I have the Olympus Pen EE S, and I absolutely love it! Not only are half frame cameras huge money savers but they’re perfect for travel photography and it’s so much fun making diptychs. The cool thing about diptychs is that they can also serve as a great creative exercise!
Olympus addressed the half frame quality concern by taking16x20 enlargements from the Pen and competitor's full frame cameras, and challenging professional photographers to tell the difference. You get 76 to 77 frames from a roll 36 exposure roll. With the 38mm pancake lens mounted, the Pen is arguably one of the most sleek and beautiful cameras ever made
Nice review and nice pictures, man. I really love the pictures I get from this camera - when I can get them in focus! I need the 72 frames because half of my shots are soft 😂. I have to say that it's really fun shooting this camera with the goal of making diptychs (or triptychs), really makes you slow down and think about things.
I'm new to film photography (and photography in general), just wanted to say the photos in this video are incredible, the colours are absolutely amazing. can I ask did you do much post processing or are they the original scans? thanks!
I'm late the party on this video but, I love half frame, I have a Konica Auto-Reflex (the first version with the hyphen in the title), To my knowledge its the only camera that can switch between Half frame and full frame mid roll. Start the roll doing some nature shots but decide to take the camera out with friends for the evening? Swap it over to half frame and get twice the film economy! You do lose about a half a frame due to spacing each time you switch, though, so not something to be doing multiple times per roll. The camera is built like a tank, the Konica AR lenses are gorgeous, Honestly my only gripe with the camera is one of your gripes with the FV, Micro-Prism focusing aid, I would much rather matte screen or if I had to split image. Ohhh, And how could I forget, With adapters the Konica can shoot M42, Exakta and Nikon F mount lenses!
Gotta love half frame! I took my Ricoh Auto Half travelling with me last month and it was a fun, economical way to shoot. Did you see the announcement on the new Kodak Ektar 35N? I'm thinking of getting that one as backup, or for when I'd need a flash. Thanks for this review! I think if I ever want to get a manual half frame the Oly Pen is the way to go ~
Awesome! Half frame is a great option for traveling! I did hear about the Kodak Ektar camera! Very exciting that these cameras are being made nowadays!
Wow…the flash sync might really pull me in here…I’ve wanted a way to get fast sync capability in my stable without going to leaf shutter medium format stuff…not about to buy the a9iii or start lugging around a hasselblad back-(or trying to buy an X100V lol) This might be the first time a film camera actually is offering to SAVE me money or get me skills to sell to clients (I can always rent the good stuff for delivery) Lenses hold up really good at night. How fast are the lenses, though?
It is a unique camera with some unique capabilities! I think they made lenses as fast as f/1.8, but possibly faster. I didn’t dive super heavy into the lens lineup available.
Love this camera! I like to use mine with a 24 exposure roll. Or else it'll take forever to finish it. I get like 50 photos out of it too. Great for travel when you just want to shoot away!
I have the Pen F with the same lens, the out of focus shorts could be caused by sticky aperture blades failing to close the aperture before the shutter fires, check if the landscape negatives look too dense. This lens is also quite radioactive, especially the rear element.
Actually, I own seven half-frame cameras - I just have a soft spot for them, just like taking care of them as they usually are unloved. The Pen-F first model is one of my favorites. One can't compare them to 120 - which I love shooting too. But it's simply something different. The half-frames I usually use for travel and summer here in middle Europe with a slow film not faster than 100 iso, maybe even slower. Also, if you like the square format, have a look at the Zeiss Taxonas or the Berning Robots, which offer 24x24 mm frames - so you get your film out faster.
I have a Pen FT and LOVE it. It’s kinda becoming my everyday camera, not because of saving money, but because it’s just so good. I have the 40mm f1.4 lens and the images are wonderfully ‘milky’ but sharp where they need to be.. even wide open. Which makes it great for using in low light situations. The images, even though tiny negatives, have an almost medium format look to them that I get with my Yashica TLR… I guess it must be due to the age of the lenses. Anyway, cool video. Thanks for posting.
Glad you love your Pen! I totally get what you mean about them having an almost medium format look. That is a really impressive quality considering how small the negative is!
I have the FT and I can agree with some people commenting, 72 shots is just too damn many! I tend to shoot my other cameras more so sadly it sits in a hard case with a roll of film I need to finish. Maybe it's time to let it go, let someone starting on film a chance to experience a cool little camera.
Yeah I had the same trouble finishing rolls haha I’m sure it’s good for people that want to shoot a little more fast-paced, but I work way slower than the type of person that would really enjoy this camera!
This is a camera with almost no competitor. You sure have the Canon demi C which also have interchangeable lens but is not an SLR. I mean, THIS IS AN SLR ! Crazy when you think about it huh ?! I do use my two Pen FT a lot. Got the 100mm lens and also two 38 because they were standard on this camera. I also have an M42 meaning I have one of the most capable Pen FT around. It can just shoot any lens you can find for M42. For me it is mostly SMC Takumar of even old FSU lenses like the Industar 20-2 which is a pacake lens. It's a really nice little camera to have and i think it will quickly become a cult classic because of the price of film.
@@jessly5474 to be honest it is dimmer than the FV or the F without lightmeter but it is not as dim as people try to make you believe. If you don’t make the direct comparison you will mostly never notice it. To me no matter which version you choose. They are all amazing camera that deliver lovely result every times.
I hate my Pen F T because the prism is a bit dark. I wanna score the original F gothic version because the prism was bright and clear plus the double stroke feel soo cool. You feel like a vintage street photography hero from the past.
As beautiful as this camera is and it probably provides a great shooting experience, for everyday shooting I feel like getting something like a MFT digital camera with a small prime (thinking of the lumix gx line and 20mm f1.7) would be a more cost effective and hassle free shooting experience when considering having to develop and scan the film which either costs a decent bit or takes up a lot of time when doing it at home. In my opnion, unless one has to shoot film It would probably be a better choice getting a fairly affordable small digital camera.
Great review, photos awesome Had 2 of these little beauties over the years, nice sharp lenses and look rather nice! But half frame for me wasn't meant to be, 120mm is my preferred film of choice... and my bessa r is my 35mm camera of choice. But half frame certainly appeals especially when learning the craft, i definitely don't regret my half frame shooting only downside took ages to finish a roll 😂
Thanks Ian! Yeah I totally agree! I loved trying this camera out, but I’d rather shoot full frame 35mm or 120 for the better printing capability and the fact that I can finish rolls faster haha
Two year ago I bought one of these cameras. At first I loved it, but after a couple of rolls I started to not lake it. The camera is well built, the viewfinder it is just a little bit dim, The shooter sound it is no nice. To complete a roll it took me almost a month. After I finished my second roll I knew that this camera wasn't right for me, so I sold it.
Totally fair points! It’s a great camera, just not for some people. I don’t think I would get a whole lot of use out of it if I owned it. I want to be able to finish my rolls and see the results a little faster
What are your thoughts on half frame vs full frame 35mm vs 120 film? Is half frame a worth while format to shoot? COMMENT BELOW⬇️
I have the Olympus Pen EE S, and I absolutely love it! Not only are half frame cameras huge money savers but they’re perfect for travel photography and it’s so much fun making diptychs. The cool thing about diptychs is that they can also serve as a great creative exercise!
Olympus addressed the half frame quality concern by taking16x20 enlargements from the Pen and competitor's full frame cameras, and challenging professional photographers to tell the difference. You get 76 to 77 frames from a roll 36 exposure roll. With the 38mm pancake lens mounted, the Pen is arguably one of the most sleek and beautiful cameras ever made
That’s cool! I didn’t know Olympus did that! Thanks for watching!
I have an Olympus pen F and I love it. I like to try and pair my photos when I shoot. 💮
Awesome! Yeah I should have tried to make a couple pairs when I had this camera. Thanks for watching!
@@ReimannPembroke totally! You did at 7:37 just love the variation and storytelling you get from trying to couple the photos. Great video👍🏾
@@ArchiesLens ahh thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice review and nice pictures, man. I really love the pictures I get from this camera - when I can get them in focus! I need the 72 frames because half of my shots are soft 😂. I have to say that it's really fun shooting this camera with the goal of making diptychs (or triptychs), really makes you slow down and think about things.
Glad to know I’m not the only one who has issues focusing lol microprism screens just don’t work with my brain I guess😂
@@ReimannPembroke lol. fact.
I'm new to film photography (and photography in general), just wanted to say the photos in this video are incredible, the colours are absolutely amazing. can I ask did you do much post processing or are they the original scans? thanks!
Hey glad you’re here! The scans have some minimal editing done! I usually just boost the vibrance, saturation and add a little sharpness
I'm late the party on this video but, I love half frame, I have a Konica Auto-Reflex (the first version with the hyphen in the title), To my knowledge its the only camera that can switch between Half frame and full frame mid roll. Start the roll doing some nature shots but decide to take the camera out with friends for the evening? Swap it over to half frame and get twice the film economy! You do lose about a half a frame due to spacing each time you switch, though, so not something to be doing multiple times per roll. The camera is built like a tank, the Konica AR lenses are gorgeous, Honestly my only gripe with the camera is one of your gripes with the FV, Micro-Prism focusing aid, I would much rather matte screen or if I had to split image. Ohhh, And how could I forget, With adapters the Konica can shoot M42, Exakta and Nikon F mount lenses!
Hey no worries! I’m glad you found the video! Oooh the auto reflex cameras sound really cool! I might have to try one out at some point!
Didn’t know the fact about the motion picture lens. So sick. Definitely my favorite piece a kit.
Yeah that’s a super cool little fact! And it’s a great camera!!
What film stock are you using? The colors are gorgeous!!
I believe I used Fuji Superia 400 for these! (Not the current Fuji 400)
Gotta love half frame! I took my Ricoh Auto Half travelling with me last month and it was a fun, economical way to shoot. Did you see the announcement on the new Kodak Ektar 35N? I'm thinking of getting that one as backup, or for when I'd need a flash. Thanks for this review! I think if I ever want to get a manual half frame the Oly Pen is the way to go ~
Awesome! Half frame is a great option for traveling! I did hear about the Kodak Ektar camera! Very exciting that these cameras are being made nowadays!
Wow…the flash sync might really pull me in here…I’ve wanted a way to get fast sync capability in my stable without going to leaf shutter medium format stuff…not about to buy the a9iii or start lugging around a hasselblad back-(or trying to buy an X100V lol)
This might be the first time a film camera actually is offering to SAVE me money or get me skills to sell to clients (I can always rent the good stuff for delivery)
Lenses hold up really good at night. How fast are the lenses, though?
It is a unique camera with some unique capabilities! I think they made lenses as fast as f/1.8, but possibly faster. I didn’t dive super heavy into the lens lineup available.
Love this camera! I like to use mine with a 24 exposure roll. Or else it'll take forever to finish it. I get like 50 photos out of it too. Great for travel when you just want to shoot away!
Yeah it’s a super well built little gem! That’s a good idea to shoot with 24 exp rolls!
I have the Pen F with the same lens, the out of focus shorts could be caused by sticky aperture blades failing to close the aperture before the shutter fires, check if the landscape negatives look too dense.
This lens is also quite radioactive, especially the rear element.
Oh I didn’t think about that! Also I didn’t know these lenses were radioactive
Actually, I own seven half-frame cameras - I just have a soft spot for them, just like taking care of them as they usually are unloved. The Pen-F first model is one of my favorites. One can't compare them to 120 - which I love shooting too. But it's simply something different. The half-frames I usually use for travel and summer here in middle Europe with a slow film not faster than 100 iso, maybe even slower. Also, if you like the square format, have a look at the Zeiss Taxonas or the Berning Robots, which offer 24x24 mm frames - so you get your film out faster.
That’s awesome! Woah I’ve never heard of the other cameras you mentioned. I’ll have to check them out!
I had mine transformed to a split screen. It’s awesome 😎
Oh awesome! That’s what I would do if I bought one!
How did you do that? Did you send it out to someone?
Yes, to kanto camera in Japan. Cost me 350$ and 4 months waiting time. But worth it. I have the black ft, so it’s really cool,
I also adapt Nikon lenses on it, like the new Voigtlander apo Skopar 90mm. The images are great.
I have a Pen FT and LOVE it.
It’s kinda becoming my everyday camera, not because of saving money, but because it’s just so good.
I have the 40mm f1.4 lens and the images are wonderfully ‘milky’ but sharp where they need to be.. even wide open. Which makes it great for using in low light situations.
The images, even though tiny negatives, have an almost medium format look to them that I get with my Yashica TLR… I guess it must be due to the age of the lenses.
Anyway, cool video. Thanks for posting.
Glad you love your Pen! I totally get what you mean about them having an almost medium format look. That is a really impressive quality considering how small the negative is!
Beautiful video 📻💡
Thank you!!
I have the FT and I can agree with some people commenting, 72 shots is just too damn many! I tend to shoot my other cameras more so sadly it sits in a hard case with a roll of film I need to finish. Maybe it's time to let it go, let someone starting on film a chance to experience a cool little camera.
Yeah I had the same trouble finishing rolls haha I’m sure it’s good for people that want to shoot a little more fast-paced, but I work way slower than the type of person that would really enjoy this camera!
Maybe I’m crazy but I think 72 shots is too many, I already struggle to shoot 36 on most days
You are not wrong! It took me sooooo long to get through rolls with this camera haha. I’m sure some people don’t mind that though
This is a camera with almost no competitor.
You sure have the Canon demi C which also have interchangeable lens but is not an SLR.
I mean, THIS IS AN SLR ! Crazy when you think about it huh ?!
I do use my two Pen FT a lot. Got the 100mm lens and also two 38 because they were standard on this camera.
I also have an M42 meaning I have one of the most capable Pen FT around. It can just shoot any lens you can find for M42.
For me it is mostly SMC Takumar of even old FSU lenses like the Industar 20-2 which is a pacake lens.
It's a really nice little camera to have and i think it will quickly become a cult classic because of the price of film.
Wow! Cool that you enjoy the camera enough to have two of them! Thanks for watching!
Many people say the Pen FT has a very dim viewfinder. Does that concern you when using it?
@@jessly5474 to be honest it is dimmer than the FV or the F without lightmeter but it is not as dim as people try to make you believe. If you don’t make the direct comparison you will mostly never notice it.
To me no matter which version you choose. They are all amazing camera that deliver lovely result every times.
I hate my Pen F T because the prism is a bit dark. I wanna score the original F gothic version because the prism was bright and clear plus the double stroke feel soo cool. You feel like a vintage street photography hero from the past.
Love how you put this together! Great breakdown :)
Thank you so much! I’m happy with how it turned out!
This camera is great but it would take me ages to shoot 72 frames ahah
Thanks for watching dude! It took me forever too haha
Pentax were watching
As beautiful as this camera is and it probably provides a great shooting experience, for everyday shooting I feel like getting something like a MFT digital camera with a small prime (thinking of the lumix gx line and 20mm f1.7) would be a more cost effective and hassle free shooting experience when considering having to develop and scan the film which either costs a decent bit or takes up a lot of time when doing it at home. In my opnion, unless one has to shoot film It would probably be a better choice getting a fairly affordable small digital camera.
Digital is definitely the more practical option! I’ve been curious to try a Gx80. They seem like great cameras!
Great review, photos awesome
Had 2 of these little beauties over the years, nice sharp lenses and look rather nice! But half frame for me wasn't meant to be, 120mm is my preferred film of choice... and my bessa r is my 35mm camera of choice. But half frame certainly appeals especially when learning the craft, i definitely don't regret my half frame shooting only downside took ages to finish a roll 😂
Thanks Ian! Yeah I totally agree! I loved trying this camera out, but I’d rather shoot full frame 35mm or 120 for the better printing capability and the fact that I can finish rolls faster haha
5:46 🤪
Two year ago I bought one of these cameras. At first I loved it, but after a couple of rolls I started to not lake it. The camera is well built, the viewfinder it is just a little bit dim, The shooter sound it is no nice. To complete a roll it took me almost a month. After I finished my second roll I knew that this camera wasn't right for me, so I sold it.
Totally fair points! It’s a great camera, just not for some people. I don’t think I would get a whole lot of use out of it if I owned it. I want to be able to finish my rolls and see the results a little faster