I've always been partial to the Olympus OM System cameras and lenses. I built up quite a substantial collection of OM SLR bodies and lenses before eventually selling them and drifted to a Sony mirrorless in 2010. But now, as of December 2021 I'm back in the Olympus fold — am very glad to have returned.
OM Camera
In 2010, I bought a Sony NEX7 as a digital replacement for my OM kit, as described below. I must admit I never quite felt the same affection for the NEX7 that I had for my OM cameras, but it was light, compact, and did the job for over ten years. But I was always hankering for an OM camera. Back in 2010, the digital OM options were limited, but now Olympus produces some beautiful cameras. I'm sure someone will tell me there are better digital cameras out there and that I should have done more research, but late in 2021, after very little of the aforesaid investigation, I ditched my unloved NEX7 and bought:
- OM-D E-M5 Mark III body (Silver)
- M.Zuiko Digital ED 7–14mm F2.8 PRO
- M.Zuiko Digital ED 14–150mm F4–5.6 II
- M.Zuiko Digital ED 75–300mm F4.8–6.7 II
And I'm very happy indeed! The camera's retro-gorgeousness makes me happy just to use it. The 7–14mm (14–28mm equivalent) super wide-angle lens is beautifully sharp, allowing me to continue capturing landscapes as is my wont, while the 75–300mm (150–600mm equivalent) makes photographing birds and wildlife much easier. So, after an eleven-year hiatus, I'm back in the OM fold.
OM Collection
My second-ever 35mm SLR was an Olympus OM20 with a 50mm macro lens, which I received for my birthday in 1986. (My first SLR was a second-hand Praktica, in case you're wondering.)
That was about it until the early 2000s, when I went through a phase of collecting OM bodies, Zuiko lenses, and OM accessories, mainly from eBay and occasionally from specialist second-hand (or pre-owned, as they preferred to call it) camera dealers such as Ffordes in Inverness-shire.
Over the next decade I amassed quite a large collection of OM bodies, including three OM4Ti (two back, one silver), numerous OM10s, and another couple of OM20s (though unfortunately never an OM3-Ti, as they were like hen's teeth and just a wee bit beyond my budget). I also collected loads of Zuiko lenses, ranging from an 18mm right up to a 500mm reflex, including rarities such as the full-frame 16mm f/3.5 fisheye, the 40mm f/2.0 pancake, and the 28mm f/2.0 (rather than the more common f/3.5). I was even on the verge of buying the legendary 90mm f/2.0 macro before deciding to finally make the move to digital. Along the way I also acquired original OM filters, lens hoods, camera bags, cases, grips, viewfinder lenses, and more. If it bore the OM name (and wasn't outrageously expensive), I bought it. At the time, analogue SLR systems were steadily being replaced by digital in both consumer and professional markets, which meant much of this gear could be picked up cheaply.
Then, in the early 2010s, I decided to make the switch to digital, so I sold all my OM kit (apart from my original OM20 and the OM4Ti that was in the worst condition) to the aforementioned Ffordes and used the not-insignificant proceeds to fund the move. After looking at the DSLRs available, I eventually settled on the Sony NEX7, primarily because the OM SLR system had spoiled me — I wanted a compact camera, not a full-frame beast weighing over a kilo. At the time Olympus didn't really have a compelling digital offering, but now they make some beautiful cameras.
