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    Olympus Fact or Olympus Myth?

    By 3 Mins Read

    The Zuikography truth-detection challenge

    The Olympus OM system has been around long enough that rumours, half-truths, pub legends and pure photographic nonsense have fused into one big ball of “I think I read this somewhere”.

    But can you tell what’s real and what’s absolute waffle?

    Time to play Fact or Myth.

    1. The OM-1 was originally called the “M-1”, and Leica complained.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    Leica had already used “M” for their rangefinders and politely suggested Olympus reconsider. Olympus changed it. Leica went back to being Leica.

    2. Maitani designed the OM-1’s shutter sound to mimic a samurai sword being drawn.

    Reveal answer Answer: Myth
    Although… admit it. You believed it for half a second.

    3. The Trip 35 can fire perfectly even after being buried in sand for a decade.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact (basically)
    There are stories of Trips pulled from drawers, beaches, attics and possibly the Mariana Trench that still work flawlessly.
    It is the cockroach of cameras – and we love it.

    4. The OM-4Ti’s titanium top and bottom plates make it bulletproof.

    Reveal answer Answer: Myth
    Please do not test this.
    Seriously.

    5. A man once climbed a mountain carrying only an OM-1, three rolls of Tri-X, and a packet of biscuits – and got a full National Geographic spread.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    This happened more often than you’d think in the 1970s.

    6. The Zuiko 40mm f/2 was discontinued because it was too sharp and upset other lenses.

    Reveal answer Answer: Myth
    It was discontinued because Olympus didn’t think anyone wanted a 40mm.
    They were wrong.

    7. The XA’s iconic clamshell design was inspired by a bar of soap.

    Reveal answer Answer: Partial fact
    Maitani wanted something smooth, pocketable, clean-lined and unintimidating. Whether he dropped a bar of Imperial Leather in the bath and had an idea, we’ll never know.

    8. The OM system was so small that photographers in the 1970s genuinely thought it was a toy.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    Then they looked through the viewfinder.
    And the toy phase ended abruptly.

    9. The OM-10’s manual adapter was created as a joke and accidentally went into production.

    Reveal answer Answer: Myth
    But it feels true, doesn’t it?

    10. The OM-3 and OM-4 share almost all their parts, except one has feelings and the other doesn’t.

    Reveal answer Answer: Myth
    Officially.
    Unofficially? The OM-4 absolutely has feelings – mostly around battery drains.

    11. Every Olympus engineer owned an OM body and shot with it regularly.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    Olympus had a unique culture: if you design a camera, you bloody well use it.
    It shows.

    12. A prototype OM body once survived being dropped from a helicopter.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    Olympus did stress tests that would make modern manufacturers faint.
    The OM survived. The helicopter might not have.

    13. The Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 is sharper than many Leica lenses at certain apertures.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    You bought it for £30. Try not to feel smug.

    14. The OM-2’s “Auto” mode is powered by the same technology NASA used on a satellite.

    Reveal answer Answer: Myth
    But Olympus did test the meter in literally absurd lighting conditions.
    Space might have been next.

    15. The OM-1 can fire all its shutter speeds even with no batteries.

    Reveal answer Answer: Fact
    Because it is powered by wizardry and intent.

    Scoring

    13–15 correct
    Certified Olympus Historian

    9–12 correct
    Zuiko Knowledgeable

    5–8 correct
    OM enthusiast in training

    0–4 correct
    Please wind on and try again

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