Olympus OM4ti

Very helpful to one of the old B+W boys pulled towards Digital colour but still in love with BW film and needing a lighter camera than my cuurent Rolleiflex SL35E's. Thanks

I have one you can buy.

How can you say Olympus did not make fast Tele lenses, just take a look at the Zuiko 250mm F2- Zuiko 180mm F2- Zuiko 350mm F2.8. Still fast even now.

My first camera was an OM 4 not a Ti and I loved it to death when I was very short of money one day I had to sel it I still cry now. I am now a litttle better off and am a proffesional photographer and own many nikon cameras. I will never forget my OM4 it was certainly as good as a Nikon. The proof is in the puding as they say. I would recommend the OM4 or OM4 Ti to any one who has an interest in photography. The only difference between Nikon and Olympus is that Nikon hasnt sold out yet.

To say the Zuiko lenses don't respond well to rough use is doing them a very great injustice. Please just take a second to compare them to pretty much any other consumer SLR lens currently being made by any of the top manufacturers. They contain as much plastic as is possible to cram in to the construction, the latest Canon EF offerings barely have any metal on them at all. If they could make the optics out of cheese then they'd do it rather than make a long-lasting reliable lens. Now look at the general quality of Zuiko lenses and how well they've lasted and take a large bite of humble pie.

Tom

Agreed, this camera is a collectible. Diehards may well argue otherwise, but the fact that Olympus no longer makes film SLR gear IS relevant when it comes to obtaining parts and new lens offerings. Nikon still offers manual focus and autofocus lenses for its new and old cameras, so that comparison is apples and oranges.

I don't think you do this camera justice. The fact that it's no longer made is irrelevant. And new lenses were made upto February this year. The OM4Ti was only discontinued last year

Some of the best and most legendary cameras ever made are no longer in production, such as Spotmatic and Nikon F, and haven't been for my entire lifetime. It doesn't make them any worse cameras.

You do well to point out that you can get a whole heap of modern autofocus gear for the same price as a relatavely-simple OM kit. It's a valid point worth noting, because if you're after an autofocus/multiprogram/does-everything-but-make-the-tea camera, then this camera is NOT for you. Neither is a Leica M, Nikon FM or much medium-format gear. Your money is better spent elsewhere.

But, I still maintain that if you want a light, compact SLR with all the IMPORTANT features on it, which will keep its value and last you a lifetime, then there's not much comes close. Except maybe other OM cameras.

Actually I have no choice then to agree with you.I wrote my own review and responded to your's from what I knew. after I responded I actually went to the olympus web in USA and in Germany to see what's new. Well what is new more then half the products are not offered anymore. As mentioned in my review I actually bought my OM4 in 1985 in Germany, at the same time I bought everything I wanted with it 16mm fisheye from sigma,80-200 F4.0,28mm,and 500mm from Tokina,Lens reversing adapter,Recorddata Back,winder 2, the Metz 32ct4 as well as several screens.Once I imegrated to Canada in 1990 I hardly found any Olypus SLR accesories from Olumpus and even less 3rd Party.I thought it isn't as popular here,This may have been the beginning of the end already.The last thing I bought was another screen and only because it was a sell off.I'm disappointed about the lack of support form olympus today after viewing the sites.I also searched for the camera and had to learn that the body gets sold today for 2400.00 deutsch mark (1200.00 pounds)I almost fall of my chair considering I paid half of that.I actually have to contact olympus because my recorddata is getting to the end of it's Date (till 2002)I want to see what are they going to do.Well it did not outlast film yet but outlasted my data back :).anyways I see your point now about different flash sync times. I guess I did not yet encounter the situation it may have to do with the fact that by using nothing higher than asa 64 I have the problem of posible under exposer,I tried higher up to asa1600 and did not like it.As I said my comments and review had been based on what I learned between 1985 and 1989 My opinion about the camera is the same but my opinion about Olympus after visiting the sites has changed.Will see what they say once I e-mail them about my data back,I'm going to do this Today.

Kraut: Thank you for your response. Firstly, I didn't say the F280 is the only flash unit that will work on the OM4Ti, I said that to my knowledge it was the only one that enabled you to synchronize at speeds higher that 1/60th second. I too own a T32 flash (I think that's what you call a CT32) and in truth it is probably a much better flash-unit than the F280. But, among other things, a fast flash-sync is needed for 'fill-in' flash on sunny days where the shutter cannot be slowed down to 1/60th second without causing overexposure but where you still need the flash to fill in any shadows to avoid silhouettes. This can only be done with an F280. Most cheaper cameras (such as the Nikon FM2) can sync at upto 1/250th second without the need for specialized flash units. Okay, at the time the OM4Ti was launched is was the first camera that, using the F280, could sync at any shutter-speed, but other manufacturers' technologies have moved on while Olympus have chosen to rest on their laurels and get left behind in this area. I agree that there are a good, quality accessories to be had for the camera, and I also agree that, on quality terms alone, it is certainly on par with rivals' offerings. Don't forget, I gave the camera a 10/10 overall marking: I really do like it very much! It cannot be ignored, however, that Olympus has virtually abandoned OM support, except for pro-grade lenses and the specialist products you describe, with no obvious developments on the horizon, and when a manufacturer gives up on its own products it's usually a sign that the camera's days are numbered. That generally signals the end for third-party support, and then even the most loyal of owners tend to move on to rival technologies. In terms of workmanship, I too think this camera cannot be bettered. Like I said in my review at www.camerareview.com, buy this camera and you will have bought a camera that will probably outlive the availability of film. However, its few weaknesses such as the slow flash-sync and virtually non-existent development and support from Olympus mar an otherwise perfect score. I hope that explains my markings.

I have to disagree.The F 280 is not the only flash as far as I recall there is an CT32 from Olympus?.When I bought my OM 4 ,I did not want to spend a lot for a flash if i did'n t have to.I bought the Metz 32CT4 it is identical to the CT32 from Olympus the specs as well as the way it looks.The metz 32ct4 just does not have the little round interconect but one can get a vast amount of shoes to make this flash work like any OEM flash with any brand of camera.It Has the same feature as the CT32 form Olympus it even comes with the bounce grip witch aslo can take 4 DD bateries.Speaking of 1/60 flash sync,Using a flash like the CT32 form Olympus or Metz,The camer will keep the shutter open for 1/60 but the camer will turn the flash off when it reads enough light.Conclusion olumpus contolls the flash speed making it unneccesary to have a different flash sync.Thus I never run into a situation where 1/60 flash sync was a problem.I do agree that the camera is expensive as an OM4ti when I bought mine the OM4ti was 1600.00 Deutsch mark (800.00 Pounds)yet I bought the OM4 Black witch is unfortunally discontinued for a long time for 1200.00 Deutsch mark(600.00 pounds).I do not want to be ignorend In what situation would you need a different flash sync (using the right flash)and at what speed ? Cheaper rivals ? considering 1)The feature 2)the acessories I do not think that there is a real rival.Look deeper into the accesories there is a vast amount of it of course not sold at a camera retailer.since this camera is also used for Medical and geologie there is for examlpe a fiber optic witch gets used instead of a lense,it is used for inserting into small pinholes or openings to take picture of a persons insides or to take picture inside of caves or egyptian grave sites witout braking it open.But there is more than just that.On the other hand you not also pay for the features of acamera, you also pay the the workmanship,Development and support.It's like saying a VW is a cheaper rival of a Rolls Royce well both are Cars right?