Olympus OM-4TI Film Camera

Pros: Precision engineered professional all manual camera. Loyal cult following

Cons: Quirky controls, no auto focus, no "program" modes

The Bottom Line: Basically unchanged since 1972, the Olympus OM4ti proves the old adage, "If it aint broke, don't fix it"

Review: In 1972 Olympus stunned the photographic world by introducing the first "compact" 35mm system SLR, the Olympus OM. The OM was about half the size and weight of the camera behemoths of the early seventies. The camera caught on quickly and developed an...

Pros: Sturdy but compact body, top-of-class light metering, excellent Zuiko optics.

Cons: Expensive

The Bottom Line: Professional grade camera. No need for a separate spotmeter. Takes the guesswork out of tricky lighting situations. Don't cripple this by buying cheap lenses!

Review: I don't say that lightly either. I spent a 2 year period of my life working at camera stores, and have tried MANY cameras. I can also say (shamefully) that an Olympus OM4 was the first thing I charged on a credit card that I didn't pay off that ...

Pros: Rugged, lightweight, classic design. Most sensitive light meter of any available 35mm SLR.

Cons: No autofocus. No program-mode exposure. No modern Zuiko zoom lenses available.

The Bottom Line: Classic, high quality autoexposure camera, however you'll need to rely on third-party companies for modern zoom lenses.

Review: I bought my OM-4T in 1989. At that time it was one of the most sophisticated pro-level cameras available. It did have the absolutely most sophisticated multi-spot light metering system. Olympus were always known for having the most compact pro-level...

Pros: Elegant, compact design, light weight, titanium casing, metering system, superb lenses.

Cons: No autofocus, but neither does a Leica . . . Limited zoom lenses.

The Bottom Line: If you are looking for your first camera, this is not for you. If you are serious about taking photographs, the OM-4Ti is a superb companion to get you there.

Review: Having been introduced by Olympus in the early 1980s as the OM-4, the OM-4 Ti ceased production in March 2003. The cost of producing this gem of a camera, using titanium and other metals instead of extruded plastics, and its associated lenses, became...

Pros: Bulletproof built, vast array of lenses, lightweight, "simplicity", clear manual layout (no fiddly menus or buttons to push)

Cons: "battery consumption", price if new, no preflash with spotmetering

Review: I started photography using a Fujica AX5 The Fujica was fun for starters but was a disaster in the electronics department. Then I saved money to get me an OM-4. That was back in '86.

Sophisticated metering system.
The reason I...

Pros: lightweight; rugged; excellent lenses available; multi-spot metering

Cons: no autofocus; other than multi-spot, metering is unsophisticated; must remember to set film speed; manual film advance and rewind

Review: I own an OM-4, the precursor to the OM-4T and OM-4Ti. The "T" and "Ti" stand for "titanium", and the 4T(i) and 3T(i) have titanium bodies that make them very rugged, as well as lightweight. The 4Ti also has improved...