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Counter Frame faulty?
Hi guys, I'm using an Olympus OM-1n for a few months now. Everything was fine until yesterday. There seem to be a problem with the frame counter. Sometimes it won't move when i advance the lever.
Can i check with you guys.
a) If no films were loaded will the number move when we trigger the shutter and then lever or will it stay at blank or E?
b) after unloading a film, will the counter automatically move to E or blank? I checked the manual it states this. Whenever the camera back is opened, the exposure counter automatically returns to "S". However, when I open the back of my camera, it will always go back to blank (the position between E and S) However there were two instances when it when back frame 34 oddly and just won't advance. (there was no film inside)
c) In such a case whereby the frame shows 34 and I need to load a new film, what do I do? Move the lever to S and load a film?
thanks alot guys.
Can i check with you guys.
a) If no films were loaded will the number move when we trigger the shutter and then lever or will it stay at blank or E?
b) after unloading a film, will the counter automatically move to E or blank? I checked the manual it states this. Whenever the camera back is opened, the exposure counter automatically returns to "S". However, when I open the back of my camera, it will always go back to blank (the position between E and S) However there were two instances when it when back frame 34 oddly and just won't advance. (there was no film inside)
c) In such a case whereby the frame shows 34 and I need to load a new film, what do I do? Move the lever to S and load a film?
thanks alot guys.
ETA: Now I played around without film and took 4 shots. However when I opened the back, the counter remained at 4 when it's supposed to reset. This is a bug right?
sreed2006
Posted 14 years ago
(Just for reference, "S" means Start of roll, and "E" means End of roll.)
Looking at my OM-1n, I find that
a) The film counter on my camera does not go to the blank area. There is not film in the camera. When the counter reaches E, winding again does not move the counter past E. (From memory, it does the same with film loaded, the counter stops at E.)
b) As soon as the camera back is opened, the frame counter rotates back to S automatically. It stays at S until the back is closed, even when using the advance lever.
c) I closed the back and advanced 6 times, so that the counter was on frame 4 and opened the back, the frame counter automatically went back to S.
If your camera does not behave the same way, I would have to say it is not working properly.
Looking at my OM-1n, I find that
a) The film counter on my camera does not go to the blank area. There is not film in the camera. When the counter reaches E, winding again does not move the counter past E. (From memory, it does the same with film loaded, the counter stops at E.)
b) As soon as the camera back is opened, the frame counter rotates back to S automatically. It stays at S until the back is closed, even when using the advance lever.
c) I closed the back and advanced 6 times, so that the counter was on frame 4 and opened the back, the frame counter automatically went back to S.
If your camera does not behave the same way, I would have to say it is not working properly.
oh dear. I checked mine again, and all 3 procedures were not similar.
I assume something is wrong then. Right now I have not loaded any film. The counter shows E. However when I advanced the lever, it moved to blank. Advance it a few more times, it goes to S, and so on and forth.
I assume something is wrong then. Right now I have not loaded any film. The counter shows E. However when I advanced the lever, it moved to blank. Advance it a few more times, it goes to S, and so on and forth.
sreed2006
Posted 14 years ago
Try this:
Open the back of the camera. Below the advance lever, in the groove for the upper light seal, there is a "button" that should move easily. That is the "door open" sensor. If the light seals have started to come apart, they may have jammed that sensor. A careful cleaning around the button might get it moving in and out again, so that when the camera back is opened the frame counter goes back to S.
Open the back of the camera. Below the advance lever, in the groove for the upper light seal, there is a "button" that should move easily. That is the "door open" sensor. If the light seals have started to come apart, they may have jammed that sensor. A careful cleaning around the button might get it moving in and out again, so that when the camera back is opened the frame counter goes back to S.
sreed2006
Posted 14 years ago
Responding to your last reply, it sounds as if the frame counter is not in the correct position somehow. I have never looked inside one of these cameras to see how that could happen.
If it were my camera, I'd send it in for repair.
If it were my camera, I'd send it in for repair.
Oh no I cannot locate this button/sensor. I googled and all. Is it of any particular color or size?
sreed2006
Posted 14 years ago
With the back open, and looking at the camera from the back, it is located in the top groove just below the winding lever, about 1 inch from the right side.
There is a gold-colored electrical contact on the lower side of the film chamber - the door-open button is directly above that contact, but in the top groove. It is a silver-colored square button.
There is a gold-colored electrical contact on the lower side of the film chamber - the door-open button is directly above that contact, but in the top groove. It is a silver-colored square button.
Oohhh I found it thanks alot. I saw it the first time but you mentioned it can be easily moved. However, mine feels stuck-ish, like it is fixed. Hence, I thought that wasn't it. Perhaps, that's the problem.
Yesterday however, I got my assignment done. When I loaded the film the counter was at 34. So I rewound my film into my canister and manually moved the number to S. Afterwhich, I reloaded the film and started shooting. I developed my film and there were shots. So basically, it still works just that the lever and the frame counter were not cooperating. Can I get an assurance that if i were to carefully and manually check the S and E before loading and unloading, it would still produce pictures right? I can't get it repaired till next Wednesday cause it is the holiday season here.
Yesterday however, I got my assignment done. When I loaded the film the counter was at 34. So I rewound my film into my canister and manually moved the number to S. Afterwhich, I reloaded the film and started shooting. I developed my film and there were shots. So basically, it still works just that the lever and the frame counter were not cooperating. Can I get an assurance that if i were to carefully and manually check the S and E before loading and unloading, it would still produce pictures right? I can't get it repaired till next Wednesday cause it is the holiday season here.
Glad you found it. I also did not find a picture for it on the web, so took this one with my phone.
Thanks so much for your great help. I don't know what to clean it with though so I just blew air and swiped it with those brush cleaner.
sreed2006
Posted 14 years ago
I was thinking that maybe some of the light-seal foam had lodged near the button and kept the button from moving. I would try a toothpick to try to clean around the button as a first try.
If you do not see why the button is not moving, then there is probably something inside the camera body that is keeping the button stuck.
I have never disassembled one of these cameras (I don't even know how to), so that is why I would send it in for repair.
If you do not see why the button is not moving, then there is probably something inside the camera body that is keeping the button stuck.
I have never disassembled one of these cameras (I don't even know how to), so that is why I would send it in for repair.
That's right. I compared mine to your picture. Initially there was no gap on the right side of the button. Foam filled the gap so I pushed the foam with toothpick to create that gap. Now when I open the back, it will rewind to E. Well at least, that's better than some random frames.
I'll try shooting tomorrow morning. Sometimes the counter got stuck though. It won't advance.
Still having problem with this :
b) As soon as the camera back is opened, the frame counter rotates back to S automatically. It stays at S until the back is closed, even when using the advance lever. (by you)
-------------------
The numbers on mind will advance even if the back is opened or closed. So odd, I have never paid attention if does the same previously though.
Either way, thanks for your help. Will get it checked soon. This is tragic, I really love this camera.
I'll try shooting tomorrow morning. Sometimes the counter got stuck though. It won't advance.
Still having problem with this :
b) As soon as the camera back is opened, the frame counter rotates back to S automatically. It stays at S until the back is closed, even when using the advance lever. (by you)
-------------------
The numbers on mind will advance even if the back is opened or closed. So odd, I have never paid attention if does the same previously though.
Either way, thanks for your help. Will get it checked soon. This is tragic, I really love this camera.
---As soon as the camera back is opened, the frame counter rotates back to S automatically. It stays at S until the back is closed, even when using the advance lever. ---
That is what it should do. Closing the back engages a catch which stops the film-counter from resetting to S by spring-force. With the back open it will obviously stay on S. Sounds to me there is a minor problem with the catch, but I'd hardly call it tragic. There are a number of specialist OM repairers who can probably fix the fault almost immediately.
That is what it should do. Closing the back engages a catch which stops the film-counter from resetting to S by spring-force. With the back open it will obviously stay on S. Sounds to me there is a minor problem with the catch, but I'd hardly call it tragic. There are a number of specialist OM repairers who can probably fix the fault almost immediately.
WB Lynch
Posted 14 years ago
Typically the foam light seals in these cameras rot out after about 20 years.
If you search and read up on, "light seal replacement,OM1" ,you should find several sites with instructions and pictures of how this affects your camera and how to replace the seals.
I have one OM1 that had the seals replaced about 3 years ago and that gap for the frame counter reset has grown large enough that I now have a light leak there.
A good alternative is to send your camera out for a professional clean, lube and adjust which will include replacement of the foam seals.
If you search and read up on, "light seal replacement,OM1" ,you should find several sites with instructions and pictures of how this affects your camera and how to replace the seals.
I have one OM1 that had the seals replaced about 3 years ago and that gap for the frame counter reset has grown large enough that I now have a light leak there.
A good alternative is to send your camera out for a professional clean, lube and adjust which will include replacement of the foam seals.
observe@robluscombe.com
Posted 8 years ago
Thank you, I have just bought my first OM-1n which is pretty much mint (and just had seals replaced prior to purchase) and love it but the frame counter is stuck at 'E', I'm part way through the first film at present so shall try this straight after.
