Olympus OM-3 Review - The Mechanical Collector Piece with 80s Vibes

In this episode, Jules and I review the Olympus OM-3, a 35mm single-lens reflex camera with an entirely mechanical shutter and advanced multi-spot metering but without automatic exposure modes. The OM-3 was introduced together with the OM-4 at PMA in Las Vegas in March 1983 but only became available in the summer of 1984. While both cameras came with a redesigned body and more advanced spot metering features, the OM-3 was much more expensive than the still simultaneously sold predecessor OM-1n which also came with a fully mechanical shutter albeit less sophisticated metering. 

As a result of that, many people chose the OM-1n over the OM-3 and Olympus already discontinued the camera in 1986. Due to this limited production run of only three years, the OM-3 is quite rare. In great condition, it has become a true collector piece. Prices are often three times higher than those of the more advanced OM-4 which features an electronic shutter, TTL metering and automatic exposure modes. 

One of our long-term viewers and supporters was kind enough to send this OM-3 over to us for a review. We were both obviously very excited about this opportunity but also particularly careful with such a collector piece. We took the camera out to the Raisting Earth Station where we had shot an episode of One Shot before as well as to the Osterseen for some landscape and some other locations in and around Munich to capture architecture and street shots. We used Ilford Delta 100, Ilford Ilfocolor 400 and Kodak Portra 160. We developed the Delta 100 in D76 ourselves. Let’s take a closer look at the camera, its features and the results.

Gear used:
Olympus OM-3 with
21mm f/3.5
24mm f/2
35mm f/2
50mm f/1.4
100mm f/2.8
135mm f/2.8
300mm f/4.5

Films used:
Ilford Delta 100
Ilford Delta 400
Ilford Ilfocolor 400
Kodak Portra 160

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