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-31983
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Olympus OM
- Years
- 1983–1986
- Weight
- 510 g
- Shutter
- 1s – 1/2000s
- Meter
- ttl-multi-spot-otf
The Olympus OM-3 (1983) is the original mechanical-shutter multi-spot-meter OM. Same body as the OM-4 (1983) but with a fully mechanical shutter — every speed (1s through 1/2000s) fires without battery. Multi-spot OTF metering (up to 8 averaged readings) inherited from the OM-4. Production was very low — perhaps 10,000 units across the 3-year run — making the original OM-3 even rarer than the later titanium OM-3 Ti (1995).
Reference
Find film for your Olympus OM-3
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
- **Counterfeit warning** — original 1983 OM-3 bodies are valuable enough that fakes (modified OM-4 with ground-off labels) circulate. Verify with Olympus serial-number records.
- **Prism corrosion** — Olympus's signature problem.
- **Foam seals** — replace.
- **Multi-spot meter buttons** — verify.
- Service: John Hermanson (Camera Wiz).
About this camera
The original mechanical OM-3. 1983, very low production, predecessor of the better-known OM-3 Ti (1995).
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Olympus OM-3 use?
- The Olympus OM-3 shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Olympus OM-3 take?
- The Olympus OM-3 uses a 2x SR44 / LR44 battery.
- What lens mount does the Olympus OM-3 have?
- The Olympus OM-3 uses the Olympus OM mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Olympus OM-3 offer?
- The Olympus OM-3's shutter speeds range from 1s to 1/2000s.
- What light meter does the Olympus OM-3 use?
- The Olympus OM-3 meters with ttl-multi-spot-otf.