A love story - This is the Olympus kit that got me started exactly 35 years ago! An Olympus OM-2S, 35/2.8, and 100/2.8 lenses. (Unfortunately, this isn't my original 35/2.8, as I had foolishly sold it off when it was a duplicate to a 35/shift and a Tokina AT-X 35-70/2.8 lens). The 100/2.8 is still my all-time favorite lens. I've earned more money with this lens than any other.

The OM-2S has well over 100,000 pictures on the odometer, and had been with me everywhere until about a half-dozen years ago. I estimate somewhere around 125,000 pictures. It still works well (several CLA's and repairs through the years) and the handling and mode controls are the best of all the OM bodies. And the sound. Oh, that sound. The OM-2S has the most unique sound. While the OM-4 and OM-3Ti have taken over as my primary OM bodies of choice now because I mostly use B&W film and the multi-spot metering is better for that, the one camera that is so perfect for handheld, portrait, and event photography is the OM-2S.

While every OM (single digit) body is special, the two that are unmatched are the OM-3Ti and the OM-2S.

35 years have past since I picked the OM-2S over that Canon A1, and I've never regretted that decision.

New Leaf. Porcupine Mountains State Park, Michigan. This photo was taken with the OM-2S and 50/3.5 macro lens. Fujichrome Provia 100F. Scanned with the Nikon Coolscan V-ED and VueScan. (7 passes plus multi exposure). Processed in Adobe Lightroom.

We are not supposed to get emotionally attached to a piece of equipment. "Cameras are tools" we are told. Personally, I think that's nonsense. To a craftsman, a tool is a very personal thing. Each one is selected for very precise reasons. If you are just making money with cameras, yes, they are just tools. If you are a craftsman, there is a joy in what you are doing and making money is secondary. The reward for what you do isn't money, it's the personal satisfaction of doing something that brings you personal joy.