which half frame camera for best IQ?

[kuuan]

Which half frame camera is considered to produce the highest image quality? Or should I ask, which one has the best lens?

How much 'worse' will the IQ be as compared to e.g. the like of a Konica S2?

thank you for any input,
Andreas

[julio1fer]

AFAIK, Olympus Pen D and Pen F series. I can attest myself for the D3 lens.

Have never used a S2.

[Roger Hicks]

Seriously consider a Pen W: 25/2.8 lens, 6-glass (I think).

Cheers,

Roger

[payasam]

Half frame cameras made sense when they were produced, but the costs of film and processing went down fairly soon. Today, nearly all labs are geared towards handling full frame 135 negatives. The "image quality" of a half frame camera can be seen only at small print sizes and can never equal that of a full frame camera.

[Roger Hicks]

The "image quality" of a half frame camera can be seen only at small print sizes and can never equal that of a full frame camera.

True, but I'm amazed at the quality each time I finish a film in my Pen W. The main reason I don't use it more often is that it takes forever to finish a film...

Cheers,

Roger

[FrankS]

Pen Ws are quite expensive these days Roger. I have an original Pen with normal 32mm lens and just finished my first roll of film with it. (I got it last summer.)

[Cale Arthur]

Of all of the Oly Pens that i have at this point (5 or 6 at last count), the one i've been the most surprised by in terms of image quality is the lowly EES-2. Certainly doesn't have the flexibility or performance of the F-series SLRs, but they have most of the 'right qualities' (small, cheap, dependable, and a sharp lens). I paid $5 for mine, and would buy another dozen at that price.

I still really enjoy the performance of the Canon/Bell & Howell Dial 35's.. one of the better lenses out there in half-frame land, though it seems that clean examples are steadily climbing in price. Here's a link to one of my favorite Dial 35 blog pages, which i think accurately shows what these cameras are capable of, image-wise:

http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/cat_50009648.html

I wish Olympus would 'pull a Nikon' and reissue the Pen Wide in all of it's original glory.. pretty sure that'll never happen, but one can dream.

--c--

[shadowfox]

Which half frame camera is considered to produce the highest image quality? Or should I ask, which one has the best lens?

How much 'worse' will the IQ be as compared to e.g. the like of a Konica S2?

thank you for any input,
Andreas

I would put the lenses produced for Olympus Pen-F series SLR as the top quality.

These lenses were manufactured for professional use, and it shows.

Some old samples (38mm/1.8 "standard" lens on Pen-FT):

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/sale-695580415@craigslist.orghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/291220935_f46347354d_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/291220949_d962835dab_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/292723462_4fae12f78c_o.jpg

I'd say most of them are equal or better than the Konica S2.