Olympus OM-PC User manual

Thank you  for choosing the Olympus OM-PC. This
                  camera is equipped with a unique "ESP" (Electro-Selective
                      Pattern)  metering  system. By  combining  this metering
                mode  with  the  automatic  film speed  setting mode and
                 programmed exposure mode, anyone can take perfectly
                   exposed pictures with ease. Before using the camera, please
                     read this operation manual carefully through while check-
                       ing with your camera to become familiar with  this ver-
                          satile SLR.


       Note:  All the components of the Olympus OM-PC are carefully designed and their production and
            assembly  is  strictly controlled  to enhance the unmatched performance of the system.  If any
              interchangeable lenses, flashes, or accessories other than Olympus products are used, Olympus
              cannot be responsible for poor results or damage of the OM-PC.




                                                                 Automatic                 Correct     Incorrect     Operation   Operation order               Two-step operation                                                                        operation



                Attention  Press lightly   Lamp on    Lamp blinking  Continuous sound    Reference

1

< Preparations before Taking Pictures >



    The Olympus OM-PC is basically designed for automatic film speed setting
with DX coded film.





                                                                        4

Align the red dots and rotate the lens clockwise
         until  it locks.3





          Remove the front lens cap. (Press in the mount
        tabs on  the edges  of  the  lens cap  parallel  with
      "OLYMPUS").4




      Removing the Lens:

              Press the lens release button and turn the lens
       counter-clockwise.




                                                   6

Loading the Batteries





                                              Remove the battery cover.
           1





                                                 Wipe battery surfaces clean. Make sure that +
                                                        signs are facing upwards. Replace the battery cover.         2





7

Checking the Batteries



After inserting the batteries, always check as follows:



                                   Rotate the mode selector  dial  to the "BAT-
                     TERY CHECK" position.      1





                              The audible and visual signals will tell you that
                                  the battery voltage is sufficient.
                                                                If these signals are emitted intermittently,  it means      2   that the batteries are almost worn out. Replace them
                                   with new ones as soon as possible.




                                                                      8

Setting the Camera for Automatic Film Speed Setting



                 With DX coded film, the OM-PC sets the film speed automatically.




                                                Make sure the film you are using  is marked
                                             "DX".           1      If the film you are using is not marked "DX" refer                                                                  to page 25.





                                                        Set the film speed dial to
          2





9

Insert the film leader into the take-up spool.
          3





                                                   Wind the film and make sure the sprocket teeth
                                                     catch both the upper and lower film perforations.          4





                                                  Take up the slack by turning the rewind crank
                                                        clockwise.          5





11

Close the camera back until  it clicks into place.
6





          Take two blank shots to bring the film to the
          first frame.7





    Checking the type of film:

          The film check window in the camera back will
       allow you to check the type of film loaded in the
       camera.




                                                    12

< Taking Photographs  (I) >



                      This chapter explains how to take programmed automatic exposure pic-
                 tures with ESP metering. In this mode, anyone can enjoy taking pictures with
                ease, even in difficult lighting conditions such as backlight.



13

The     mark will appear  in the finder when
        ESP metering is adjusting the exposure. 6





               Press the shutter release to take the picture.
 7





     (A  built-in  battery conserver turns off the viewfinder
display after 60 sec.)





                                                     16

Fold out the rewind crank and wind it until the
        film tension is released.3





          Open the camera back by  pulling up on the
       rewind knob and remove the film.4





                                                    18

< Taking Photographs  (ll)>




                     This mode allows you to respond creatively to the photo situation by free
                 selection of the lens aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation settings.




19

Press the shutter release to take the photograph.
6





            If you see an overexposure warning signal (the
 number "1000" blinks), set the aperture to a larger
 number.





             If the shutter speed is too slow, set the apeture
  to a smaller number to prevent camera shake.





                                                   22

Select the shutter speed.
3





             Focus, then press the shutter release.
4





           To obtain the proper exposure, set the shutter
        speed ring to the setting indicated in the viewfinder.



             ESP Metering.


                Center Weighted Averaged Metering.


                                                   24

Readjust the Index line.
 3





         If the film speed  dial (exposure compensation dial)
cannot be turned to the ISO number of the film used, set
it once at an intermediate value then repeat steps 2 to 3
until the desired ISO number is set.





                                                      26

Exposure Compensation


             For exposure compensation, set the dial anywhere except at "DX ISO AUTO SET".




                                           When an exposure compensation is set, the
                                                           indicator lights in the viewfinder.          1





                                                             After  use, be sure to return the dial  to the"
                                                 normal setting.          2





27

Press the shutter release to start the self-timer.
         The shutter will fire in 12 seconds. 3





             Wind the film for the next shot. The self-timer
           lever will automatically return to its original position. 4





         If you continue to use the self-timer, wind the film in
several short strokes, and it will remain activated. Take note
that shutter will fire even  if you return the self-timer lever
to its original position while it is running.





                                                     30

Advanced Techniques

If you want  to  improve  your  pictures  or  refine your shooting
techniques,   it  is important  to understand the operation of your
camera  thoroughly. The  following  pages  will  provide  detailed
technical  information on  the OM-PC  to  help you  create more
sophisticated photographs.


                                                                   32

SELECTING THE METERING MODE (A Choice of Two Metering Modes)


                      Selector    Viewfinder      Mode                                                          Features                     switch       Display

                                                1. This mode can be selected for general use at all times.
                                                  2. Depending on the light distribution in the composition,
                                                metering is carried out as follows:
                                    When the central part of the composition is darker than
                                                 areas on the periphery, the camera computer increases the
                                             exposure to compensate according to the degree of differ-
                                            ence in brightness indicated.
                                     When the central area is brighter than the rest of the com-
                                                        position the camera sets a predetermined compensation
   ESP Metering                                 value to reduce the exposure.
                                   When the sun or other extremely bright light sources ap-
                                               pear directly in the composition they are ignored in making
                                                   the exposure calculation.
                                    When the whole composition  is illuminated evenly the
                                This symbol     camera  operates  in  the same way as  in TTL  Direct
                              appears only    "OTF"  Auto  Mode  (using  center-weighted  average
                         when ESP       metering). In this case the ESP Metering symbol
                                Metering is     does not appear.
                                  operational.

                                                        1. This mode should be selected when you do not want to
    TTL Direct                                   leave everything up to the camera, but prefer to set the ex-
    "OTF"  Light                              posure according to your own experience, 'feel' and crea-
    Measuring                                        tive requirements.
     (Center-                                        2. In this mode the camera decides the exposure by taking an
    weighted                                 average (center-weighted) of the brightness of the overall
     average                                   composition, without analyzing light distribution in differ-
     metering)                                    ent parts of the composition.

33

ESP (Electro-Selective Pattern) Metering           TTL Direct Off-The-Film "OTF" Light Metering
Generally,  a  photograph  includes  objects  with      (Center-Weighted Average Metering)
different  levels  of  brightness.  Center-weighted,    This is the direct, center-weighted, averaged lightaveraged light metering is an excellent method for                                                    metering system which Olympus pioneered in thethe majority  of ordinary subjects.   It averages the                                                               original model OM-2.  It measures the brightness of
light  intensity  in a  picture frame to determine     the subject as the light registers on the film during
exposure. With  backlighting and other types of     the actual exposure. "OTF" metering can respond
illumination, however, this metering method may     to any sudden changes in light during exposure, and
not  provide  correct exposure because  the  light     therefore  it  is very advantageous for taking quick
level often differs between the subjects and back-    candid  shots and  fast moving subjects.  In flash
grounds. The Olympus OM-4, OM-3 and OM-2S    photography with an Olympus T-Series flash, this
PROGRAM  have adopted spot metering systems    "OTF"  Light  Metering  method  will  also  fully
which allow the photographer to isolate the subject     control the flash exposure, thereby eliminating any
for specific metering and therefore to obtain more    need  for  complicated  guide  number  exposure
accurate exposures.                                     calculations. You can work with all available aper-
The new ESP metering system has been specifically     tures of your lens and use sophisticated techniques
developed for the OM-PC   to simplify exposure in    such as bounce flash and multi flash  in a  fully
these difficult lighting conditions. As soon as you    automatic mode.   It has also solved  difficult ex-
fire the shutter, the camera will measure the light    posure problems with macrophotography.
intensity in both the center of the frame and outer
area separately. The micro computer then processes
this information, including contrast data, and auto-
matically sets optimum exposure according to the
ESP algorithm*. By simply depressing the shutter
release, you can produce a photograph in which the
subject will appear as you see  it with your eyes.
 * For further information on ESP algorithm, refer
   to page 39.


                                                                                        34