Olympus's consumer OM SLR — the OM-10, aperture-priority auto, OM mount, LED viewfinder, 1979.
The Olympus OM-10 is a 35mm film SLR from Olympus, the first of the consumer double-digit OM bodies aimed at amateurs and newcomers. Launched in 1979 below the enthusiast single-digit OM models, it brought the compact OM design to a lower price point and became one of the most widely sold OM cameras in the UK and Europe. It was designed primarily around automatic exposure for easy shooting.
As a specification summary, the OM-10 is a single-lens reflex for 35mm film using the Olympus OM mount, with an electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter. Its default exposure mode is aperture-priority automatic, where the camera sets a stepless shutter speed shown by a row of LEDs in the viewfinder. Manual exposure is available only by fitting the optional plug-in Manual Adapter accessory. Metering is through-the-lens centre-weighted. Because the shutter is electronically timed, the camera requires working batteries to fire correctly.
The OM-10 suits students, beginners and general users who want an easy compact SLR with automatic exposure and access to the OM lens range, and it is a common recommendation as a first film SLR. Its light body makes it convenient for travel and everyday photography, while the LED viewfinder display is simple to read. Users wanting full manual control should note the separate adapter is needed for that.
On the used market the OM-10 is plentiful and affordable, but being electronic it will not work with flat or corroded batteries, so confirm it powers up and the LED display and auto exposure respond. Check whether the optional Manual Adapter is included if manual control matters. Expect perished foam light seals and mirror-damper foam and budget for reseal; test the shutter across the auto range, inspect the prism for haze or desilvering, and verify the film advance, rewind and focusing screen are clean.