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-PC (1985, sold as the **OM-40 Program** in Japan and some European markets) is the consumer-tier OM-system body introduced after the OM-G. It simplified the OM line's entry point by offering program, aperture-priority, and manual exposure modes in a polycarbonate body powered by commonly available AA batteries - a deliberate break from the coin-cell power of the professional OM bodies. A notable feature is **ESP (Electro-Selective Pattern) metering**, an early multi-zone metering system that compares a central spot reading against the overall scene to detect potential backlight and bias exposure accordingly.
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 entry point to the OM system in 1985 - program AE, spot check, and AA batteries in a compact OM shell.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Olympus OM |
| Years | 1985-1988 |
| Shutter | 30s - 1/1000s, electronic horizontal cloth |
| Flash sync | 1/60s |
| Meter | TTL SPD, ESP (electro-selective pattern) |
| Modes | Program, aperture-priority, manual |
| Battery | 2x AA |
| Price used | ~$60-160 |
After the OM-G (1983), Olympus continued developing the consumer OM line. The OM-PC arrived in 1985 as a slightly more capable replacement, primarily distinguished by its AA-battery power system - making it practical for users who found the SR44/LR44 coin cells of other OM bodies inconvenient to source. The body also introduced ESP metering, which Olympus described as a backlight-detection system: the camera compared a central spot against total scene illumination and compensated automatically if backlight conditions were detected.
The OM-PC was sold under different names in different markets: OM-40 or OM-40 Program in Japan and parts of Europe, OM-PC in North America and the UK. Production ran approximately three years. It was not replaced by a direct successor - Olympus wound down the manual-focus consumer OM line by the late 1980s as attention shifted to the autofocus OM-series bodies.
The OM-PC is underrated in the OM lineup. AA batteries make it the most practical OM body for extended travel or international use where LR44 cells are hard to source. ESP metering - simple by later standards but functional - reduces blown exposures in backlit scenes without requiring spot-meter technique. The full OM Zuiko lens system is accessible at a lower price point than the OM-2n or OM-4.
For contemporary use, the OM-PC represents one of the more affordable entry points into the Zuiko lens system: bodies regularly sell for $60-160, far below the OM-2n or OM-4 Ti, while accepting every Zuiko lens ever made.
Full Olympus OM Zuiko system. The OM-PC accepts all OM-mount Zuiko lenses. Recommended starter glass: Zuiko 50mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.4, 28mm f/2.8, 135mm f/3.5. T-series flashes (T-20, T-32) work for OTF TTL flash; however, the OM-PC is an electronic-shutter body without Super FP capability. Motor Drive accessories are compatible in principle but the AA-battery body configuration makes motor drive use less common.
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-PC
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