Olympus · 35mm SLR · 1972–late 1980s (OM-1n included)
Olympus showed this camera at Photokina in 1972 as the M-1. Leica, whose rangefinders were the M series, objected to the name, so Olympus renamed it OM-1 and the bodies already engraved M-1 became a collector's piece. Olympus puts that first run at about 52,000. A team led by Yoshihisa Maitani, the designer behind the Pen half-frames, built it, and at launch it was counted as the lightest SLR in the world. It's all mechanical. The cloth shutter runs from 1 s to 1/1000 s, the speed is set on a ring around the lens mount instead of a top dial, and the battery only runs the needle meter. Patrick Lichfield, Jane Bown, David Bailey, Josef Koudelka and W. Eugene Smith all shot with one. The OM-1MD of 1974 took a motor drive, and the 1979 OM-1n added a reshaped advance lever and a flash-ready light in the finder.
The variants
The first bodies were named M-1 until Leica objected, and they're otherwise identical to the OM-1. The OM-1MD of 1974 takes a motor drive without modification, and the OM-1n of 1979 adds a redesigned advance lever and a flash-ready light in the finder.
Battery
Many meters from the 1960s and 70s were built for 1.35 V mercury cells like the PX625, which held a steady voltage until almost flat. Mercury cells went off sale after EU and US laws in the 1990s, and a 1.55 V silver-oxide or alkaline cell can throw readings off in a meter that doesn't regulate voltage. There are three fixes. Zinc-air hearing-aid cells give 1.35 V but die within a few months. An adapter like the MR-9 uses a small circuit to drop a silver-oxide cell to 1.35 V. Or a repairer can recalibrate the meter for silver oxide. More on batteries and meters.
The meter was designed for a 1.35 V PX625 mercury cell that's no longer sold, and a 1.5 V silver-oxide cell can throw the readings off unless you use a 1.35 V zinc-air cell, a voltage adapter or a recalibrated meter. Light seals on any body this old may need replacing.
Buying guide
We'd buy the OM-1 titled tested with an F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 from a US seller at $140 delivered. There are at least 210 for sale, split between US sellers and Japan dealers, and most ask $140–230 delivered, with Near Mint grades and f/1.4 lenses pushing toward the top. The shutter is mechanical and fires without a battery. The meter was built for a 1.35 V PX625 mercury cell, and a 1.5 V silver-oxide cell can read off unless you use a 1.35 V zinc-air cell, an adapter or a recalibrated meter, so ask which cell any "meter works" claim was checked with. Skip the zero-feedback sellers and the 50mm kit whose exact title, serial number included, is listed by two different sellers.
$95.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered OM-1, an OM-1N with an 80-200mm zoom from a US seller, at $95. There's no test claim, so ask for a video of the slow speeds and a back-open photo of the curtain and seals.
Olympus OM-1 N 35mm Film Camera With F80-200 Lens
$140.30est. delivered
Titled tested, with the F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8, from a US seller at $140 delivered, the bottom of the band. Ask which cell the meter was checked with, since a 1.5 V cell reads off on this body.
Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR Film Camera F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 Lens Vintage Japan Tested
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$95.00est. delivered
$75.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$75.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
OM-1N with an 80-200mm zoom. No test claim.
Seller: whitehot71
100% positive
Used$140.30est. delivered
$119.00 + $21.30 shipping
Buy It Now$119.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested, with an F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8. Ships from the US.
Seller: grannyspringsaddic
100% positive
Used$174.35est. delivered
$165.00 + $9.35 shipping
Buy It Now$165.00
Our take
Titled new battery, with a Zuiko f/1.4, case and a Canon flash. The meter check mark is the seller's.
Seller: mistakilfinds
99.9% positive
Used$174.98est. delivered
$149.99 + $24.99 shipping
Buy It Now$149.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
No lens named, dealer grade Near Mint. No prism corrosion is the seller's claim.
Seller: itsuki.japan.camera
100% positive
Used$229.99est. delivered
$179.99 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$179.99
Our take
OM-1 MD, titled tested, with an F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8. Ships from Japan.
Seller: masser2trade
100% positive
![▶ [Very Good]OLYMPUS OM-1 35mm Film Camera +F.ZUIKO AUTO-S 50mm f/1.8 2914658](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HVYAAeSwZRdqKKbF/s-l500.jpg)
Used$170.00delivered
$170.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$170.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Another seller lists this exact title, serial number included. Compare photos before you pay.
Seller: nomu-86
100% positive
![[EXC++++] Olympus OM-1 SLR Camera + Zuiko 50mm F3.5 Macro + Boxed Hood 1.2/55](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tq4AAeSwPQVqyvji/s-l500.jpg)
Used$199.99delivered
$199.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller. Kit with a Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 macro, dealer grade EXC++++.
Seller: japan_vauit
No feedback yet
Used$433.99est. delivered
$363.99 + $70.00 shipping
Buy It Now$363.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Black, with a 28mm f/2.8 and Winder 2, dealer grade N.MINT in case. About 2.5 times the median.
Seller: km_japan_camera
100% positive
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Olympus · 35mm SLR
Battery neededOlympus OM mount · 1975–late 1980s
$160–$290 typical ask
Olympus · 35mm SLR
Battery neededOlympus OM mount · 1979–1987
$90–$170 typical ask
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$150–$250 typical ask
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$190–$320 typical ask