Thrift Store Rescue: Olympus OM 10: Made the mistake of walking into a thrift store after using its parking lot. One lonely little camera was on the shelf, an Olympus OM 10 with its...

Grumpy2k Loc: California

Made the mistake of walking into a thrift store after using its parking lot. One lonely little camera was on the shelf, an Olympus OM 10 with its 50mm kit lens and a power winder. I need another camera like a hole in the head, but the lady offered it to me for 50% off, and so I walked out $34 poorer and one camera richer. All the controls seem to work just fine. I gave it a quick microfiber once over and used lens wipes on the glass, DL’d the manual and read through it, and loaded a fresh roll of HP5. Going to take a street walk this morning and see what develops. 🙄

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Grumpy2k wrote:

Made the mistake of walking into a thrift store af... (show quote)

Great find! Have fun.

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

Good score, Grumpy. Have fun with your new kit. Film is definitely attracting folks these days. College photography curriculums frequently offer film and darkroom classes.

::Ed::

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Super deal. Enjoy it.
--Bob

Grumpy2k wrote:

Made the mistake of walking into a thrift store af... (show quote)

Swifty Loc: Canfield Ohio

Was my first Oly camera. Had the “real-time” metering. Many many photos taken with this camera. May still have it somewhere packed away.

Grumpy2k Loc: California

Update: At the moment it seems to be a fail. Although everything was working during the dry run testing, this morning was not good. Shutter stuck open after actuating. Manual shutter activation wouldn’t work at all. Power winder would actuate, but then stick open. Wouldn’t release until I did a manual film advance. Then it started tripping the shutter when I would do a film advance. Bottom line: maybe 3 or 4 actual shots out of 36. The rest are FUBAR. After I took the exposed roll out, nothing improved during another dry run. Not sure why it went downhill. Fresh Duracell batteries in both the camera and the power winder. 🤔👎

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Grumpy2k wrote:

Update: At the moment it seems to be a fail. Alth... (show quote)

That camera is 40 or more years old. Depending on how motivated you are, the problem may be nothing more than a need for cleaning and lubrication of the shutter clockwork and maybe the mirror actuation system. I imagine the original lubricant is pretty well gummed up by now.

BebuLamar

larryepage wrote:

That camera is 40 or more years old. Depending on how motivated you are, the problem may be nothing more than a need for cleaning and lubrication of the shutter clockwork and maybe the mirror actuation system. I imagine the original lubricant is pretty well gummed up by now.

But that a major work and it would cost at least several times the price of the camera.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

BebuLamar wrote:

But that a major work and it would cost at least several times the price of the camera.

Understood. But when it came time to fix the AI lever on my D300 project camera a few years ago, cost to repair wasn't a consideration. That's why I conditioned it on his level of motivation. (That was a major job, too.)

BebuLamar

larryepage wrote:

Understood. But when it came time to fix the AI lever on my D300 project camera a few years ago, cost to repair wasn't a consideration. That's why I conditioned it on his level of motivation. (That was a major job, too.)

He paid $34 for it. He has no sentimental connection to the camera. If he himself can't make it work it's better just to write it off as a $34 lost.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

BebuLamar wrote:

He paid $34 for it. He has no sentimental connection to the camera. If he himself can't make it work it's better just to write it off as a $34 lost.

And yet, he brought it here and showed it to us with quite a bit of enthusiasm.

To the OP...it's not clear whether you removed the motor drive and tried to see what happened then. If not, try that. Trouble could be with the motor drive, not the camera. Could even be some corrosion or grunge on battery contacts in the motor drive.

Point here is...this isn't a space shuttle. It's way too early to give up.

Grumpy2k Loc: California

I appreciate all of the responses. Here’s what I’ve done so far. After watching a couple of YouTube videos, I decided there was no harm in removing the base plate and seeing what happens when I advance the film and activate the shutter, assuming that it would.

With the base plate off, I did the advance and watched it trip. Admittedly I’m not sure exactly what I should see happening, but after several advancements, it seem to set itself for tripping by the shutter release, and it worked. It gave me several more and I thought it might have fixed itself (not really). There is a lever assembly that would engage and then return. But it soon stopped engaging at all. Not sure why. Now the lever is not engaging and just moves freely back and forth at a touch.

Either something has broken or it’s become disengaged. I’ll need to rewatch the videos and study all the moving pieces.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

" I need another camera like a hole in the head," Grumpy we have all had "weak will moments"

Grumpy2k That camera is OK, only needs an occasional dusting and you are the master of that camera... but you must beware of PET STORES... Kittens look so harmless and in need of dusting. Not so!, they have evolved the art of mastering humans, they must be the center of your focus. If you had the camera manual on the desk reading, they automatically lay down on the manual. If you do not behave as they wish they will give you a mild nip... You can ignore human babies... but kittens will capture you. Cameras are safe.

I had a Hospus Store Lens experience ... A Minolta AF 100 mm Macro for $10... it fits my Sony A65... just a little mold. Spanner tool, $20, and a couple of hours to disassemble and clean. Your phrase "like a hole in the head" fits well, I already had the same lens in my collection.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Grumpy2k wrote:

Update: At the moment it seems to be a fail. Alth... (show quote)

That's why I don't pay over $10-15 for a came in a thrift store. They are not guaranteed. Some stores will give credit, but no refunds it's a gamble, but sometimes we'll worth it. I've gotten some great deals, and like this, paper weights. Sorry!!!!!

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Good find! It is rare that I find a working vintage camera in the “antique” shops in this area. Most times when I ask the shop keeper about cameras the response is, “Some guy was in here the other day and got the last one I had.” Seems that guy is always one day ahead 9f me.

Stan