Olympus OM-10 Quartz (c. 1980–1982)

Name: Quartz Olympus OM10 Quartz
Brand: Quartz

The Olympus OM-10 Quartz is a compact 35mm SLR with an odd spot in the OM lineup. It was the first consumer-level OM body, launched in 1979 as a lower-priced entry point that still took the full line of OM lenses and most OM accessories. The "Quartz" name comes from the fixed data back on this version, which imprinted information onto the film frame. The camera has aperture-priority auto exposure and a built-in light meter. One user called it simply "aperture-priority ease." The OM-10 Quartz shows up in period references tied to Photokina 1980, and a Japanese-market listing dates it to 1982.

Documentation on this Quartz variant is thin. The record confirms a compact, lightweight body in the OM tradition that takes the OM mount. One seller says the camera comes with a manual adapter, which suggests the manual adapter was an accessory and not built in. A common fault in the wider OM-10 line is slow shutter drift. One collector said their Quartz body didn't have the problem. Another warned that shutter speeds below 1/60 ran fast and should be considered unreliable. A third user, shooting in the mountains with a Sigma 28-84mm zoom, reported a successful 3-second exposure in aperture-priority mode, so the meter can handle long exposures when it's working.

Known specifications:

35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) film camera
OM lens mount
Aperture-priority auto exposure
Built-in light meter and self-timer
Fixed data back (the source of the "Quartz" name)
Uses 1.5V AA (LR6) alkaline battery

Many kits came with the Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens. Used prices vary widely by condition. Bodies alone have appeared around C$42-109, while body-plus-lens kits have listed near €175. No original retail price, production end year, or detailed mechanical specifications are documented in the sources available. Check the shutter before buying.