David Smith , Feb 07, 2012; 08:36 p.m.
Silly question, but does the OM-10 have a metal body? Im maybe thinking of getting into the OM line and I want a cheap, sturdy aperture priority OM body. Sounds like the OM-10 might be it. I really want an OM-2 but its simply not in the budget. I think the 10 has most of what the 2 has for a fraction of the price which is perfect for me. If its metal that is.
Wayne Harridge , Feb 07, 2012; 10:55 p.m.
Chassis is metal but I'm pretty sure the top and bottom covers are plastic with a metallic "coating".
...Wayne
John Hermanson , Feb 08, 2012; 07:12 a.m.
Main chassis is metal. Oldest 10s have metal bottom cover. Newer bottoms (with 3 screws ) are plastic. All OM-10 tops are plastic. John
Mukul Dube 
, Feb 08, 2012; 11:27 a.m.
David, as an ageing fellow I have a fondness for metal: but facts compel me to admit that the new engineering plastics are also strong.
David Smith , Feb 08, 2012; 08:51 p.m.
Wayne, thanks for that. Pretty much what I thought. Just like Canon's A-1 then, which has a plastic top and bottom but has some kind of electro plate process so it seems like metal.
John, thanks also. Especially for the differentiation between the old and new versions. Very good info to know.
Mukul, I to have a fondness to use metal items in this increasingly plastic world of ours. I know that many plastics, especially from the late 70's and 80's, are of especially high grade. It seems the engineers of the day new that they had to make plastic seem even better then the metal it was replacing. Case in point, the plastic used in my old FD lenses is worlds beyond the crap they make Rebels out of now. Oh well, thats 'progress'.
david carroll , Feb 08, 2012; 10:34 p.m.
I dismantled a couple of "dead" OM-PCs (OM-40s) to get the focusing screens, and I was surprised at how beefy the bodies were - very solid alloy main chassis with an alloy front section (containing the lens mount) screwed onto the front. And proper solid glass pentaprisms. IMO, significantly more solid than modern consumer SLRs (aaaarrghh, I sound like my Dad!!)
BeBu Lamar , Feb 09, 2012; 12:53 p.m.
I am wondering how much is an OM-2 and how much is an OM-10. I think both of them are cheap enough these days.
David Smith , Feb 09, 2012; 04:37 p.m.
david- Thanks for providing some info on the internals. That makes me feel better should I decide to get one. And you dad sounds like a wise man. :)
BeBu- They can be relatively inexpensive, but the OM-2 does usually carry a premium over the OM-10. Plus, I have found over the last few months several OM-10's at local thrift stores but never an OM-2. And with a new baby in the house my disposable income in somewhat limited. Thus the desire to find a capable camera bargain, which I believe the 10 to be.
John Hermanson , Feb 09, 2012; 06:15 p.m.
You can pick up a used 10 for almost nothing. Good luck if it works. I usually sell overhauled, warranted OM-2/2N for $225 with 6 month warranty. Just about EVERY OM-10 you use will have very serious overexposure problems in medium to bright light (though with print film, it may not matter). John
Bob Bollinger 
, Mar 08, 2012; 12:30 a.m.
I just picked up an externally dirty (internally very clean) and fully operable OM-10 on ebay for about $10 plus shipping. That price included the Zuiko 50mm f1.4 lens in good shape and good working order........ So shop around. Good deals are out there.
