I can't afford a Olympus Pen FT

[holgaguy]

so what is a good affordable option to this great half frame camera.
holgaguy

[FrankS]

Olympus made several viewfinder/scale focusing models of 1/2 frame cameras.

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Pen

[shadowfox]

IMHO, the Pen-F has unique qualities that are very difficult to find on other half-frame cameras.

First, the styling is very elegant, never have I heard Pen-F(s) being described as "unattractive" or ugly.

Also the quality of the lenses that were made for it. In my experience, it seems that the designer (Mr. Maitani) had chosen the cream of the crop from the Olympus stable of lenses to be paired with the Pen-F.

Thirdly, the number of lens adapters that were made for this camera, allowing you to use lenses from the commonly known M42 to the exotic Exakta lenses.

And last but not least, the size and the handling, it's very obvious where Mr. Maitani draws his inspiration from when creating this camera:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2250/2185573431_d5189bbb33.jpg

Sorry for the long-winded answer, but my point is, there is no substitute,

but... it's worth to wait and save to get a good working one, though :D

[ferider]

Like Will said. The F/FT/FV are amazing cameras. You should be able to
get a good camera with 38/1.8 for below US 200.

What's your budget ? There are many different fixed lens half-frames
available cheaper.

Roland.

[holgaguy]

Yes under $200 is where i'm at. where should i look for one?
holgaguy

[Cale Arthur]

Ritzcam seems to have quite a few in that price range - here's the link: Oly Pen F's. (http://ritzcam.com/catalog/index.php?category_id=820) You should still factor in for a CLA eventually, though, just to be sure everything's tip-top.

--c--

[ferider]

Like Cale said. Ritzcam is a good store.

Also, KEH apparently has a working PEN F for US 144:

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductList.aspx?Mode=&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&BC=OP&BCC=8&ID=104&CC=2&CCC=1&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

and a 38/1.8 for US 38:

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductList.aspx?Mode=&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&ID=104&BC=OP&BCC=8&CC=6&CCC=2&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

Both in BGN condition which is usually pretty good for KEH. Plus they have no problems with returns/refunds.

It is very, very difficult to find an FT with working/accurate meter. The F has a brighter viewfinder than the FT (by one stop). It is double stroke - otherwise the two cameras are almost identical for the user.

Best,

Roland.

[Roger Hicks]

I'll second that there is no cheaper substitute (Alpas are a more expensive possibility, as is the Leica 72), but I'd also ask if you've ever used one.

Like many, I was seduced by their looks, and even just by handling one (a friend had one), but I didn't find it a particularly handy camera to use and sold it on after putting only a few rolls through it. I felt the same about my Minox B.

The mirror mechanism is a bit fragile, which influenced my selling it too: at least two repairers said, "Sell it as a runner whike it's still running."

I know that it has massive fans, and I'm not saying they're wrong; I'm just saying that once you get your hands on one, or use it for a while, you may not automatically be one of them.

Cheers,

Roger

[David Murphy]

"Sell it as a runner while it's still running."


That's what sensible people tell me to do with my BMW, but I keep soldiering on with it (and suffering)

[holgaguy]

[quote=ferider]
It is very, very difficult to find an FT with working/accurate meter. The F has a brighter viewfinder than the FT (by one stop). It is double stroke - otherwise the two cameras are almost identical for the user.

So why so many with non working meter ? Can they be fixed ?
holgaguy:confused:

[ferider]

[quote=ferider]
It is very, very difficult to find an FT with working/accurate meter. The F has a brighter viewfinder than the FT (by one stop). It is double stroke - otherwise the two cameras are almost identical for the user.

So why so many with non working meter ? Can they be fixed ?
holgaguy:confused:

The meter cell gives up after a while. And consists of a small, custom made
printed circuit board that can not be replaced with a generic cell.

Roland.

[holgaguy]

So then over all the F is the model to get
holgaguy

[ferider]

Well .. actually the best, IMO, is the FV. But it is much more expensive,
typically. But the F is very nice. Best,

Roland.

[Sonnar2]

I have one Pen FT and one FV. I see no real difference in viewfinder brigthness in both cameras, even if the FT has the metering and the FV hasn't. Both cameras are in the same good working order with clear finders and snappy shutters, and my eyes are good too. Neither I can confirm that many FT's have dead meters. Most I notice in ebay seem to work quite well, and if they don't, there is still no loss when compared to the FV. But it seems to me that they don't work well with 1.5V batteries when not modified... (I have my very last mercury cell in this particular camera)

As for prices, the most expensive ones are black FT's, although I've bought mine with 40/1.4 and case for 200 EUR. I've looked a while for a FV but it was noticeable cheaper; less than 200 USD. I haven't noticed that they are more expensive than F's (maybe they gonne be expensive now). As I said earlier in this thread, the shutter mechanism was greatly improved compared to the F model, and I personally prefer the later, straight design over the "gothic" F. According to FotoSaga, a French source of 1995, the following numbers were produced (probably incl. reserve top covers and not completed cameras)

Pen F: 190,000 (chrome)
Pen FT: 275,000 (chrome and black)
Pen FV: 25,000 (chrome)

in total 490,000

cheers, Frank

[shadowfox]

I think the prettiest Pen-F is the black original Pen-F with that gothic style F engraved on the front.

I bet Mr. Maitani has one with his engraved signature in a vault somewhere in his house :)

[ferider]

Pen F: 190,000 (chrome)
Pen FT: 275,000 (chrome and black)
Pen FV: 25,000 (chrome)

in total 490,000

cheers, Frank

Hi Frank,

maybe I'm just unlucky or pickier, wrt meter accuracy, but it took me 3 FTs,
including 2 EXC ones from KEH until I found a working one. In the non-working
ones the meter needle moved, but was about 2 stops off, also with the right
battery.

I never had an FV. But can confirm from use that the F viewfinder is brighter than the FT finder.

Roland.

[Cale Arthur]

I'm surprised that there's been no mention of the elusive Pen FB, which can be seen in all of it's glory right here: (Pen FB) (http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood-Kouen/3530/OLYHistory/details/1960/1960_32.html). Pure unobtanium.. :)

--c--

[bigdood]

What's the story with the FB? My Japanese is a bit rusty so I couldn't make out that page

[Cale Arthur]

What's the story with the FB?Don't know exactly, except to say that apparently the "B" stands for 'business'.. perhaps a document copy-specific Pen? The shutter speed only goes to 1/250, for some reason.

By the way, i can whole-heartedly recommend the Pen FV.. the only way i'd even think about parting with mine is if someone waved a Pen Wide in front of me. ;)

--c--

[shadowfox]

Cale, good catch on the Pen-FB ! more info for those who read Hiragana:
http://homepage1.nifty.com/olympuspen/camgal/penf042.htm

Translation (by excite.jp, not by me):

Pen FB is a model by whom it pays attention to only the half size economy, and a large amount of copy etc. of the document in the enterprise, the school, and the medical institution, etc. are manufactured as a main purpose. B of FB seeming is initial B of Business.

http://homepage1.nifty.com/olympuspen/camgal/images/penfb01.jpgPen FB

The image above is Pen FB. Though it is a feature on externals
1. The logo named red FB is marked to the part with the capital letter of F based on a top cover of Pen F.
2. The entire body becomes black painting finish in Pen F without.
3. The above-mentioned part is silver in this FB though the shutter button and the rewinding knob part are black finishs in black use for Pen FT.
4. The character named Business Camera is marked to the part that is moreover upper surface and square ..putting out.. Cho.
5. The biggest difference might be a point though it is basically a mechanism based on Pen F until 1/250 seconds at the speed of the shutter. Is maximum speed suppressed and was durability pursued? Moreover, it might have been judged that the speed of the shutter of 1/500 seconds was unnecessary , considering the use of the fine-grained film of the lower sensitivity multiused by taking a picture the copy.
6. Because Pen F is a base, the exposure meter is not internal organs.

----- end of translation -----

So basically the FB is a stripped down Pen-F that is designed for mundane documentation shots.

I'm still drooling over the black Pen-F with red gothic F engraving... :)

[Cale Arthur]

I'm still drooling over the black Pen-F with red gothic F engraving... :)
Hey Will, do you have a link to a picture of this one? I wasn't aware that Olympus made any original Pen F's in a black finish!

--c--

[mrb]

The Canon Demi is a nice half-frame that shows up on ebay from time to time. Also, I believe Agfa made some half-frame cameras, but I don't have any experience with them. Olympus Pens really rule the half-frame world.

[shadowfox]

Hey Will, do you have a link to a picture of this one? I'm wasn't aware that Olympus made any original Pen F's in a black finish!

--c--

No, just of the Sharan-made miniature digi-toy copies (there's one picture of it on the page I linked to above), that's why I said that maybe only Mr. Maitani has one now.

[Cale Arthur]

No, just of the Sharan-made miniature digi-toy copies (there's one picture of it on the page I linked to above), that's why I said that maybe only Mr. Maitani has one now.Ah, yes.. i'll bet YM has some breathtaking specimens tucked away somewhere!:)

--c--

[Sonnar2]

maybe I'm just unlucky or pickier, wrt meter accuracy, but it took me 3 FTs,
including 2 EXC ones from KEH until I found a working one. In the non-working
ones the meter needle moved, but was about 2 stops off, also with the right
battery.

If they are badly off I would expect they have nice potentiometers under the top cover just for adjustion with a screwdriver? (also to adjust it for modern batteries) I've read that the number metering system (unique with Olympus Pen FT) never worked in a really precise matter over the whole range. Even if I wouldn't trust it with high-sensible film I like to have a meter in my PEN...

cheers!

[zincman]

PM sent, I have one I will sell.

[tandemliebhaber]

mine was 125 Euros (about the same in US$) - the zuiko-lenses are seldom used, i had the chance to adapt a german jewel ...

http://www.schwertner.de/pen_planar_1.jpg

using it regularly (Velvia or other 50 ASA films, otherwise to grainy - my eye is used to 6x7 ;o)

[Cale Arthur]

I think the prettiest Pen-F is the black original Pen-F with that gothic style F engraved on the front.

I bet Mr. Maitani has one with his engraved signature in a vault somewhere in his house :)Thought y'all would appreciate seeing an example of the Pen that Shadowfox described above. Definitely a refinished camera, but a nice job nonetheless, and truly a beauty!

Gothic Olympus Pen F in black (http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h63457507)

--c--

[shadowfox]

Thought y'all would appreciate seeing an example of the Pen that Shadowfox described above. Definitely a refinished camera, but a nice job nonetheless, and truly a beauty!

Gothic Olympus Pen F in black (http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h63457507)

--c--

O Mio Dio!
Gorgeousssss!
Thanks for the fyi, Cale! :)