I like this OM-4 I got about a year ago, but I posted a few months ago
about a problem with the self-timer. I had used it for MLU/aperture
stopdown until one day I tried it on a macro flower shot with flash and it
wouldn't work. It appeared as though it was working correctly, making all
the correct sounds and pitches through its 12 seconds of anticipation, but
then it would fail to fire and just keep beeping, though the beeping was
different from before (and didn't sound quite right). I would have to end
the sequence by moving the tab and physically turning the self-timer off.
I had assumed this was a problem with using a flash with the self-timer for
some reason because I'd never had a problem with the self-timer in any
other circumstances. Then I did in fact experience the same problem
without flash while shooting out west recently.
In both cases of failure the film comes back as a *non-exposure*. The
shutter apparently never opened, though I am able to advance the camera to
the next frame. That surprised me as I was guessing the frames would be
over-exposed.
Well, I do like the camera very much, but without the self-timer it is
little better than an OM-3 ;-) , so I figured I would have to do something
about it. I moved the self-timer tab back and forth a couple times, set it
on manual (no film in the camera), and tried it and lo and behold, it
worked perfectly. I'm delighted of course but very surprised. Is this a
type of switch that gets dirty and needs to be exercised like an OM-2S ASA
dial?
Anyway, please share my joy, but anybody else run into anything like this?
Joel W.
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