and has less of a problem with converging verticals when you photograph buildings. Although the edges wide open are slightly soft they come in by F8 and it looks really good. Some say they found the contrast a bit low but honestly I've never found it on the films I've used (Velvia 50/Reala 100).

I got mine boxed with the case and thin front cape used and love it.

Flash and the Olympus cameras

One of the great strengths of the Olympus OM system was its Flash units.

There were three: The T20, T32 and T45.All offered flash metered off the film plane from the camera itself with the OM2(n), OM2SP, OM4(Ti) and OM40 bodies.This breakthrough occurred as far back as 1976 which was something many other systems were late in introducing.All the flash units take the number from the Guide number they produce (GN).

The T20 does not do manual flash (the QF310 unit was really the cheap flash for the OM10/20/30 and OM1 models) but the other two do.

The T45 was a 'Hammerhead' unit for professionals like the Metz models and can be used horizontal or vertical while still 'bouncing' the flash.

The most popular unit was the T32 pictured.

I got mine around November 1996 used with a 6 month guarantee.
The output of GN32 is ideal for group shots or for photographic models with which is help by the fact the reflector can be tilted up for bouncing the flash or even down 15degrees to get a bit more light on small objects.

You can in fact link two or more flash units using special cables and maybe mounting the second flash on a supporting column while retaining the off the film flash metering for more even illumination of small objects.

Another rather useful feature of this flash gun is you can turn around the 'calculator scale' at the back of it to change from off the film metering to manual flash so you can use it on any camera that lacks Though The Lens flash technology such as my OM10 or even the Minolta XD7 (although on the XD7 you have to set the flash sync speed on the camera).
You are give a choice of three (yes really) apertures to use with a sensor on the flashgun controlling the output plus options of full output (with a aperture scale for the film speed you are using) and 1/4 output.

You can get a Flash Extender that helps direct the flash output for lenses with longer Focal Lengths although I found it was fine as is from 28 through 105mm that covers groups and head and shoulder portraits.

In all respects I found this flash unit ideal for all my flash needs with plenty of output to photograph winter processions like carolling, family events and models with the advantage it would work on any camera I owned.

Sometimes system manufactures Flashes seem overpriced compared with independent so-called after market equivalents but this one is well worth the modest price charged. Indeed I have seen Minolta MD camera owners sporting them atop of theirs.

The Olympus OM40 camera

I recently picked an OM40 body boxed with the instructions.

This model was introduced in 1985 but only remained in production for a couple of years.

It has a funny cross between a spot meter and all around (centre weighted) metering called ESP. It works fairly well comparing the centre spot to the outer areas balancing the two although it assumes the subject is in the middle of the frame.The flash is Through the lens like the OM4 which was always a good idea It also has a Program mode for quick picture taking.

The chief minus is that like all the double digit OM models the viewfinder only covers 93% rather than 97% of the OM4/3/2/1 models and it doesn't have a spot meter option al a OM2SP

It is surprisingly good given it was only really intended for amateurs.

The Olympus OM10 camera

The story started way back in September of 1996 when finding my trusty pocket camera had issues and an ancient RussianZenith E was just too hard for me to use, I saw one of these at a local camera store going cheap.
I knew of Olympus as Pop had gone through a OM30 that purported to aid focusing (but wasn't that good at it) and had settled on a OM2SP afterwards.
This model was introduced in 1979 then discontinued in 1987 coming in Chrome and Black finishes.
Anyway money changed hands for it and the 50mm 'Standard' lens. I took it on vacation to evaluate being a believe in the 'give it a real job and see how it performs' school of thought.
The OM10 is by design amateur camera - that's to say it's for the everyday Joanne or John who just wants good pictures with simple controls - rather than the loaded with lots of features  you don't really need sort and a build to take Power Winders together with day in and out professional use in all weathers.
So as standard it is automatic exposure only with a setting for Flash units that are not for Olympus and the Flash is exposure is set by hand rather than automatically in the camera.
What stuck me was the evenness of the exposures because as basic as it is, it tells you first what shutter speed it is likely to set based on the 'F' stop settings on your lens in connection with how bright it is but makes the final decision during the actual exposure so if the sun just went in after pressing the shutter (to take the picture) it adjusts to it. It is what Olympus called "AutoDynamic Metering".
The results were better than expected and as it happened I got the MA1 Manual Adapter too.
This is a little unit you plug in on the front that when you set the exposure control to Manual Adapter enables you to set exposures by hand.
Let's say I don't believe in setting exposures by hand as a religion as if you use the settings the camera indicates you get pretty much the same result for more effort (plus the automatics on this camera are more accurate).
Where you might use it is if there is big difference between how much light the main subject requires and say a very bright background (or for using certain filters) pointing the camera toward what you wish to take the reading from and using the manual setting to lock it in.
This meant I had as much control over how my pictures would come out as the main camera but in something much lighter to carry about.
The other thing was the lens was small of really fine quality and easy to adjust from the front.
After picking up a Wide Angle 28mm lens I was so impressed that I considered getting another better specified model.

Comments: I would recommended without any hesitation this camera body to anyone who wants to learn traditional film photography as it is as capable as many others with 'snob appeal' and higher prices.
Mine as pictured has the MA1 Manual Adapter fitted on the right hand side. If yours doesn't you'll find them for sale in photographic stores and on Ebay.

Snap!

Well this week was a bit better overall with the weather so I did get some photography done on Tuesday and just have to finish the roll off ready for developing which given there isn't a local to me lab will involve mailing to Fuji's UK lab in Lancashire.
When we had a local Jessops in dreary post heavy industrial Stoke on Trent, although they didn't have a mini-lab, they had Monday Through Saturday deliveries from Jessops own national lab and often the turn around was 36 to 48 hours which was convenient, they stocked film and camera gear being part of huge Leicester based photo chain so I'd drop them off, do some shopping in the City Centre and return in a couple of days time, picking them up and buying stuff from the store.  Simples.
In 2015 life ain't like that as only few stores survive following  going into Administration a few years back and ours isn't one of them. 
Equally the local branch of a well known Nottingham based Chemist no longer offers a store based development service and not even sure if Welsby's, a independent small photo store in my town do any longer.
So it's gonna take time to see the results but I really enjoyed using my film based photographic equipment