8
In the world of SLR camera design and marketing there are two
distinct periods of history: Pre OM-1 and post OM-1.
The OM system changed the course of SLR camera design and
helped to popularise the concept of an affordable, portable and
reliable SLR system camera.
Olympus followed this up
with the OM-2 which
heralded many firsts. It was
the first camera that
provided TTL (through the
lens) flash exposure
metering. This system is
used on every D-SLR
camera today. In addition,
the TTL metering (Known as
Off The Film
or
OTF
) was also used
during the actual exposure during normal daylight. This provided
an accurate and infallible exposure system. A legacy feature of
that system is still incorporated in modern E-series cameras today
– peep under the mirror and you will see that the first shutter
curtain is coated in a neutral grey colour – this permits accurate
metering and flash exposure
after
the mirror has lifted, right up
to the moment when the actual exposure begins. No other digital
SLR has such a system with competitors relying on a “memory”
circuit that locks in the value measured just before the mirror
flips-up.
In 1986 Olympus introduced
the OM-4Ti. This camera was
the first in the world to offer
“full-synchro flash” at all
shutter speeds via the FP flash
mode. This is another system
now used by every D-SLR
manufacturer. In addition to
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