C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Olympus OM-2 Black is the black-body finish variant of the OM-2, introduced in 1975. It is mechanically and optically identical to the chrome OM-2: electronic shutter timed by TTL off-the-film (OTF) metering via a silicon photodiode reading light reflected from the film surface during exposure, aperture-priority AE mode capable of automatic exposures up to 120 seconds, and Maitani's compact body dimensions inherited directly from the OM-1. The black finish served the same purpose as on other professional SLRs of the period - reducing body reflections and lowering visual profile. It is rarer than the chrome version and commands a modest premium in clean condition.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The world's first off-the-film metering SLR, in the black-body variant preferred by professionals who needed a less reflective kit.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Olympus OM |
| Years | 1975-1979 |
| Shutter | 2 minutes (auto) - 1/1000s, electronic horizontal cloth |
| Flash sync | 1/60s |
| Meter | TTL OTF SPD (first production OTF camera) |
| Modes | Aperture-priority AE, Manual |
| Viewfinder | 97% coverage, 0.92x magnification |
| Weight | ~520 g |
| Battery | 2x SR44 (mechanical fallback: B and 1/60s only) |
Olympus launched the OM-2 in 1975 as the electronic-shutter companion to the OM-1. Where the OM-1 was purely mechanical, the OM-2 introduced electronic shutter timing with a then-unprecedented metering innovation: rather than reading light through the lens before the exposure, the OM-2 measured light reflected from the film plane during the exposure itself. This OTF approach allowed the camera to correct for changing light mid-exposure and made accurate automatic fill-flash possible — the shutter stayed open until the OTF sensor indicated correct exposure, then closed.
The black-finish OM-2 was produced from the 1975 launch through the OM-2n transition in 1979. The OM-2n (1979) refined the design with improved viewfinder indicators, a more reliable OTF flash system, and multiple-exposure capability; the black OM-2n continued the black variant line. The original black OM-2 is distinguished from the OM-2n by its simpler viewfinder LED layout and lack of multiple-exposure mechanism.
The OM-2's OTF metering system was a genuine technical first, and the black body version was among the tools available to professional photographers who valued the OM system's size advantage over the Nikon F2 or Canon F-1. The ability to handle 120-second automatic exposures accurately — the OTF cell continuing to integrate light and cutting the shutter when the correct dose was reached — was particularly useful for scientific, medical, and long-exposure nature photography.
The black finish places the OM-2 in the company of the Nikon F2 Black, Leica M bodies, and Pentax LX Black as the professional-use finish option of its era. For aperture-priority shooting with a manually focused system, the OM-2 Black remains a practical choice: small, accurate in most lighting conditions, and compatible with the full OM Zuiko lens range.
The OM mount accepts all Olympus OM Zuiko lenses. The OTF flash metering system is most fully exploited with Olympus T-series flashes (T20, T32, T45), which communicate with the camera's OTF sensor to provide automatic flash exposure control.
Key lenses: 50/1.4, 50/1.8, 28/2.8, 35/2, 100/2.8, 90/2 Macro, 200/4.
Motor Drive 1 (requires OM-1 MD or OM-2 MD-capable bodies), Winder 1, Winder 2. Data backs. Interchangeable focusing screens. The Motor Drive 2 was designed for the OM-2 line specifically.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Olympus OM-2
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