At 04:02 3/9/01, John Hermanson wrote:
Unless the 4 has had a 4T circuit installed, they all eat batteries. get
the seller to turn the battery test on. If it shuts off automatically in 30
seconds, it has the latest (and last) circuit.
John Hermanson
I believe this is a matter of how quickly it eats them. There may be some
confusion here between a "normal" OM-4 and one with a defective circuit
that drains them down in a matter of days, not months.
Be certain that an OM-4 is truly a defective battery eater, and that you
have not inadvertently stored it with something pressing on the viewfinder
illuminator button (right side of prism housing). This can happen even
inside a "never-ready" case and it *will* suck the batteries to zero very,
very quickly. You can prevent that by placing the camera in "Manual" mode
and turning the shutter speed ring into one of the two "red" mechanical
positions (1/60th or B). This viewfinder illuminator will not illuminate
with this combination of settings.
I have an OM-4 with one of the circuits that does not shut off the check
tone. Battery consumption has never been a problem. The cells last at
least six months, normally closer to a year. My OM-2S seems to run for a
decent time also (depends on how much I use a flash as it has the green
flash-ready LED). Regardless of body you *always* have a spare set of
cells, right?
If you're expecting battery life like the OM-1[n] which will run nearly
forever, and has spoiled those who have one (I measure mine in years, not
months), then look for something other than an OM-2S or OM-4. Don't go
with one of the new Wunderbricks or zoom P&S's with all the whirring motors
and film winders though. *They* are battery eaters, and many use expensive
batteries that go kaput much, much faster than my OM-2S or OM-4 uses them.
-- John
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