OT: Oly Pen EE question, and seeking more general advice.

[Goodyear]

OK.

My GAS has got weird lately. I've got my M2, and a line-up of glass I'm happy with. Maybe even one lens too many (I'm considering letting the CV 75 go since I shoot maybe half a dozen frames with it every six months). Bessa R is there for backup. MF has the Autocord and the SQ-A.

So as I'm reaching satisfaction I'm struck by weirdo GAS. I've just bought a couple of old Polaroid folding RFs (loads of fun, by the way), and looking for another one or two, when I have a sudden craving for half-frame goodness.

I handled a very clean Pen EE today, dealer asking GBP40 which seemed high at the time but a little net research leads me to conclude it's not too far off the pace after all. Comes with a 6 month warranty, as well.

My question: with it's weird fixed shutter speed, and meter only up to ASA 200, is it possible to use the "for flash" aperture settings to get some kind of shutter-priority manual operation? My guess would be yes, which would make some faster film viable by the by. Any users care to comment?

Also, I really fancy a Pen F. Ffordes have one, with lens, for GBP125. I'm having trouble pinning down a normal kind of price for these - how does that sound?

[Goodyear]

Hmm. According to that page which of te two speeds is selected depends on "mode", so it may still work.

Perhaps 40 quid is typical dealer price. /shrugs.

[Goodyear]

Thanks! Much appreciated...

[filmgoerjuan]

I'm pretty sure that the 2 speed model of the Pen EE is 1/200 on auto and 1/30 on flash. 1/30 for flash was a fairly common speed as it was intended for use with flashbulbs (which required slower sync speeds versus electronic flash units).

I've got both versions of the Pen EE (the original has a more traditional leatherette texture and says "Olympus" across the front, the 1/200 - 1/30 version has a basket weave texture and says "Olympus - Pen"). I've been really happy with the results from the original model, I haven't tried out the two speed model yet as until recently it's been too dark outside to bother.

I picked up both models for around the equivalent of 12 pounds apiece. I'd say 40 is over the mark, although I've seen some of the later models go for around that price.

[Goodyear]

filmgoerjuan: it was your Flickr stream started me lusting after these things...

[Mark Wood]

If the EE is anything like the ubiquitous Trip 35, you can set whatever aperture you like but if the metering system "decides" that you're overexposing, it takes over and sets the smaller aperture that it thinks is appropriate. If it "believes" that you're underexposing, even at the slower shutter speed, it uses the aperture that you've selected, "thinking" that you're using flash. Too clever for its own good...

[Mark Wood]

Or does it automatically revert to the higher 1/200th second setting when you set your own aperture?!? Whichever speed it really does choose, it does set a smaller aperture than the one you've chosen manually it it believes that you're over-exposing. I didn't buy a Trip for £10 (with warranty!) in Jessops because I didn't know this and thought the camera was malfunctioning! I guess the only reliable way to influence the exposure is to change the film speed setting. I have a Pen EE-3 and it's remarkably good - it takes a couple of years to finish a "36" exp. film though and it really should have a rangefinder...

[Goodyear]

Looking back on UK eBay, that price for the Pen F seems pretty good.

/goes to talk to wife.