View Full Version : Half.Love
How 'bout getting the half-frame ball rolling by sharing those pin-up photos you have of your half-frame shooters. Half-framers, it is time to stand up and Re-preee-zent! :cool:
(As soon as my little FSU.1/2 arrives and can be snatched from the greedy hands of Mr. Postman, it will be unwrapped, cuddled, documented and duly posted here.)
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 08:15
Aha! don't get me started ;)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/287482096_859825340d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/309781323_19a061fa1b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/309781326_f9b6cc44fc.jpg
Me too. I have probably 15 half frame cameras. I love'em. Here are two images taken with my Olympus EE-S2.
I have one of the early, post-war half-frames, a Universal Mercury II. I find the lens to be exceptionally sharp, but the viewfinder is a pain to use because I wear glasses. I am posting a photo of the camera and a couple of examples of its images.
Jim N.
I had a Pen D2 that I loved, but I sold it to Jocko. It got messed up in shipment: I hope it's back to health now. Great camera! Here's a pic!
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 09:42
I have one of the early, post-war half-frames, a Universal Mercury II. I find the lens to be exceptionally sharp, but the viewfinder is a pain to use because I wear glasses. I am posting a photo of the camera and a couple of examples of its images.
Jim N.
Nice looking camera and I agree, it takes good pictures (the photog does also, of course :) )
Btw, forgive a dumb question, which rangefinders are also half-frame? I don't think Olympus made one as far as I can gather.
Nice looking camera and I agree, it takes good pictures (the photog does also, of course :) )
Btw, forgive a dumb question, which rangefinders are also half-frame? I don't think Olympus made one as far as I can gather.
I'm no authority in this area. IIRC, Leica made a half-frame, but it is rarely seen. Because the lenses are short focal length, (mine is 35mm) scale focusing is usually fine.
Jim N.
Not a glamour shot--more like proof :) :
image coming in from pBase, which is slow-to-iffy. sometimes it's here sometimes it's not.
Yes good for dips
Ok, I'm an idiot... what's a half frame camera?
Ok, I'm an idiot... what's a half frame camera?
the frame size on the negative is half the size of a full-frame 35mm. So, you get 72 exposures/36 exposure roll.
:)
the frame size on the negative is half the size of a full-frame 35mm. So, you get 72 exposures/36 exposure roll.
:)
also, unique, because the viewfinder is vertical (portrait format).
.
And yet the pictures are awesome (of course this means the photographers are awesome, too). That Olympus camera is pretty good looking... do I feel GAS?
Thanks!
Alex
I'm going to have to give this some serious thought. Is that an Olympus "Pen"???
Yes indeed. All the little Pens...........
CVBLZ4: You are an evil man.
Shadow: You are evil incarnate.
I really do not need to keep up with this thread. Damn.
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 11:44
also, unique, because the viewfinder is vertical (portrait format).
.
...and also is a killer camera for creating diptych-style photgraphy.
Now since you've seen the shooters, let's see some shots:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/304726826_aafb4e77be.jpg
and here's a diptych:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/288198726_7cbc387280.jpg
and... did I mention that Pen-FT has some lenses with a killer bokeh?:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/291225066_78e66b9b8d.jpg
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 11:46
CVBLZ4: You are an evil man.
Shadow: You are evil incarnate.
I really do not need to keep up with this thread. Damn.
Hmmm... I see a blank spot in your sig. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful Oly Pen GAS... ;)
VictorM.
01-24-2007, 12:59
Olympus Pen S 3.5 posed on a sheet of half frame slides from 1967.
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 13:15
Olympus Pen S 3.5 posed on a sheet of half frame slides from 1967.
Lovely, just lovely!
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 13:37
Not a glamour shot--more like proof :) :
http://www.pbase.com/harpman/image/49252827
image coming in from pBase, which is slow-to-iffy. sometimes it's here sometimes it's not.
Eh, I want to see the picture, but I can't see it. Anybody can? let me know...please.
Eh, I want to see the picture, but I can't see it. Anybody can? let me know...please.Nope. Not yet, but we're a patient bunch. (Just ask the postman.) :bang:
Eh, I want to see the picture, but I can't see it. Anybody can? let me know...please.
don't hold your breath. :) I sometimes have problems getting images off pbase and inline here. I'd attach it, but I think it's bigger than 150kb (the new attachment limit). I'm at work and don't have access to my files...sorry. I can describe it to you if you'd like! :D
:)
edit: oops, forgot: I'll upload it when I get back home.
In place of my 'party-pooping no show image' I'll send you to the Olympus screen-saver site that Rich Silfver posted up in a seperate thread. There are several very sweet images/screen-savers of Pens and other SLRs. I've got a Pen F with a meter like the one show toward the bottom of the page:
http://www.olympus.co.jp/jp/fun/wallpaper/camera/
:)
(newbie comment) Half frame cameras ....??????
I was thinking of asking someone to tell me more about them .... but I made that mistake with FSU's. :bang:
Hmmm... I see a blank spot in your sig. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful Oly Pen GAS... ;)
Ladies and Gentleman, have I not proved my point about Shadow?
Victor: Bring it to the next Toronto RFF meet? Pretty please?? Shadow has me drinking half-glasses of his kool-aid.
VictorM.
01-24-2007, 17:37
(newbie comment) Half frame cameras ....??????
I was thinking of asking someone to tell me more about them .... but I made that mistake with FSU's. :bang:
There's a lot of info here: http://www.subclub.org/shop/halframe.htm
VictorM.
01-24-2007, 17:47
Ladies and Gentleman, have I not proved my point about Shadow?
Victor: Bring it to the next Toronto RFF meet? Pretty please?? Shadow has me drinking half-glasses of his kool-aid.
OK. But you may have to remind me.
There's a lot of info here: http://www.subclub.org/shop/halframe.htm
God ... I wish I had summoned up the strength not to click on that link ... curse you! :D :D
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 18:13
Ladies and Gentleman, have I not proved my point about Shadow?
Victor: Bring it to the next Toronto RFF meet? Pretty please?? Shadow has me drinking half-glasses of his kool-aid.
LOL..!! Trius, I'm just returning the favor, I wouldn't have GAS after GAS attacks with rangefinder if it were not for your contagious preaching about the kewlness of Oly 35 SPn and XA :D
The last in a great line of half frame cameras - http://kotisivu.dnainternet.fi/lauro/yasamurai.htm
shadowfox
01-24-2007, 18:22
Ok, one more for the kids in us :)
This one is still in Clint Rumbo's care as it came with stuck shutter. But I nearly can't bear to put it inside the box to be shipped for repair, because it's sooo cute.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/289996734_2b1d829bc5.jpg
Nice shots, Shadowfox! One of my earliest cameras was a Petri Half-7 which had a 28mm zone-focus lens with three or four symbols for guidance. Selenium meter around the glass in the lens barrel like the regular Petri 7s. It was loaned and lost, and I replaced it with an Olympus Pen D2 like the one above. Great little camera, just right to take along on motorcycle trips. Don't have that one any more either.
But I do have two Olympus Pen FT and one Pen FV SLR with a selection of lenses and a M42 mount adapter. Fun rigs to use and with surprisingly nice results, especially nowadays with the improved films.
Just recently I was getting myself worked up over a Pen D3 I found available, but sanity overcame me. Small camera, pocketable, what have I got, I thought... Olympus 35RC, not much larger than the Pen, for one. Canon Elph Jr (APS film, fixed 26mm) for another, even smaller.
And half-frame processing is a pain... not the developing itself but the subsequent printing or scanning. Most labs just can't handle it gracefully.
The more I considered the more I thought about why I like medium format results better than 35mm output, and ended up in RFF Classifieds buying a Fuji "Texas Leica". Not pocketable of course, but... it assuaged the GAS attack. :)
Hmmm... methinks it's time to take my Samurai out for a spin... and to get my EE fixed :D
Fortunately, I've never had a problem getting my half-frame films processed, but it's a real pain mounting the slides.
Hmmm... methinks it's time to take my Samurai out for a spin... and to get my EE fixed :D
Fortunately, I've never had a problem getting my half-frame films processed, but it's a real pain mounting the slides.
Now that's a cool halfie! :)
Thanks, Ray. It's one of those oddball cameras that's just a blast to shoot with. I was surprised at how sharp the lens is and how good the autoexposure system is. The only complaint I have is the shutter relase is almost too sensitive, but that's pretty minor given the number of shots per roll you have. Blowing one exposure is no big deal with a half-frame.
Thanks, Ray. It's one of those oddball cameras that's just a blast to shoot with. I was surprised at how sharp the lens is and how good the autoexposure system is. The only complaint I have is the shutter relase is almost too sensitive, but that's pretty minor given the number of shots per roll you have. Blowing one exposure is no big deal with a half-frame.
I was looking around for one about a year ago, but I got the half-frame bug out of my system before I ever found one. It is an oddball. Hair-trigger shutter is one of the reasons I don't use a XA anymore.
:)
And half-frame processing is a pain... not the developing itself but the subsequent printing or scanning. Most labs just can't handle it gracefully.
My local Wal-Mart 1-Hour lab did a reasonable job for me. I explained what the film contained and had them create a CD using two frames per file. I then cropped them apart in PhotoShop. There were a few lost edges, but most frames were ok. I would not have them try to print it.
Jim N.
shadowfox
01-25-2007, 07:07
But I do have two Olympus Pen FT and one Pen FV SLR with a selection of lenses and a M42 mount adapter. Fun rigs to use and with surprisingly nice results, especially nowadays with the improved films.
Thanks for the compliment, Dougg. Nice setup you got there, do you pair any Takumar lenses with the Pen? how do you like it?
Additionally, you hit the nail on the head about what makes half-frame shooting fun nowadays, the improved quality of film over the years since the camera was introduced does increase the viability of half-frame.
I can print 8x10 prints from my Pen-FT scans (using a proper scanner, of course) and the result is undistinguishable from full frame, just don't try to do 14x10 or bigger :)
PS: If you are ever thinking of letting go of your FV, do give me a shout, ok? ;)
The Samurai is a great camera. Great lens. Looks like a small video camera. The last half and it signaled the end of an era.
Nice setup you got there, do you pair any Takumar lenses with the Pen? how do you like it?
PS: If you are ever thinking of letting go of your FV, do give me a shout, ok? ;)Thanks, Shadowfox... At first I didn't have a lens wider than the 40mm that came on my first FT, so I used the M42 adapter with a 28mm f/3.5 SMC Takumar, using the lens auto/manual switch to stop down for each exposure. A bit inconvenient and I forgot a few times resulting in overexposure. :) I've also used the Pentax 50mm f/1.4 as a fast short "tele." This adapter really opens up another huge range of lenses for the Pen.
Since then I found both the 25mm f/2.8 (rarer than the f/4 version) and the 20mm f/3.5. the latter is a lovely sharp little lens that's become a favorite (about 30mm equivalent field of view).
The FV came from KEH and then got a needed CLA so I've got $$$ into it, but maybe I don't "need" three F bodies... If you're interested in discussing a purchase, send me a PM.
Photo of the FV below and a couple shots from it using the 20mm lens...
Beautiful camera, Doug. Good lenses, too. Ever since I reduced my PEN set
I am using my FT with 42 and the slower 25mm lens. But I still regret selling
the faster 25 and remember always being looking for the 20 ...
Cheers,
Roland.
micromoogman
01-25-2007, 11:56
How about my RoBoT? 24x24...
shadowfox
01-25-2007, 13:03
<cropped>...
The FV came from KEH and then got a needed CLA so I've got $$$ into it, but maybe I don't "need" three F bodies... If you're interested in discussing a purchase, send me a PM.
Photo of the FV below and a couple shots from it using the 20mm lens...
Cool! what's that black house-looking thing on the shutter dial? I've never seen anything like that on my Pens. Also what happened to the self timer?
Lovely pictures, btw, I've never heard of the 20mm lens, I do have the 25mm/2.8 that I have to use someday :)
Like you I have now 3 bodies, well, 4 if you count the black one that I got cheap but had to return because it doesn't focus properly, for the same reason that you mentioned, I probably don't need more Pens (unless GAS attacks). The reason I'm interested in the FV is to see if the viewfinder is brighter than the FT, is it?
shadowfox
01-25-2007, 13:04
How about my RoBoT? 24x24...
got any pictures of it? :)
Here is a picture taken with the slower 25 ...
http://ferider.smugmug.com/photos/11417228-L.jpg
Cheers,
Roland.
OK. But you may have to remind me.
We're about the same age. I'll be shocked if either of us remember.
LOL..!! Trius, I'm just returning the favor, I wouldn't have GAS after GAS attacks with rangefinder if it were not for your contagious preaching about the kewlness of Oly 35 SPn and XA :D
OMmmmmmmmmmm. Soon I will be a buddah, I have transferred enlightenment.
Cool! what's that black house-looking thing on the shutter dial? I've never seen anything like that on my Pens. Also what happened to the self timer?
...The reason I'm interested in the FV is to see if the viewfinder is brighter than the FT, is it?Hi -- That is a bit of Dymo labeler tape stuck to the shutter speed dial. KEH described this as a "scientific" Pen FV, so the label (which peeled right off) and the blanked self-timer lever have something to do with its previous scientific use. But unlike some microscope/endoscope Pens this one has a proper/normal focusing screen and full rectangular field of view. Others may have a non-focusing aerial "screen" with circular field, so I had to phone KEH before buying to be very clear about that aspect with this body.
The FV viewfinder is about a stop brighter than the FT, maybe about the same as the original F. The FT diverts some of the incoming viewfinder light to its TTL metering system by way of a partially-silvered mirror, dimming the view. In the passage of time since these were made, though, condition has become at least as important in viewfinder brightness. This FV has been thoroughly cleaned, and so has one of my FT bodies, which is now brighter than the other FT.
Nice shot, Roland! Here's one at the farmers' market using the 25mm f/2.8 on Fuji Super HQ 200...
And half-frame processing is a pain... not the developing itself but the subsequent printing or scanning. Most labs just can't handle it gracefully.
That is what killed the Pen and gave birth to the OM. Proper falf-frame processing was universally available in Japan and Asia, but not in North America. Half frames just couldn't survive as a result.
and ended up in RFF Classifieds buying a Fuji "Texas Leica". Not pocketable of course, but... it assuaged the GAS attack. :)
Just get bigger pockets. Many years ago I sold computers, and one of my customers was Arrow Shirt Canada. We were pitching Compaq lunch-bucket sized "portables" (not the original monsters) which came stock with 5-1/4" floppy drives; we recommended they add 3.5" drives since the disks fit in a shirt pocket.
The MIS director smiled and said "We're Arrow. We can make pockets any size we want."
That is what killed the Pen and gave birth to the OM. Proper falf-frame processing was universally available in Japan and Asia, but not in North America. Half frames just couldn't survive as a result.
In my younger days, for several years I worked part-time jobs in photo labs and one-hour photo stores. Every one-store I worked in had film holders for 35mm, 110, 1/2 frame and disc (the lab film holders went up to 8x10). Of course all the mini-lab machines in the one-hour stores were Japanese-made. ;) In all that time (~5 year period) I think I saw maybe two half-frame orders.
Just get bigger pockets. Many years ago I sold computers, and one of my customers was Arrow Shirt Canada. We were pitching Compaq lunch-bucket sized "portables" (not the original monsters) which came stock with 5-1/4" floppy drives; we recommended they add 3.5" drives since the disks fit in a shirt pocket.
The MIS director smiled and said "We're Arrow. We can make pockets any size we want."
I love stories like this. Is Arrow still around?
.
micromoogman
01-26-2007, 01:55
got any pictures of it? :)
Here ya go... Also got a chaika 3 half...great pic quality!
oooh we do love a half frame....having some household connection problems at the moment so can't upload any shots...but have a look in my gallery as I've got a few half frame shots in there...a will be posting several to here once I'm back up and running....some noce shots and cameras in here
shadowfox
01-26-2007, 07:20
Here ya go... Also got a chaika 3 half...great pic quality!
W00t! that's a very cute camera, and int works too :eek: thanks for showing the pic, now pls show the pictures from that camera :)
shadowfox
01-26-2007, 07:28
Here is a picture taken with the slower 25 ...
http://ferider.smugmug.com/photos/11417228-L.jpg
Cheers,
Roland.
Niiiice! what film did you use for this?
VictorM.
01-26-2007, 08:53
Another link: http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/half/halformat1s.html.
Niiiice! what film did you use for this?
I'm not 100% sure but I think this was Kodak 160VC, rendered B+W in PS.
Thanks !
Roland.
I started this thread over four weeks ago since my half-frame would be arriving just any day. Well, at long last the Winged ЧАЙКА.II arrived today after a record-breaking 60 day trek from Siberia. So let's see, half-frame, short roll (24.exp) - hmmm, that's about 48 shots. Okay, theoretically it could take me longer to shoot the test roll than it took the little critter to get here. :rolleyes:
Chaika.II w/Industar.69
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/CVBLZ4/GoK/chaika.jpg
Kind of a cutie! Hope you have fun working out its possibilities.
I started this thread over four weeks ago since my half-frame would be arriving just any day. Well, at long last the Winged ?????.II arrived today after a record-breaking 60 day trek from Siberia. So let's see, half-frame, short roll (24.exp) - hmmm, that's about 48 shots. Okay, theoretically it could take me longer to shoot the test roll than it took the littler critter to get here. :rolleyes:
Chaika.II w/Industar.69
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/CVBLZ4/GoK/chaika.jpg
Wowee! Would love to see shots from this one, I'm still thinking about getting one, for now I'm waiting for my Agat 18k to arrive.
"Would love to see shots from this one, ..."Well, it's cold as heck and snowing to beat the band right now, but I'll keep it in my pocket the next few days and see what I can come up with... besides frost.bite. :(
Aww, too bad...They do say the problem with these half frame babies is that they take so long to finish a roll, hehehe!
PatrickT
04-21-2011, 19:27
I realize that this is a mega-old thread, but I was just given a Pen EES-2 and I'm already loving it. My first foray into the half frame world...
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7030288/Linked%20Photos/IMG_1396.JPG
Murray Kelly
04-22-2011, 07:09
Did anyone say that the so called 'half-frame' is actually the original 'full-frame'? Barnack decided it was easier to arrange the image horizontal to the length of the film and gain an advantage over the 'normal' movie frame size.
crawdiddy
04-22-2011, 07:56
Did anyone say that the so called 'half-frame' is actually the original 'full-frame'? Barnack decided it was easier to arrange the image horizontal to the length of the film and gain an advantage over the 'normal' movie frame size.
Barnack was clever. Too clever (by half).
PatrickT
05-03-2011, 18:18
From this weekend. First roll through it. I love this thing! Too bad the aperture is stuck at f/22...I need to get that fixed...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5685900386_cfa8a0601e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/weezintrumpeteer/5685900386/)
sausages (http://www.flickr.com/photos/weezintrumpeteer/5685900386/) by patricklikeslight (http://www.flickr.com/people/weezintrumpeteer/), on Flickr
pinkarmy
05-05-2011, 19:15
fujica drive, kodak colorplus 200 ASA, guess exposure
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5691754651_935c84a5d9.jpg (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/%3Ca%20href=)">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5692324010_3d0f57c405.jpg (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/%3Ca%20href=)">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5691753153_84b4aed8d0.jpg (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/%3Ca%20href=)">
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