The OM cameras come with focusing screen 1-13 as standard. This screen has a split-image rangefinder in the centre, surrounded by a microprism ring.

(1-1) Microprism-matte type (for most lenses)

Standard type focusing screen, suitable for general photography. Fast and accurate focusing is done on the central microprism spot as well as on the surrounding matte area. The subject is in focus when the jagged pattern of the microprism spot disappears and the spot becomes crisP and clear. When a lens with a maximum speed of F5 6 or slower is used, the microprism darkens and focusing must be made on the matte area. The meter needle indicates proper exposures

(1-2) Microprism-matte type (for standard & telephoto lenses)

Suitable for general photography in conjunction with a standard or telephoto lens. Focusing is done on the microprism spot as well as on the matte area When a lens with a maximum speed of F8 or slower is used, the microprism spot gets dark - in this case, make use of the matte area which is ground comparatively rough for easy focusing. The meter needle indicates proper exposures

(1-3) Split image-matte type (for most lenses)

Suitable for general photography ensuring critical focusing, and ideal for photographers who prefer the split field and coincidence type focusing - particularly advantageous when taking a subject with vertical lines in which focusing is done easily by aligning the split lines. When a lens with a maximum speed of F5.6 or slower is used, the split prism darkens. The meter needle indicates proper exposures.

(1-4) All matte type (for most lenses)

Suitable for general photography and ideal for photographers who prefer a clearcut view field free from microprism or split prism and for those who are accustomed to focus using matte area. Also suitable for super telephotography as well as close-up photography in conjunction with macro lenses and Auto Bellows. For easy focusing the matte surface is ground rough The meter needle indicates proper exposures.

(1-5) Microprism-clear field type (for wide angle & standard lenses)

This transparent screen provides an exceptionally bright finder image. Highly suitable for snapshots using wide angle lenses The subject is in focus when the image becomes crisp and clear. Note: The lack of a matte surface means depth of field effects cannot be ascertained The meter needle does not indicate proper exposures. because its movement varies depending on the lenses used.

(1-6) Microprism-clear field type (for standard & telephoto lenses)

This screen is compatible with standard and telephoto lenses and provides an extremely bright finder image. Focusing is done on the microprism spot. Note: The lack of a matte surface means depth-of-field effects cannot be shown and the meter needle does not indicate proper exposures

(1-7) Microprism-clear field type (for super telephoto lenses)

Developed primarily for use with super telephoto lenses. this clear field screen provides an extremely bright finder image The microprism spot remains bright even with a lens whose maximum speed is F11' so that this screen is ideal for use with super telephoto lenses with slow lens speed. Note: The lack of a matte surface means depth-of-field effects cannot be as certained and the meter needle does not indicate proper exposures

(1-8) All matte type (for telephoto lenses & astronomical lenses)

This screen is ideal for use with super telephoto lenses of 300mm or more in focal I length, or for astrophotography. The extreme fineness of the matte surface permits outstanding field definition. More accurate focusing may be achieved by the use of the Varimagni Finder When used with astronomical telescopes. Bright images of celestial bodies are obtained both in direct objective and indirect magnified astrophotography The meter needle indicates proper exposures.

(1-9) Clear field type (for endoscopic photography)

Designed especially for use with Olympus fiberoptic endoscope. The transparent condenser type screen, with a central 23mm diam convex surface and no surrounding fresnel lens, requires no focusing when an OM camera is attached to the fiberscope by means of the OM Endoscope Adapter. Auto exposure is made by Olympus light supply linked lo the fiberscope.

(1-10) Checker-matte type (for shift lens for architectural or duplicating works)

This screen was specially designed for use with the Zuiko Shift Lens. The reticule engraved on the all-matte ground screen (the same as on the 1-4) is used for vertical and horizontal picture alignment in architectural and composite panoramic photography. The screen is also suitable for general photography, super-telephotography, and close-up macrophotography in conjunction with the macro lenses and auto bellows. The meter needle indicates proper exposure.

(1-11) Cross hairs matte type (for close-up & macrophotography)

This screen has a cross hairsspot surrounded by a finely ground matte area and is highly advantageous for close up and macrophotography in conjunction with Auto Bellowsand extension tubes. For focusing in low magnification close-up photography, use the matte area, and in greater than life size macrophotography - use the double cross hairs in the same way as with the 1-12 focusing screen The meter needle indicates proper exposures but depending on the specimen. the condition of the reading must be compensated for (e.g . black dots against white background ).

(1-12) Cross hairs matte type (for photomicrography & greater than life size macrophotography)

The transparent screen offers the photographer focusing with an unusually bright finder image. To focus, first correct your diopter using a dioptric correction lens or Varimagni-Finder so that each line of the double cross hairs can be seen clearly and separately. Then bring the specimen into focus The meter needle indicates proper exposures, but depending on the type of specimen. the reading must be compensated for.

(1-11) Microprism/split image/matte type (for most lenses)

Most suitable for normal photography, this screen assures pinpoint focusing. The central split image rangefinder is encircled by a microprism collar. Since the outer area has a matte surface, the screen can be used in the same way as the standard 1-1 and 1-3 screens. When a lens with a maximum speed of F5.6 or slower is used, the prism darkens and focusing must be made on the matte area. The meter needle indicates proper exposures.

(1-14) Microprism/split image/matte type (for most lenses)

Most suitable for normal photography, very similar to 1-13 type except the split image in the center is aligned diagonally to make focusing easy with eiher vertical or horizontal subjects. The central split image rangefinder is encircled by a microprism collar. Since the outer area has a matte surface, the screen can be used in the same way as the standard 1-1 and 1-3 screens. When a lens with a maximum speed of F5.6 or slower is used, the prism may be darkens and focusing must be made on the outer matte area. The meter needle indicates proper exposures.

(2-4) (for most lenses) : This Fine Lumi-Micron screen provides a very bright finder image. Suitable for general photography and ideal for photographers who prefer a clear-cut view field free from microprism or split prism and for those who are accustomed to focus using matte area. Also suitable for super telephotography as well as close-up photography in conjunction with macro lenses and Auto Bellows. Focusing is done on the matte area. This screen can't be used in an OM-1(n) or OM-2(n). This screen can't be used in an OM-1(n) or OM-2(n).

(2-14) Microprism/split image/matte type (for most lenses) This Fine Lumi-Micron screen provides a very bright finder image. Most suitable for normal photography, this screen assures pinpoint focusing. The central split-image rangefinder is encircled by a microprism collar. Align the split vertical lines of the subject image, or focus on he microprism or matte area.

This screen can't be used in an OM-1(n) or OM-2(n). When a lens ith a maximum speed of F5.6 or slower is used, the prism darkens and the focusing must be made on the matte area.

Third Party Focusing Screen

Beattie Intenscreen presents as an alternative. This third party supplier specialises only focusing screens. It has screens designed for most major 35mm format camera models.

Beattie Intenscreen claims their products are brighter by up to 1-1/2 f/stops, but it depends on the respective OM SLR camera models that you are using (those with OTF metering should affect lesser or none in exposures), again I would expect certain exposure compensation to be made on non TTL OTF metering models, this is particularly true for those who uses slide film which has a very tight tolerance on exposure latitude. Prices are not cheap, ranging from US70-00 to US80-00 per piece.

| Previous | Part 2/2

| Back | to Index Page of OM1(n)
| Back | to Index Page of OM2(n)
| Back | to Main Index Page of OM1(n) & OM2(n)

Olympus OM-1(n): Main Index Page (5 Parts) | Camera Operations (6 Parts)
Specifications: HTML | PDF | Main Reference Map: HTML | PDF (217k)
Olympus OM-2(n): Main Index Page (6 Parts) | Camera Operations (9 Parts)
Specifications: HTML | PDF (48k) Main Reference Map: HTML | PDF (203k)
Olympus OM-2SP: Camera Operations | Other Issues
Specifications: HTML | PDF | Main Reference Map: HTML | PDF

Shared Resources: Supplementary Articles:
TTL Metering, Depth of Field, Shutter Speed & Aperture
Motor Drive and Power Winder: Main Index Page (4 Parts)
Motor Drive 1 | Motor Drive 2 | Winder 1 | Winder 2
Flash Photography: Main Index Page (4 Parts)
T45 | T32 | T20 | F280 | S20 | Qucik AUTO 310 | QA300, 200, 200S
Macro-Photography: Main Index Page (3 Parts)
Manual for Photomicro Group (3 Parts) NEW upload !
Macro Flash Units: T10 Ring Flash, T28 Twin, T28 Single, T8 Ring Flash
Accessories: Databack 1-4 | Screens | Finder Accessory | Remote | Cases

Zuiko Lenses: Slowly developing..

Glossary of Photography
A good external source for used Instruction Manuals for various OM SLRs and Accessories.

| Message Board | for your favourite Olympus OM-1(n) and OM-2(n) series SLR Camera models
| Message Board | for your Zuiko Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board |Specifically for Dispose or Looking for OM Photographic Equipment

Home - Photography in Malaysia

Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.

Site & Message Board Maintainers: Mr. Simon Evans <sje@lrc.ruralwales.org>; Mr. Rick Oleson <rick_oleson@yahoo.com>; Mark Dapoz <md@dementia.org>

Credit: My old time buddy, Ahmad Ikram, Dr of Rubber Research Institute (RRI), Malaysia who shares the same passion with me and also lending his OM-1n, OM-4 and the Motor Drive 1 to me for preparing some images in this site; Mark Dapoz <md@dementia.org>for reminding some broken links; Mr Poon of Foto Poon, Ipoh, Mr Richard, Ampang Park, Mr Lim and Miss Jenny of Foto Edar for their generosity for their OM1(n), OM2n camera and some Zuiko lenses. Mr Hans van Veluwen for mistakenly using some content earlier from his OM website; J Sorensen for providing some useful images to rectify some technical "flaws"; Mr Gen Holst for helping during the early stages of development of this OM site; Mr KKLow for some of his earlier images on the OM-1appeared in this website; Miss Wati and Mirza for helping me to convert this Operation Manual into a HTML format. Mr MCLau for rectifying some mistakes made on the earlier preview sites. Site created 'unfortunately' again with a PowerMac. A personal tribute to the creator of the OM system and also a site dedicated to all the fans of Olympuses and Zuiko Optics worldwide. Some of the content and images appeared in this site were scanned from OM official marketing leaflets, brochures and instruction manual(s) for educational purposes. Olympus is a registered tradename of Olympus Optical Inc., Japan.