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.
View profile35mm SLR
Olympus OM-201983
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Olympus OM
- Years
- 1983–1986
- Weight
- 460 g
- Shutter
- 1s – 1/1000s
- Meter
- ttl-center-weighted-cds
The Olympus OM-20 (1983, marketed as the **OM-G** in North America and some European markets) is the mid-tier consumer body that succeeded the OM-10 in the Olympus OM lineup. Where the OM-10 required a separately purchased manual adapter to access shutter speeds other than program AE, the OM-20 integrated manual exposure as a standard mode alongside aperture-priority and program. This made it a meaningfully more capable camera than its predecessor without approaching the complexity of the professional OM-2n or OM-4. The body retains the compact OM shell dimensions and accepts the full Zuiko lens lineup, while adding a limited mechanical fallback - bulb and 1/60s are available without battery power, a small but practical advantage over the fully electronic alternatives.
Reference
Find film for your Olympus OM-20
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
ISO 400
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **SR44 battery compartment** - coin cells rarely leak badly but check for green corrosion. SR44 and LR44 are interchangeable in practice.
- **Mirror damper foam** - the standard Olympus failure mode; deteriorated foam causes the mirror to slap and can leave residue on the mirror or shutter curtain. Almost all examples need new mirror foam.
- **Shutter curtain** - inspect for pinholes by shining a light through the lens mount with the shutter open on B. Any light leak through the curtain fabric is a problem.
- **Mechanical fallback** - verify B and 1/60s fire with batteries removed.
- **Light seals** - foam seals along the door hinge and film door channel often need replacement alongside the mirror damper.
- Service: John Hermanson (Camera Wiz) handles OM system bodies; standard CLA on the OM-20 is straightforward and parts availability is adequate.
About this camera
The OM-10's successor with built-in manual mode, program AE, and a mechanical fallback - the first truly complete consumer OM.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Olympus OM-20 use?
- The Olympus OM-20 shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Olympus OM-20 take?
- The Olympus OM-20 uses a 2x SR44 battery.
- What lens mount does the Olympus OM-20 have?
- The Olympus OM-20 uses the Olympus OM mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Olympus OM-20 offer?
- The Olympus OM-20's shutter speeds range from 1s to 1/1000s.
- What light meter does the Olympus OM-20 use?
- The Olympus OM-20 meters with ttl-center-weighted-cds.