I have an older Olympus OM-4 that has seen little use, never been damaged or abused, and is in nearly mint condition. During some recent exposure testing, I found that it's metering is 3 stops different from two other cameras (Canon FT & an OM-1) and a handheld meter, all of which agree fairly closely with one another. The OM-4 now needs to be set at ISO 3200 in order to give the same readings as the others set at ISO 400. I've used fresh SR-44 batteries.

Does anyone know anything about any similar OM-4 metering problems? A tech at Olympus said that the one-piece lithium battery sold by some dealers for the OM-4 could damage the camera or metering system. I in fact used that battery recently. Anyone heard of this problem?

Thanks much!

Doyle Bishop, bearpaw100@hotmail.com

-- Doyle Bishop (bearpaw100@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002

Answers

I've heard of the problem from several sources although I was never sure they weren't all repeating an urban legend. I had one of the early OM4s and a metering problem was just about the only problem I never had.

You could contact Camtech and ask their advice;

http://www.zuiko.com/

-- David M (davidmphoto@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002.

Doyle,

I don't think it was the lithium battery... I've used one in my OM-4 without any adverse affects (other than premature battery failure-- switched back to SR44's and no problems since). How did you perform your test?

-- Gregory Logiodice (glogiodice@aol.com), March 10, 2002.

Thanks guys. Gregory, I noticed apparently bizarre readings during regular shooting. I then set up a copy stand with photofloods to get fixed distance & luminance of light and simply took exposure readings with the cameras & handheld.

David, I did contact John Hermanson & he suggests that he might be able to fix the problem for the standard overhaul price. If not, it costs me $20 plus shipping. I'll give it a try. I like the camera. My only other complaints are its appetite for batteries and the integral ASA & exposure comp dials, which can be a pain.

Thanks again.

-- Doyle Bishop (bearpaw100@hotmail.com), March 11, 2002.

My record for a set of fresh batteries in an early OM-4 was 15 minutes from installing them to them dieing. I had one of the first batch of 6 OM-4s that came into the UK.

I took the camera to the Olympus UK headquarters and asked them to test the battery drain and they said it was in speck so I embarrased an Olympus salesman on the Olympus stand at a trade show when there was lots of people around about the battery consumption and they agreed to replace all the circuit boards. The camera also had to have a new viewfinder assembly and an new shutter before being bounce tested to destruction down a cliff.

-- David M (davidmphoto@hotmail.com), March 11, 2002.