Olympus OM-1 MD
The Olympus OM-1 MD is a 35mm mechanical SLR, a variant of the OM-1 fitted with a motor drive coupling on the baseplate so it can accept an accessory motor drive or winder. It uses the Olympus OM bayonet mount and was positioned in the 1970s as a compact, fully mechanical professional-level body.
At UK auction today, hammer prices for the OM-1 MD body typically fall in the £35–£100 range, with a median around £69 across recent saleroom results. Condition drives the spread: scruffy examples with dead meters or sticky shutters sell at the bottom of the range, while clean, working bodies with a standard Zuiko lens are what push the top end. These figures are wholesale auction results and do not include buyer's premium or dealer retail mark-ups, so a serviced example from a specialist shop is typically worth more than these numbers suggest.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: October 2025
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| Oct 2025 | £63 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 265) Title: Olympus OM-1 Outfit, Zuiko Wide & Telephoto Lenses.
Description:
Comprising OM-1 MD body. Shutter firing and meter responsive, but not tested for accuracy (signs of normal+ use). With Zuiko 50mm f1.8 (small ... read more |
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| Jul 2025 | £50 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 143) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 1638189, body G, light wear marks to bottom plate, metering responds, shutter working, aperture blades slow to re-open after |
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| Jan 2025 | £70 | Cullens of Surrey | |
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Auction: Cullens New Years Sale Cameras And Photography Including H (Lot 190) Title: Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera with Olympus Zuiko Auto-S f1.4 50mm lens
Description:
Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera with Olympus Zuiko Auto-S f1.4 50mm lens |
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| Jan 2025 | £80 | Cullens of Surrey | |
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Auction: Cullens New Years Sale Cameras And Photography Including H (Lot 28) Title: Olympus OM-1 MD w/ Olympus F.Zuiko 50mm 1:1.8 lens with original box - serial number 1468502
Description:
Olympus OM-1 MD w/ Olympus F.Zuiko 50mm 1:1.8 lens with original box - serial number 1468502 |
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| Sep 2024 | £94 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 87) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
silver, serial number 1018125, body VG, shutter working, meter responds, battery compartment has SR-44 adapter, with an Olympus Auto-S f/1.8 50mm |
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| Aug 2024 | £100 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 121) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 624601, body G, paint wear to base plate, shutter works, meter works, self-timer works, with a G. Zuiko auto-S f/1.4 50mm lens, |
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| Aug 2024 | £50 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 134) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD Camera
Description:
black, serial number 1171203, body F-G, some brassing to top and bottom plate, advance lever slightly stiff to operate, metering responds to light |
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| Aug 2024 | £35 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 32) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera
Description:
An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel F-G, some wear, |
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| Aug 2024 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 33) Title: An Olympus OM-1n MD SLR Camera
Description:
An Olympus OM-1n MD SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G, elements G |
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| Aug 2024 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 34) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera
Description:
An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G, elements |
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| Aug 2024 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 761) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera
Description:
An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with G Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 lens, barrel -VG, elements G-VG |
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| Jun 2024 | £88 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 190) Title: An Olympus OM1 MD 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, body VG, shutter works, appears to meter correctly, with Zuiko f/1.8 50mm lens, with cap and ERC. |
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| Jan 2024 | £62 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 180) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
chrome, 1974-79, serial no.852158, with an OM-System G.Zuiko Auto-S f/1.4 50mm lens, shutter working, body F, debris in viewfinder, motor drive cover |
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| Dec 2023 | £35 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 217) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera
Description:
An Olympus OM-1 MD SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, film advance lever not springing back, some play in film door, body G, with Zuiko |
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| Aug 2023 | £69 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 187) Title: An Olympus OM-1 MD 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
chrome, 1974, serial no.380714, with an OM-System F.Zuiko Auto-S f/1.8 50mm lens, serial no.245200, shutter working, body F-G, lens F, fungus, |
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| Apr 2023 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 161) Title: An Olympus OM-1n MD SLR Camera
Description:
An Olympus OM-1n MD SLR Camera, chrome, serial no 1771231, shutter working, meter responsive, self-timer working, body G, light wear, missing drive |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Olympus OM-1 MD worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices for the OM-1 MD body sit between about £35 and £100, with a median near £69. Clean, fully working examples sell for more, while bodies with meter or shutter faults sell at the lower end.
How much does an Olympus OM-1 MD sell for at auction?
At saleroom level the OM-1 MD typically sells for £60–£80 in usable condition, with exceptional examples reaching £100. These are hammer prices before buyer's premium.
What is the difference between the OM-1 and the OM-1 MD?
The MD designation refers to the addition of a motor drive coupling on the baseplate, allowing the body to be used with an Olympus motor drive or winder. Optically and mechanically the rest of the camera is the same as a standard OM-1.
Does the price change much with a lens attached?
Yes. An OM-1 MD sold body-only tends to sit in the lower half of the price range, whereas bodies sold with a Zuiko 50mm prime typically push toward the upper end of recorded values.