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    Olympus Fact or Olympus Myth?

    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-4Tis 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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