Olympus OM-2
Introduced: 1975 Discontinued: 1979
Olympus OM-2 is the AE successor to the OM-1 — in production 1975-1984. The OM-2 added aperture-priority AE with the world's first OTF (off-the-film) metering system — measuring exposure from light reflected off the film during the actual exposure. This OTF metering was a Maitani innovation that subsequent designs (Pentax LX, Olympus OM-3/OM-4) refined.
Key features
- Olympus OM bayonet
- Electronic horizontal cloth shutter — 60s (auto) / 1s (manual) to 1/1000 + B
- Aperture-priority AE + manual modes
- OTF (off-the-film) metering — measures actual exposure during shutter operation
- Compact body — same Maitani-designed compact size as OM-1
- Battery-dependent for AE and shutter
Practical notes
- OM-2 bodies on used market: $250-500 working examples
- The OTF metering excels at long-exposure work (the meter responds to actual film exposure, not pre-shutter conditions)
- Same battery situation as OM-1 (zinc-air alternative for the discontinued 1.35V mercury cell)
Related cameras
- Olympus OM-1 — mechanical predecessor
- Olympus OM-4Ti — pro-grade successor
- Nikon FE — competitor compact AE
Native lenses
Compatible with all Olympus OM Zuiko lenses