So cool! I'm a teen getting into photography and found this old camera that my dad had. Followed your instructions to get out the film and am going to have it developed tomorrow! Very cool, I am so excited to be able to start taking photos with this!

I just bought one. I received it today! Went here on KZfaq find out how to use it. Thanks for posting.

This was built by my Great Grandfather Yoshihisa Maitani. The 1st full frame & lightest was the Olympus M-1 (Maitani is #1). The rarest M-1 was signed by Great Grandfather Maitani & my Uncle ATG. The most expensive Olympus camera in the used market is OM-3 series. And one signed by both come in with a price. ATG built many cameras & flashes: Rolleiflex 3003 (improved over 3000), Contax RTS IV & 645; Vivitar 285HV, Metz 60CT-4 & on. In honor of these great camera makers, Olympus made & named it now the OM-1 (Olympus & Maitani are still number One).

I am so happy I found this video. Thank you very much. You're such a life saver. Thank you

I thrifted my OM-1 with a clean 50mm 1.8 lens for $10 USD. All it needed was a thorough cleaning. I use 1.4v zinc air cells and the meter is pretty spot on. This camera is built like a tank, but doesn't have too much weight to it. The camera looks much sexier with the hotshoe removed.

Absolutely lovely video. Will be writing with questions about lenses ti get for mine. Have had it since 1988. There is nothing like the beautiful manual focus on this camera.

I picked up a perfectly good OM-1 last summer at Goodwill for $10 USD with the 50mm f1.8 lens. All it needed was a good cleaning. One thing I did swap out was the focus screen. Mine came with one of those diamond pattern focus screen which was in terrible shape. I swapped it out with a mint condition split circle focus screen. That sure is a fine damn camera! Fully mechanical and pretty small; oh and having both aperture, shutter, and focus rings next to each other....amazing! If I could take two cameras with me to heaven one would be the Canonet QL17 and the other the OM-1.

I thought about getting this model but the Olympus 10 was a great deal and bought it. Okay he lenses are really amazing! Nice and bright viewfinder is why I have not sold it. Great review Hamilton. Good seeing you are still active on your channel.

Ooh I just got me this camera, can’t wait to try it 🤗🤩

I just ordered mine and this video has me so excited!!! I deliberated between the Canon AE-1 and the Olympus OM-1 and I’m glad I chose the Olympus! Can’t wait to shoot some shots!

I have the digital version of the em5 mark 3 and the om5 and I think I love them so much because they are so much like this camera.

hey Olympus fan boy here. I shoot the om-2 and have a om10 then also shoot my digital stuff on them too. Just wanted to let you know you can buy additional things like focusing screens to change the viewfinder or different backs so you can imprint the date on your images along with a whole load of other stuff :auto winders, grip addons. the best part is this was made to be modular which means its crazy easy to change them. For the back there's a little leaver on the hinge like a resit watch so you can take it off and replace it. Then for the focusing scream there's a little button on the inside that makes it drop down this helps for cleaning and or replacing. these cameras are like lego and i love them so much they feel so overlooked now days as well and i love that you've made a video to tell people how amazing these are.

Great video! I absolutely love using mine.

Your videos are so devoid of gimmicks and b.s. that I'm sorta gobsmacked. So used to recycled lofi chill-hop beats and Squarespace logos on most photo channels that I want to send this message of gratitude and respect :-)

Good review of a great camera. I thought I knew it all and you had a few interesting nuggets I hadn't known about. My OM-1, purchased about 5 years ago at a flea market for ~$50, was the gateway drug that got me hooked on film. I have about 30+ film cameras, most 35mm, but about a half-dozen medium formats (I just scored a Yashica Mat 124G the other day). My one digital camera which tends to gather dust. You are right about this beauty. The OM-1 is svelte but solid, has a clean & balanced design and is an absolute joy to hold. It's built like a tank without feeling like one (compared to a Pentax K100 or a Konica Autoreflex T3). The Zuiko glass is amazing; I'm about to add a 28mm f/1.8 to the stock 50mm f/1.8. The meter works (I just had it CLA'd by Vermont Camera) and I love the simplicity of it. It's simply lovely to look at and it always draws attention when I'm out shooting. I have an interest in alternative processing, maybe even wet plate one day. I started following you and look forward reviewing past videos.

One thing not mentioned here that I recently learned with my om-1 is that the zuiko lense only has one release button (top side) not two. The other button that you mentioned (bottom side) is actually a depth of field preview. Thank you for the excellent video. I found it really helpful, especially the advice on advancing the lever before changing the shutter speed :)

Thanks for a great review, really enjoyed your presentation. You didn’t mention mirror lock up control and threaded shutter release for bulb mode long exposures to stop any mirror slap. Owned mine for 30 years and shoot with it often despite having many other cameras. These truly are beautiful machines that will outlive any DSLR or mirrorless that is sold in 2024.

This is an interesting video of using a lovely mechanical film camera. My first SLR camera was a chrome OM1n bought new in 1971 along with three Zuiko lenses; 24mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8 and 135mm f2.8. One year later I bought a second OM1n body in black. I still have and use these cameras, in addition to an OM4 and OM4-Ti with an increased range of Zuiko lenses. The two OM1n' bodies were converted to use the smaller diameter and higher voltage SR44 or LR44 cells. The cell voltage was adjusted to match the voltage of the original mercury-containing cells, thereby ensuring that the exposure meter reading is correct. The OM4 and OM4-Ti were designed to use 2 x SR44 cells. The procedure you outlined for changing the shutter speed before advancing the film or otherwise risk locking the camera has not been my experience. Using either of my OM1n bodies, the shutter speed can be changed either before or after advancing the film without causing the camera to lock. You mention that the self-timer mechanism is defective. There is a possibility that this may be causing the malfunction you mention. However, if the procedure you have devised prevents your camera from jamming that is good news - at least it can be used.

Nice. I’ve always had a M-1 on my radar (early OM-1 before the name change).

Great review Hamilton. I own one. I think this is one of the best SLRs ever made. Plus, it is not bulky at all, which is why they took so many years to design it.

excellent video on a beautiful legend

Excellent video, very informative, I’m inspired to take mine out of storage

Great review, Hamilton. You highlighted all of the features nicely. I agree with your description about both how the camera feels in your hand, and what it's like looking through the viewfinder. Most of all, I agree that words cannot describe the experience. Even if someone isn't interested in purchasing an Olympus OM film camera, ask someone if you can try theirs. It's an experience you'll remember. My OM-1N was the 1st camera that I bought for myself. The 2 main reasons that I bought it were that it was small & light (great for my small hands), and that I could adjust focus, aperture & shutter speed without moving my eye from the viewfinder (keeps my eye on what I'll capture on film). My index finger goes on the focus ring, my middle finger on the aperture & my ring finger on the shutter speed. An elegant solution.

I bought the camera a little while ago light seals done and the prism done a few body marks a dint but the camera fully works meter an all a beautiful camera to use I think I got a bargain just over £120 pounds I love using it and agree it feels like a proper piece of kit it takes me back in time when i was learning about photography and the Olympus lenses are excellent to use with the camera also I have a growing collection of them.......

Great general review of this wonderful SLR Hamilton. I own one, and to me, this is just one of the best and most beautiful SLR ever made. Simple as that. Just by taking the camera in your hand, you can feel that they took several years to design it. It is just obvious. I agree with Matthew, if you can afford an OM-1 with a functional light meter, you'll enjoy it even more since it is pretty reliable. However, it means that you have to buy expensive batteries, or you can buy cheaper ones, but you'll need to compensate for the 1.5 V instead of 1.35 V that this light meter requires. It is especially true with color negative films.

Fantastic presentation.

Thank you for the video sir

I was recommended to use the following battery for the light meter on the OM1 - Use the WeinCell MRB625 replacement battery PX625/PX13. This is designed as a drop-in replacement for the OM-1, and even says so on the packaging.

i just had a K1000 jam up like that this week, good to know that changing the shutter speed at the wrong time might have caused it

Great video!!

I've got one of these and I couldn't ever out my finger on it, but yes, that viewfinder is is amazing. I'll disagree with you on the light meter though. The way the shutter speed and aperture rings are together on the front make it a fantastic to work with in changing light.

11:05 actually the bottom button on the lens is the depth of field, for seeing how much light goes into the lens when setting the aperture. Anyway amazing camera. I have the OM-1n version that I still use till this day for the past 12 years. I never use the light meter, I have a separate light meter for that as well. I don’t even know if the light meter on the camera still works and I’m too lazy to find the right battery😂

I have to agree that the OM-1 is an amazing camera. I started out years ago with the Canon AE-1. It’s was a great camera for me at the time. Soon after I started shooting professional with the Canon F1, then the EOS 1N, and on to Canon digital. During the past 6-7 years, i have really gotten back into shooting on the older film cameras. I have a few Nikons, a bunch of Canons a few Pentax, and a few Olympus’s. I am going to do a video to compare the Nikon FM, the Pentax MX, and the Olympus OM-1. All with 50mm 1.4 lenses. But for me, I will say the OM-1 is by far my favorite. I just love the way it feels, the way the shutter sounds, and the amazing viewfinder. All three have their good points, and their bad points, and all three are great cameras…But ya gotta love the OM-1

Just a couple more features that put this Olympus ahead of the rest: Interchangeable screans;Flash type selector button;Mirror up button &viewing dept of field button. I was not aware of possibility of locking up . tks for that. I advise being careful to thread the film leader correctly as stated by you,

This was so helpful. I just picked up a OM-1N today at a charity store, and I'm so excited to shoot on something a bit more substantial than my Pentax Espio. Thank you for this video, you have a new subscriber!

Great film camera. Does the job of those tank like cameras but much lighter and just as durable.

I have recently been lucky enough to be gifted an Olympus OM-1 and an Olympus OM-10. Its great because I can switch between different films. And I agree totally - there is something very satisfying and nostalgic about using these cameras that you don't get with digital. Thanks for the helpful video. I wondered if it is possible to use the OM-1 on bulb mode like with the OM-10? Thanks. Brint :)

Great video! You have a really cool voice for this.

about film photography in general, there is this whole generation that never had a film camera in their hands and thus need to learn these (to me as an 'old' person) basic photography skills ;-) No hate intended, it just shows my age ;-) as a kid i learned these things from my father and he guided me through my early photography. And about the OM-1: back in the early 90's it was my first SLR camera, sold it to get an OM-4. I should have stayed with the OM-1 as none of my OM-4 images were better then my OM-1 images... At the moment i am custodian to 3 OM-1 bodies that all work fine and are used regularly. thx for the video 🙂

I just dug my ancient OM-1 out of the closet. It has to be 40 years old, but it’s 100% functional. I need to shoot some film!

thank you for this video! loving this camera so far - do you ever use the depth of field preview button when shooting? i cant figure out how to use it - the viewfinder just gets dark depending on the aperture setting im using.

Just found this camera in my grand parents house and I’m taking it back home with me now

Hi there, just bought my very first film camera and it is an Olympus OM-1. Excited! However, I also just found out that these early lenses contain some radioactive Thorium. I guess this is common knowledge among photographers. I wonder what the health risks are but so far I find that they are negligible. Do you happen to have some more information about this? Anyway, nice video! Helps a lot

Great video, my grandpa bought 5 of these back in the day. They were my moms for many years and now they have recently become mine. Very excited to use them but they have been sitting in storage for several years now and a few need the pentaprism foam to be cleaned and resealed. That is going to be my task for now. Very excited to get these working and one day pass them along to my kids. Also you mentioned a battery replacement in the opening but I couldn’t find it in the comments. Do you know which batteries are best to use? Thanks.

Awesome video. What battery replacement can you use? Or what external light meter do you use? I’m just getting started into photography and have an OM-1 from my dad, but the light meter doesn’t work.

You can set the shutter speed before or after advancing the film. This is literally written in the manual.

Hey! Love the video! I wondered if you knew the difference between the om-1 and om-1n?

Could you post that link you mentioned about the battery alternative? Or a possible external light meter for it? Thanks!

hi! Thanks for this informative video. My dad has just handed this camera down to me. When the red lights are lined up the lens is not locking in, any tips? I am also worried, and if I look through the viewfinder its all black. Any tips welcomed please!

Thank you! I'm on my first roll with it. I also have an ae 1, but I love not requiring batteries. Do you ever send your film in to develop? I'm researching what will be the best/cost effective way to develop my rolls of film. I'm using negatives but I'm going to get slide rolls next.

I've been buying and selling OM-1's for a while now, had over 13 and none of them had the issue with the specific order in which you have to change the shutterspeed and winding

Just got one, gotta figure out how to remove the prism eating foam though.

Very new to film cameras, I found one of these at a good price on an online thrift store. The seller mentions that the meter doesn’t work reliably, but as you mentioned that could be an asset rather than a fault. However they also said that there is some discoloration at the bottom of the viewfinder due to the age of the prism. Do you think that would be a significant problem, or just an aesthetically annoyance? As I mentioned, total amateur here so not picky. Incredibly informative video, thanks!

Thanks for your help🤗 I have one like this...like new...can you help me where i can buy it and how much? And thank you anyway ☺️💜

Hey, thanks for the video. Just got my om-1 in the mail! I’m a little confused about the not leaving the shutter locked part. Do you mean you should always advance the film after you take a picture, and not leave it un-advanced for a long period of time?

Do you have any idea why the back of the camera isn’t opening? I tried pulling the rewind knob

Hi Hamilton, what is the nMe of the battery for the OM-1 I can't seem to find it in the description? Thanks

Just to clarify, the OM-1 is not Olympus’ first SLR. The Pen-F predates the OM-1 and is an SLR (albeit a half-frame).

What's the alternative for the batteries

Is there a link to where to buy the batteries

The viewfinder is nice to look at but it's harder to compost your image since it's so big. You cannot see your entire composition at once since you have to look around.

Hey, bud. Quick question? You may know more about this than I do. My shutter button seems to get stuck, as though I've taken a picture when I haven't used it. Seems like I have to rewind to the next exposure on film but with that I'm losing shots. Any thoughts? thank you.

Does the lens need uv filter?

Could you recommend a good beginner friendly lens for this camera? Thank you!

Hey where is the link for the battery?

Great review. But, the warning on not leaving the spring compressed is incorrect. The only thing that degrades a spring is the act of compressing and decompressing the spring.

what is the alternate battery? i need one

7:25 interesting fact- a springs wear is a function of how many times it has been cycled not how long it stays in compression! So worry not!

Your camera needs a cleaning if you cannot change the shutter speed without a problem. There are gears on the bottom that can be easily cleaned. But there is also a foam rubber de lamination problem. You should clean any dissolved rubber on the penta prism as it will de laminate the mirror finish.

Will the camera(shutter) function without a camera?

I bought a old Olympus OM-1n and my goal is to learn how to use it. This video helpt a lot. But I have some questions. I got the camera form an old man in town. And the camera came with a big case with a type of accessories and lenses. I don’t exactly know how to use them or what the precise function is. So maybe someone can help me😅. The first lens is a Panagor PMG auto wide-angle lens f=28 mm 1:28. The second one is a sigma high-speed zoom f=80~200mm 1:3,5 multi-coated. And the there are these like lens extenders type of things. With 12mm, 20mm, 36mm. Can someone tel me what these are. I honestly have no idea. And I’m curious to know what these are for and how to use them. I’d like to hear from you😊

I can't find the link you mentioned for the alternative battery.

Hello :) what’s the name of the battery substitute for the OM-1?

what's a light meter? I'm a beginner will I need that?

The OM1 was not Olympus’ first slr ,that was the Olympus FTL.

could you link me the aftermarket battery for this camera?

Can anyone be patient and explain the Depth of field button and how to use it? I have a om1 and I don't know how to use it

Thank you for the video. Now I know this camera is not for me. I'll stick to Pentax ME Super. Since my favorite mode is aperture priority.

Ive had OM1s since the 80s and have never had the issue with winding on before changing shutter speed. Early Russian cameras yes not the OM1. Maybe your camera has a mechanical problem. Also shutter speed is on the body not the lens

97% of what will be on the film you will see on the viewfinder. Not the other way around.

Recommending people to buy a camera with a broken light meter and a faulty self timer is crazy. Why would anyone spend money on something they know is broken?