Dedicated to Preserving the OM System
Used OM-4?
4/04/2009: An excited customer just sent in his very recently acquired black 4T! It was used, didn't look bad at
all, but some features didn't work. Problem is, when I removed the top cover I realized it was really a plain OM-4
from the mid '80s with oldest circuit board. Someone had slapped an OM-4T top and bottom cover on.
WARNING
! In the used camera field, you may not know what you're buying. Don't be a victim. Best case scenario is to
be able to handle equipment first before laying down money. Shopping through the internet is risky, and some sellers
won't accept returns. Buyer beware.
Be extremely suspicous of ebay auctions listed as "like new in (a) box" .
Most likely, body serial number will not match the box or box number will be missing, cut out, look erased or written over. .
Here's what to look for if you're considering a used OM-4T or Ti
1) Turn battery check on. If it's a real 4T / Ti , red light and beep should shut off automatically in approx.
30 seconds. Note that older plain OM-4 bodies that had been serviced by Olympus may also have an upgraded circuit that will
also turn the battery check off. If battery check does NOT turn off in 30 seconds, it means body has the higher battery
drain of the original OM-4.
2) Look at the outside of the body, note battery check LED cover. Note round red area in the left picture. This
is the battery check of a plain OM-4 (here dressed up as a FAKE OM-4T). Picture on the right shows a REAL OM-4T, proper LED
cover with rectangular red patch.
3) This one is a little harder but is significant. The knurled ASA ring on the 4T/Ti is about 1mm higher than
a plain 4. Problem found in some plain 4s is that as you turn the compensation dial, the ASA setting slips and shifts to another
number. 4T ring is about 5.5mm high. Plain OM-4 ring is less than 5mm and is for some more difficult to grip.
A small number of plain OM-4s have been upgraded with the improved knurled ring. I have done this upgrade for some OM-4 users.
Requires longer rewind shaft, rewind bushing, 2 inner circuit parts etc. Requires about $75 in parts and overhaul labor charge.
4) More to follow, but these few steps may help you buy an authentic camera, and not a fake that someone has cobbled together.
