Olympus OM system was introduced in 1972 with the mechanical OM-1, and followed in 1975 with the hybrid OM-2 which had electronically controlled aperture priority and manual shutter. The OM system cameras were designed from the ground up to be part of a growing range of Macro, Astro and Medical SLRs at the time.

Olympus as a company set out to create the most sophisticated and capable system camera design, utilizing the brightest viewfinders, widest lens mount system and at the time the most extensive range of lenses, accessories and industry specific products of any manufacturer. Olympus OM system flash metering system is even today the most complex and capable metering on any 35mm or digital SLR.

The OM cameras have the unique ability to flash-meter off the film-plane even as the exposure is taking place and will shorten or elongate the exposure accordingly. No other camera today has this ability. The OM-2 and the subsequent updated version the OM-2n were considered professional cameras, and their diminutive size and bright viewfinders made these cameras very pleasing to use, both in terms of ergonomics and physical size. The MD designation is for Motor-Drive capability.

The over-sized lens mount was to allow for extremely fast lenses like the Zuiko f1.2 55mm and for a comprehensive range of industrial mounts which Olympus set precedence with the OM system and as is still in use by NOAA and other organizations, Observatories and medical institutions.
The relatively small pentaprism has a very big bright viewable image area for excelent viewing and focus satisfaction even in very low light conditions.

The cameras were designed to allow the photographer to continue using the viewfinder even through exposure modifications in that all lens and shutter and aperture controls were managed by the lefthand on the lens barrel and the right hand controlled the film advance, release and exposure compensation. Add a
motor winder or motor-drive and the camera becomes an extremely fast tool. The view-finder alone is enough to create inspiration, add a Zuiko 45mm f2.8 pancake lens and the size to image quality ratio goes through the roof!

Magnum photographer Phillip Jones-Griffiths used OM cameras throughout his career and made some oustanding images in Afghanistan during the 1980s.

- DevTank