Pinnacle Olympus OM SLR from 1983 with revolutionary multi-spot metering, the most advanced compact manual focus SLR.
The Olympus OM-4 is an advanced 35mm SLR from 1983 that represents the pinnacle of the Olympus OM manual focus system. It features a revolutionary multi-spot metering system that allows photographers to take up to eight spot readings and have the camera calculate the optimal exposure, providing unprecedented metering precision.
The multi-spot metering system uses a 2% spot reading that can be placed on highlights, shadows, or mid-tones, with the camera averaging multiple readings for accurate exposure of complex scenes. The OTF (off-the-film) TTL metering from the OM-2 is retained for automatic exposure, providing two complementary metering approaches.
Build quality is premium Olympus with a compact metal body that maintains the OM system's size advantage while housing significantly more sophisticated electronics. The viewfinder displays spot metering information clearly, and the camera provides aperture-priority auto, manual with spot metering, and programmed TTL flash modes.
The OM-4 is one of the most sought-after Olympus OM bodies on the used market, valued for its multi-spot metering capability that remains unique among compact SLRs. For landscape and studio photographers who need precise exposure control, the multi-spot system provides a level of metering sophistication unmatched in a camera this size.