Olympus Pen

[FrankS]

So, what's bigger, 35mm 1/2 frame or APS format?

I can't afford the slr version, but am interested in the manual setting VF versions.

Anyone have any of these Oly Pens? SLR or VF versions?

[Kim Coxon]

The APS format is 16.7x30.2mm but this tends to be complicated because the amoun of the neg used varies on the format selected. In panoramic mode, I think it only uses 9mm of the height of the neg. At 18x24 for 1/2 frame, I doubt the is much difference in the prints.

Kim

[FrankS]

I have a Pen im not using. Its yours for an M5;)

Let me think about it, Erik. ... No. :)

[FrankS]

Erik, I liked the way the sentence was beginning:

"I have a Pen im not using. Its yours..."

;)

[FrankS]

We can talk prices. That's the model type i'm interested in, not the EE models or the F/FT slr. Thanks Erik.

[Cale Arthur]

Anyone have any of these Oly Pens? SLR or VF versions?
I have both an FV slr and an original Sanko Shoji 'one-lug' v.f. model, Frank. Is there something specific that you're curious about re: the Pens?

--c--

[VictorM.]

My Olympus Pen S has a film gate that's 17mm X 23.7mm. (Full frame 35mm is 24mm X 36mm)

[Benjamin Marks]

Dunno about the formats, but the half frame gives perfectly decent prints to 8x10, even with a medium/fast film like Tri-X. I really like mine. Format is "tall" rather than "long" like 135, but the camera is small and readily adaptable to being held sideways. Most of my pix are from my pre-digital era or I'd post some results.

Ben

[Pepe]

I have a pen FT and I'll trade it only for a Bessa R4M or better.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6427/penft0006dz8.jpg

[FrankS]

Well, I found a Pen (original manual-setting model) in the US, for $50. Erik and I (and others) will have to compare results. :)

I'm thinking it could be a good street shooter since it's small, has large DOF (28mm) for zone focusing, and ultimate resolution is usually not the prime criteria for street shots. Plus you get twice the potential for good images.

[vrgard]

Okay, you guys have now intrigued me. What's the deal with developing and scanning these half frame negatives? I have a Nikon Coolscan V ED scanner. Anybody know if it can handle half frame negatives?

-Randy

[cbphoto]

Okay, you guys have now intrigued me. What's the deal with developing and scanning these half frame negatives? I have a Nikon Coolscan V ED scanner. Anybody know if it can handle half frame negatives?

-Randy

you have to split them up yourself fater scanning them two at a time. that's for batch scanning. individually, you can just select the desired area. i can scan 24 "frames" (12 full frames) in my ls9000 in batch mode, and then i do the final scans in a glass holder, so the format doesn't really matter at that point.

[vrgard]

Great to hear that it's that easy. Thanks.

[ferider]

Watch out though: when you scan two frames together, and your
scanner focuses in the middle of the (full) frame, it will miss focus
since there is a black bar.

You either need glass holders, very flat negatives, deep scanner DOF,
or adjustable focus location (which you can do with Vuescan and some
scanners, for instance).

And for Frank: congrats. I have an FT and love it. Have to get her out more.

Roland.

[Gerbil62]

The Pen F is a wonderful camera the 38mm standard lens is absolutely brilliant and will focus down to about 12 inchs ive got too many cameras but would never part with my pen f

[kbg32]

The Pen lenses are great, whether SLR or P&S. I have a few of these gems. Love'm. I remember an old Olympus ad from the 60's showing Eugene Smith with a Pen F around his neck. Brilliant!

[jsuominen]

I have shot with Olympus Pen F, too and some of shots are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/sets/72157594165520246/

[VictorM.]

Smith used an Olympus Pen F at Woodstock.

The Pen lenses are great, whether SLR or P&S. I have a few of these gems. Love'm. I remember an old Olympus ad from the 60's showing Eugene Smith with a Pen F around his neck. Brilliant!

[nicholas]

Anyone have any of these Oly Pens? SLR or VF versions?[/QUOTE]

[nicholas]

Frank, I have an Olympus Pen half frame Pen D2 with a 32MM f 1.9 lens. It is in mint - condition, mechanically perfect with one glaring exception. The CD meter doesn't work. It is small, quiet with a quick thumb advance and produces wonderful images.
Interested?
nicholas

[historicist]

I've got a Pen FT and it's a very nice camera, good lense and a nice design apart from the dim viewfinder. Previously I had an EE3 which was nice to use but the quality was fairly poor, maybe I just had a duff one, I don't know.

Incidentally I don't have problems with the focus when I scan the negatives (on a Collscan IV).

[Roger Hicks]

Has anyone got a Pen W ?. They seem to be completely impossible to obtain these days. I should have purchased one back in the 60's when they retailed in the Uk for about £20.
Yes.

It's very, very nice but the black paint is scabby (tiny blisters) and the leatherette is manky because I had a shutter repair and CLA a few years back and the covering doesn't seem to have stayed on very well. The 6-glass lens -- 25/2.8, as I recall, though I can't seem to lay my hands on it right now -- is truly superb.

Are they worth much nowadays? I can't remember when I last used it. Well over a year, I think.

Cheers,

R.

[Roger Hicks]

Roger,
You have a "Gem",the one I saw in Amateur Photographer about 4years ago was available in Newcastle and I rang the shop and it had already been sold and it was £225.
The only other one I have seen available was sold on Ebay.com and went for just over $600.
Regards,
William
Dear William,

Bloody hell!

Yes, it's a gem, but I'll have to find it and think about flogging it.

Thanks for the info. I knew it was rare and sought-after (the only black paint Pen, probably the best lens, I'm pretty sure the widest) but I had no idea they were fetching that sort of money.

(Rapid calculation in head) -- That's one-sixth of a new MP, without VAT, before press discount...

Cheers,

R.

[Sonnar2]

Has anyone one of the rare 60mm/1.5, sharing some experience?

THANKS