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OMG I can’t believe that, when I suddenly wanna watch some reviews about Classic Pen F on UA-cam, you’ve just made one! It’s fantastic! You’re always one of my favourite classic camera UA-camr
This is why I love your channel. I'm not usually tempted by cameras, but that black pen f with the red gothic f, sexy. Glad you enjoying the Nikkor 50 f2, maybe another shoot out with the Leica f2
Thanks Ryan! Yes it looks great doesn’t it! Hopefully you won’t be tempted by the camera in tonight’s video, it’s much more expensive! But very nice! Out in the next hour hopefully, uploading now! :)
Hi, I'm glad that I got on your channel. I'm a fan of these cameras. I made a full service of my FT camera and I can add that these cameras are quite time-consuming in service, there is a very unreliable exposure meter and a lot of surfaces in the viewfinder that collect dust. I can also add that if the exposure meter has died in your FT camera, then you can replace the semi-transparent mirror inside the viewfinder with a regular one (half of the mirror from any broken full-frame SLR) and you will get a camera with a brighter FV viewfinder. I highly recommend the 40 mm f1.4 lens. The photos from it are more pleasant than 1.8.
Another way to save up to 50% on your film is to bulk roll. I buy 30 metres of Fomapan 100 for about £40 - £50 and load cartridges. I have a Pen F so half that again (and you can roll shorter films if you want to finish the film sooner).
Thanks Timothy, great tip yes! I bought bulk roll Foma 100 in the past but went back to 36s as oin a 10pk there isn't a huge price saving and Foma scratches easily. BUT... for short rolls bulk rolls are better for sure. I bulk roll Vision3 (see that vid) and Kodak Double X - 400ft roll was the only option for that.
I bought an Olympus Pen FV camera in a pawn shop in 1971. I used it for several years, and I loved it. I used it every day for all kinds of photography, travelled with it, and it never let me down. It had a 42mm f/1.2 lens, and the light meter that attached to the front of the camera, as you showed in your video. The lens wasn't that sharp wide open, but that added to many of the photos I took; stopped down, it was sharp enough. The meter was accurate, but now hard to find. I'd highly recommend the FV. Unfortunately, I sold it after I hadn't used it for a few years. Talk about buyer's regret!
Thanks for your memories Larry! Sorry to hear you sold it. Yes the FV seem the most popular model. Perhaps you can get yourself one again if you look out for a good deal on eBay.
Insiders know the FV is the one to get because it has the improved shutter and self-timer of the FT, combined with the brighter finder of the gothic F. Unfortunately it was the lowest-production variant, so takes more looking to find a nice one, and ditto your former 42/1.2 lens, which is also rare-ish. Of course if I really wanted to throw away a lot of money I'd go shopping for a black FV with the 38/2.8 "pancake" lens and supplement it with the 60/1.5, which is a super-nice portrait lens but now rare and insanely expensive!
The Pen F was truly a system camera similar to the Nikon F system. When I first saw them in the camera storefronts in Koza City, I really wanted to get one because of the extreme size difference from the Nikon F. Today, it would be hard to get one in great condition so I bought the digital version and really love it. All the small Leica mft lenses look really good and are quite small. Just a great walk around camera.
Thank you for giving me the idea of shooting Velvia 50 in this camera! Never occurred to me but that is a great idea. I have a roll loaded now and can’t wait to see results. I’ve learned shooting my Pen F the past couple years that low ISO is key-grain looks larger on half-frame so don’t shoot above 100 ISO unless you really love grain. One other thing I’ve learned is to shoot this camera at the highest shutter speed conditions will permit. The rotary shutter fires with gusto, it will jump out of your hands if you don’t hang on. Best to stay at 1/60 or preferably higher even if you handhold your M6 every day at 1/15. Best regards!!
Hello Bill, sorry for my late answer. Great UA-cam name by the way! Yes fine grain film is great for me in the PanF. Thanks for the shutter speed tip! Many thanks :)
Amazing photography! Love your creativity and talent. I recently bought a Pen-D half frame camera. I was looking for the Pen-F but is out of my budget range right now. I started shooting film and learned photography that way. Slowly transition into digital as technology so ever-more became part of our lives. I do miss the film age, therefore wanted to buy a half frame camera which I never shot with before. Thank you for such an informative video. You really know your craft.
Love the look of film. Thinking this might make a good little travel camera for my long road trips. Take the scans and print a little trip book. I use my iphone now for that and honestly it works fantastic but I do love the look of film. Maybe the extra detail in Kodak Ektar 100 would be a good choice.
Just ordered mine, can't wait! How do you scan your film by the way? I have a flatbed scanner and can't get the exposure levels right when I try scanning 2 pictures side by side.
I own the 38 1,8 and also the 40mm 1,4 lens for this Pen F. They are amazing lenses that fit nicely on my small Fujifilm X-E series cameras. Now, as I see this video I'm starting to think about getting me a PEN F analog.
My dad has shot all of our family photos w. a German Robot half frame from the early 60ies on. I believe he posessed it even earlier. If I may correct you, the Robot was develpped and distributed from 1940 on I believe. It featured screw in lenses from Zeiss, Schneider Kreuznach and possibly more I'm not aware of. Very interesting camera w. super small high quality lenses.So in conclusion, If I don't miss anything, the Pen F was not the first half frame camera
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I restored my dad's Schneider Kreutznach 37,5mm 2,8 and also the Tele Xenar 75mm 3,8which came w. the Robot . Haven't tested the tele but the 37,5 mm, although like new condition now, was a bit disappointing especially in the corners. Very tiny lens. YFYI.
FOUR different Pen F cameras were for sale in the late Sixties. The fourth model of the Pen F was a special made model to be used on the microscopes. It had a different screen for microscope focusing. This fourth model was not for sale in the common photo shops. It was imported by another company, which also imported the famous Olympus microscopes.
Well Matt this is a great review as always and it makes me glad to have purchased multiple Pen F cameras across all the models and a nice collection of lenses. I too saw the rise in film prices and have predicted that these bargain priced jewels will soon reach epic high prices and the days of $200 Pen Fs are numbered. I recently got a mint Pen F gothic with a slightly sticky shutter for $49 on eBay and after spending $150 for a CLA from John Hermanson I have what amounts to a brand new Pen F. Get them while you can.
I have a black FT and an FV. Also many other half frame cameras, including several Olympus, a Ricoh, a Konica IIIM (which shoots full or half frame, with an adapter mask), a Canon Demi EE17, a Canon Auto Tele 6 (shoots full or half frame), and two Konica Autorex SLRs, which allow you to switch between half and full frame on the same roll. The FV is my favorite of these. And you are absolutely correct: I can easily shoot 3 rolls of 36 exposure film in an afternoon, but it takes me weeks or months to shoot one roll in a half frame, lol.
Black FT and FV.. nice Andrew! Thanks for the info on all the other models. It was the Demi that made my search for the Pen originally. Good to hear also that the FV is potentially the 'best' / favourite. ..and yes it just takes somehow longer to shoot through the film, maybe the double stroke helps that!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the double stroke is only on the original F. The later models have single stroke advance. It still takes me weeks to finish a roll, lol.
The Zuiko 1 : 1,2 was razor sharp. For best results the ADOX KB 14 single layer B&W film was used in the Sixties.. I used to be more mad in the Sixties because I shot on ADOX KB 14 ( 20 ASA) Today I hate my digital APS-C; ; so everything is on AUTO and the speed is 6400 ISO. Europa's biggest photo store does not want to believe the setting is on 6400 ISO, because of the low noise. I like the sound of 6 x 6 mirrors, auxillary shutter blades, leafshutters and Swedish knackebrod.
Just do it. The Zuiko 1 : 1,2 was razor sharp. For best results the ADOX KB 14 single layer B&W film was used in the Sixties.. I used to be more mad in the Sixties because I shot on ADOX KB 14 ( 20 ASA) Today I hate my digital APS-C; ; so everything is on AUTO and the speed is 6400 ISO. Europa's biggest photo store does not want to believe the setting is on 6400 ISO, because of the low noise. I like the sound of 6 x 6 mirrors, auxillary shutter blades, leafshutters and Swedish knackebrod. @@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom
I bought 100’s of rolls of 120 and 35mm slide, BW and color negative films in 2013. Still have a lot of film stored in my freezer ready to shoot. Film and film camera prices are insane now. I bout an RZ67 Proii w/lens and for $400 in 2013. That same setup is $2,200 today 🤯
You were smart JL! I sold all my Fuji FP film earlier this year when I saw the current price. I rarely used it and it filled the fridge up. I sold it for a lot more than I paid! One of my students bought one of my RZ Pro II off me just yesterday. You'll see it in a future video if you look carefully!) I gave them a good deal (much less than you quote) but still I made a money on it.
You can use Nikon AI lens on the Pen F. There is a Nikon AI lens to Pen F mount. A bit expensive if you can find one. Or, a Canon EOS lens to Pen F camera mount and a Nikon Ai lens to Canon EOS mount. That will do it. A bit complicated, but effective.
Hello Matt, I am loving your channel so far. I was looking into getting a Pen F Camera and adapting my Nikon Ai & Ais lenses, but I can't actually find an adapter anywhere. Do know where I can look?
Hi, this is a half frame lens so not sure if the images circle will cover FF (or if you have dark corners). If you can find an adapter then you can try.
One cheap way is to buy Silbersaltz 35 . A color film , witch you buy 4 rolls with developing and professional scanning for 59,60 euros for 4 film times 36 exp. plus developing and scanning . They have 050D, 250D,200T, and 500T color film a super nice deal at the moment . Cio
Hi Matt. Just watched the video. I have a Pen EE3 with the built in light meter. As you said, it takes a long time to great through a film, but I was surprised how good the results came out, both with b&w and colour, even with developing them myself :)
For those that are interested, Olympus also made a digital Pen-F, a micro 4/3 format with a 20.3MP resolution (50MP in high res mode). It is very similar to my Olympus OM-D EM5ii, which is also a great camera. This is an option for a nice vintage looking digital camera that is capable of producing beautiful images, with zero film costs.
Great tip James, yes apologies I was supposed to mention the digital version in the video and the fact that half frame cameras were designed because colour film prices were too high in te 1960s.
Hi Matt, I can't find any adapter for this camera except the OM to FT one, which is expensive. Do you know if I could find anything to adapt my M42 and Minolta MD lenses?
Hi Sam, yes finding adapters is really difficult (it’s a forgotten camera). I’ve never managed to get any myself but keep looking and fingers crossed. (Research old forum for what adapters were made)
Wow a friend of mine used to have one of these. The Pen F gives a neg not much bigger than the old 110 format, remember those? I would love to shoot film again but looking long an hard at this the cost is doing nothing but go up and the support network shrinking. Without the introduction of new film cameras we are eventually going to run out of cameras too. How do you see the future of film? I see film as the ultimate way of living in the moment as it has no future..but I wish it did :)
Thanks SS, yes we need the release of new affordable film cameras. Leica talked about it so I hope it happens but that will be too pricey for most users I think.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Leica's version of cheap won't be lol. It's not the cameras that put me off, they are quite durable. I'm very tempted to buy an FM2 The cost of film and all that goes with it puts me off.
Hi Antti, none of them have a cold shoe (F, FV, FT) but all of them can be fitted with the accessory coldshoe (as shown in one photo). It just clips on the top.
I always think of 35mm film costing £1 (in Poundland! - Agfa Vista 200) 5-6 years ago or £20 for a 120 5 pack of Kodak so in comparison the prices are 3-4x more now in many cases.
I enjoyed this video and as new to your channel I have now subscribed. However....a Pen F with the 38mm 1.8 for £160? There are very few from outside Japan on eBay. These including shipping can be had for typically around £200. However on top you will pay 20% Vat plus custom charges and duties. So we are looking at £240 plus. If the other costs are only £20 it's a £260 camera not a £160 one. I'm still tempted though! Perhaps not for the film economy but for the different shooting style you describe that was the real eye opener for me. So thanks for the video!
Thanks Edmund and welcome! Sorry some of these videos are older and prices have rocketed. Take the price with a pinch of salt. For economy it would be cheaper to shoot a £50 Nikon or Minolta (I use both) and spend money on film but agree this camera lets you shoot differently which is cool.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom At least you didn't say you got yours 'for $5 from thrift store'! The other point you hint at is that the Pen F is not likely to be anyone's first film camera. My lucky find just recently was a very tidy and fully functional Pentax MV from a 'vintage' shop for £35 which will be my new daily shooter. As for prices shooting up just wait until some celebrity or 'influencer' is photographed holding a Pen F - think Contax T2!
That lens cap looks glorious! Supercool little camera. Really interesting point about shooting in pairs. Does that mean that one would get scans from a lab in pairs as well?
Thanks Christian! Some labs can be funny with half frame scanning but if they are tell them to scans as pairs (as you would anyway) and yes you then get a pair of images in 1 scan (pretty cool). If you scan at home like me you can then do 3s 4s etc too.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks, Matt! I just got my first film camera, the Olympus OM-2n, but all of Maitani's designs look stunning. I'm keeping this one in mind if film costs get too expensive!
Hi Matt well after watching this video I ended up buying a Olympus pen F, got it from Japan and arrived today wow it’s beautiful got it with the 40mm 1.4 absolutely perfect I can’t believe how it’s in such good nick for it’s age,went through all the shutter speeds all good. Oh and I did some research on that Nikon 50 mm 2 AI lens and only found out that it’s one to for sharpness and yes brought one in mint condition from Japan, looking forward to when it arrives so last I counted I’ve now have 8 50mm Nikon lens hmm were did I go wrong:) thanks for a great video Matt Cheers from down under 🇦🇺.ps looking forward to when you might do a video on the Nikon 50mm 2 ai.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks bad news I put some film in and the camera has Seized up shutter advance, nothing works have contacted supplier hopefully they can work it out, looking at this camera it looks like new. Have a Nikon FM2,FE2,F4s and F5 so if anyone knows this has seized I would appreciate it thank you.
Interesting that the spool next to the take up spool is metal. I have one and it's plastic. At some point, they must've changed it, which means you may have an early one.
I had a lovely Pen F but sold it because the shutter was like a bomb going off. I wanted a quiet shutter consistent with a small camera and found it in a Pen D. This is a magnificent piece of precision engineering that is even more compact than the F. Focussing is a challenge but that all adds to the fun.
I saw a rough Oly Pen F in a flea market. The seller was still asking $250 for it and he was also selling random poor condition cameras for only $20. He knew what its worth so I couldn't haggle.
Gotta be real careful with the PEN F, if that drive sprocket fails the camera is a paper weight. Even the best Olympus repair tech, John Harmensen can't fix it. Other than that, I love that camera.
In Germany we have the OM-Doc. He is a retired (chief) technician from Olympus Europa, trained by Maitani himself, and his apartment is completely stocked with original Olympus spare parts. I was there once and you have to be careful where you step 😀 ). He can almost build a new OM or F from spare parts.
The photo labs killed the half frame camera. No carton frames for Kodachrome 18 x 24 slides. Unsharp prints; caused by forgetting to adjust the enlarger with the 18 x 24 mm frame.
My FT came with 2 lenses, and an "Olympus-pen F Mont Adapter N" . (Still wrapped new, and in it's red felt lined box) If you start using yours again, maybe you can play, with some if your favorite Nikkor glass. Rebuilding a Hurricane Harvey, (praying for Lousiana) Canadian Summicron-m 50/2 3167xxx. The M4-P that came with it, is probably toast. Do you recommend an adapter for M lenses to Pen F? Thank you so much for your videos, they've kept me entertained, and distracted from the nonsense on the boob- tube. Stay safe. Peace. PS. Only on shot 23, of first test roll. Just 25 diptychs to go. (Sounds better than 50).
Haha only "25 diptychs to go" :) Thanks William. It sound like you got a lovely set. Yes i'd like to try my Nikon lenses on mine or Leica M, if I see adapters. All these adapters are less common with the Pen F series mount being old but i'm sure things crop up on eBay from time to time.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the flange distance of Leica M is too short to allow you to use them on a Pen F except in Macro mode or if you have a collapsible M Mount lens you can collapse it enough to achieve the correct flange distance when mounted. The Leica M Mount adapter and LTM adapter are both very rare. I have the LTM one.
RE: Your 800mm example: The image will be exactly the same SIZE whether its mounted to this camera or a full-frame. It'll just fill this frame more easily, that's all.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom No, no, no, we self-taught photographers are searching the content online like this all the time, I bought myself a pen f after watching this vid, and I am pretty sure lots of them will do the same. I like your channel and the content, great works, much appreciated!
If you pay a lab for develop and scans, it actually costs more to shoot half frame. They up charge drastically because the film needs to be hand cut and scanned because the automation wouldn’t work.
Thanks, this is lab specific but I know what you mean. A note for others, I pay standard lab prices for dev only and scan myself for E6 film. I develop C41 and B&W myself.
they look like nice little cameras. but i'ts definitely not for me. i don't scan and i like to spend time printing in the darkroom and i'm afraid that this would be too small for me. Then again, they look wonderful and i'm sure that in the right hands (yours for example) they could do marvelous things !
Hey Matt you neglected to mention one major down side to this camera or should I say the development of the film. Most places have a pretty hefty upcharge for half frame development and scanning. So unless you develop and scan yourself the savings isn't no where near as good.
The developing cost is the same and the film can be scanned as 36 scans with two frames per scan but you need to crop and edit after. Matt mentions in the video that he scans in pairs.
@@robertmathieson97 it's hasn't been the same price when I checked here in the USA. One example is the dark room charges a extra $10 dollars per roll for half frame.
Thanks Jon, ah someone else mentioned this too. I've never come across it as my dev costs hav always been standard prices (if I used a lab, say E6 film) and I scan myself.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom yeah sadly mine do. Years ago I looked at the pen f when I first started photography so I could get more practice in and actually bought one. Sadly it wasn't as the seller described so I sent it back. I later learned of the up charge for developing here so I never continued the hunt for a replacement. I might also note from what I hear the view finder on the ft from what others have told me is pretty dim compared to the other F and FV.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom awesome! which cord do you use? Mine works but I have to manually hold my finger against it because it wont thread onto the port
Interesting video, but I think this half-frame camera is not for me. I have shoot film in medium and large format, and I'm now happy with the quality I get from 35mm with fine grain films. So I don't want to have a lower quality than this. But the film is getting more and more expensive. The cheapest film option in Germany is also gone now. 3 rolls of 36 picture Gold 200 for 8€ is not available anymore. I still have a lot of film in my fridge, but if I ran out of the film, I would consider 30,5 Meter spools. But then I have to switch to Ilford because Kodak does not import these spools to the EU, which is a shame. Or I have to import them from the US.
Thanks Alexander, yes agreed re.film prices and sorry you now can't get Kodak Gold. I waited too long (with Covid) that now I miss the cheap price in the EU).
Thanks, sorry the ads are set to auto so for longer videos I think they are every 5mins (standard for all YT vids) but yes I know what you mean. I get the same watching videos from others and just get ready to hit skip!
![Olympus Pen F Review - [How film photography will HELP you to be better]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kB2je75KCDA/mqdefault.jpg)
50% CHEAPER! 2x More Photos | Olympus Pen F Half Frame Film Camera (72 PHOTOS A ROLL!)
▶️ WATCH NEXT: All Film Camera Reviews - bit.ly/3eBvxq7
✅ CHECK eBay Pen F Prices: (US) ebay.us/hAEOVt (UK) ebay.us/VbqdEw
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OMG I can’t believe that, when I suddenly wanna watch some reviews about Classic Pen F on UA-cam, you’ve just made one! It’s fantastic! You’re always one of my favourite classic camera UA-camr
Ah thanks Mike! Lucky timing!! :) Thanks for your kind words! (See blog link now in video description for full res sample photos).
This is why I love your channel. I'm not usually tempted by cameras, but that black pen f with the red gothic f, sexy. Glad you enjoying the Nikkor 50 f2, maybe another shoot out with the Leica f2
Thanks Ryan! Yes it looks great doesn’t it! Hopefully you won’t be tempted by the camera in tonight’s video, it’s much more expensive! But very nice! Out in the next hour hopefully, uploading now! :)
Hi, I'm glad that I got on your channel. I'm a fan of these cameras. I made a full service of my FT camera and I can add that these cameras are quite time-consuming in service, there is a very unreliable exposure meter and a lot of surfaces in the viewfinder that collect dust. I can also add that if the exposure meter has died in your FT camera, then you can replace the semi-transparent mirror inside the viewfinder with a regular one (half of the mirror from any broken full-frame SLR) and you will get a camera with a brighter FV viewfinder. I highly recommend the 40 mm f1.4 lens. The photos from it are more pleasant than 1.8.
Thanks Igor, I really appreciate your knowledge and input on that, thank you.
Another way to save up to 50% on your film is to bulk roll. I buy 30 metres of Fomapan 100 for about £40 - £50 and load cartridges. I have a Pen F so half that again (and you can roll shorter films if you want to finish the film sooner).
Do they sale the rolls? I used to buy them and then roll by my self in to the film canister.
@@eagleeyephoto8715 I've bought from eBay but also available from Analogue Wonderland (or used to be at least).
Thanks Timothy, great tip yes! I bought bulk roll Foma 100 in the past but went back to 36s as oin a 10pk there isn't a huge price saving and Foma scratches easily. BUT... for short rolls bulk rolls are better for sure. I bulk roll Vision3 (see that vid) and Kodak Double X - 400ft roll was the only option for that.
Hi EE, yes can buy Foma 100ft rolls + rolls from some of the bigger brands still.
I bought an Olympus Pen FV camera in a pawn shop in 1971. I used it for several years, and I loved it. I used it every day for all kinds of photography, travelled with it, and it never let me down. It had a 42mm f/1.2 lens, and the light meter that attached to the front of the camera, as you showed in your video. The lens wasn't that sharp wide open, but that added to many of the photos I took; stopped down, it was sharp enough. The meter was accurate, but now hard to find. I'd highly recommend the FV. Unfortunately, I sold it after I hadn't used it for a few years. Talk about buyer's regret!
Thanks for your memories Larry! Sorry to hear you sold it. Yes the FV seem the most popular model. Perhaps you can get yourself one again if you look out for a good deal on eBay.
Insiders know the FV is the one to get because it has the improved shutter and self-timer of the FT, combined with the brighter finder of the gothic F. Unfortunately it was the lowest-production variant, so takes more looking to find a nice one, and ditto your former 42/1.2 lens, which is also rare-ish. Of course if I really wanted to throw away a lot of money I'd go shopping for a black FV with the 38/2.8 "pancake" lens and supplement it with the 60/1.5, which is a super-nice portrait lens but now rare and insanely expensive!
@@jlwilliams yes I looked at that pancake lens for mine actually and agree the black FV would be the one to get if money no object.
The Pen F was truly a system camera similar to the Nikon F system. When I first saw them in the camera storefronts in Koza City, I really wanted to get one because of the extreme size difference from the Nikon F. Today, it would be hard to get one in great condition so I bought the digital version and really love it. All the small Leica mft lenses look really good and are quite small. Just a great walk around camera.
Thanks for that, yes I love the size either though I use more Nikon F stuff day to day.
Thank you for giving me the idea of shooting Velvia 50 in this camera! Never occurred to me but that is a great idea. I have a roll loaded now and can’t wait to see results. I’ve learned shooting my Pen F the past couple years that low ISO is key-grain looks larger on half-frame so don’t shoot above 100 ISO unless you really love grain. One other thing I’ve learned is to shoot this camera at the highest shutter speed conditions will permit. The rotary shutter fires with gusto, it will jump out of your hands if you don’t hang on. Best to stay at 1/60 or preferably higher even if you handhold your M6 every day at 1/15. Best regards!!
Hello Bill, sorry for my late answer. Great UA-cam name by the way! Yes fine grain film is great for me in the PanF. Thanks for the shutter speed tip! Many thanks :)
go all in, and get he Leica 72. Less than 200 were made. Price is currently around 18k Euros :)
Interesting!! Thanks! I didn't know there was one. Now I just need to win the lottery and I'm there! :)
Thoroughly enjoyed
Thanks Patrick!
My goodness Matt, those images are incredible as usual. Absolutely first rate. Beautiful camera, beautiful images. Great review as usual.
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. Appreciate it!
Thanks Johan!
Amazing photography! Love your creativity and talent. I recently bought a Pen-D half frame camera. I was looking for the Pen-F but is out of my budget range right now. I started shooting film and learned photography that way. Slowly transition into digital as technology so ever-more became part of our lives. I do miss the film age, therefore wanted to buy a half frame camera which I never shot with before. Thank you for such an informative video. You really know your craft.
Thanks Walter! Great little camera
I have a Leica IIIf 72 midland that was my father's. I've been told it's very rare but work's just fine.
Hi Carl! Wow you are a very lucky guy, and your father was smart! Hang onto it, they are not cheap (or common!)
Love the look of film. Thinking this might make a good little travel camera for my long road trips. Take the scans and print a little trip book. I use my iphone now for that and honestly it works fantastic but I do love the look of film. Maybe the extra detail in Kodak Ektar 100 would be a good choice.
Thanks Terry, I might be doing future videos on this topic so stay tuned! (And yes Ektar or slide film for the find grain)
Check out the Olympus XA. Very compact, and a very competent camera. There are several very good reviews of it on YT.
@@SteveMillerhuntingforfood thanks Steve!
Great video Matt! Now I am in love with this camera❤❤
Thanks, great camera!
Just ordered mine, can't wait! How do you scan your film by the way? I have a flatbed scanner and can't get the exposure levels right when I try scanning 2 pictures side by side.
Congrats! V800 flatbed. Exposure should be same for all images if shot them the same.
I own the 38 1,8 and also the 40mm 1,4 lens for this Pen F. They are amazing lenses that fit nicely on my small Fujifilm X-E series cameras. Now, as I see this video I'm starting to think about getting me a PEN F analog.
Really nice camera! I wished i'd picked up a few lenses before mirrorless started and the all got snapped up.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom like you already know, they often come really cheap together w. the cameras. Japan and more
My dad has shot all of our family photos w. a German Robot half frame from the early 60ies on. I believe he posessed it even earlier. If I may correct you, the Robot was develpped and distributed from 1940 on I believe. It featured screw in lenses from Zeiss, Schneider Kreuznach and possibly more I'm not aware of. Very interesting camera w. super small high quality lenses.So in conclusion, If I don't miss anything, the Pen F was not the first half frame camera
Thanks for sharing. I don't know much about the Robot cameras but I can picture them and I know they can take great photos.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I restored my dad's Schneider Kreutznach 37,5mm 2,8 and also the Tele Xenar 75mm 3,8which came w. the Robot . Haven't tested the tele but the 37,5 mm, although like new condition now, was a bit disappointing especially in the corners. Very tiny lens. YFYI.
Great informative video!!! Just got mine in the mail today :) thanks for ALL THE GREAT CONTENT!
Congrats! ..and many thanks
FOUR different Pen F cameras were for sale in the late Sixties.
The fourth model of the Pen F was a special made model to be used on the microscopes.
It had a different screen for microscope focusing.
This fourth model was not for sale in the common photo shops.
It was imported by another company, which also imported the famous Olympus microscopes.
Thanks Jaco, great info!
Well Matt this is a great review as always and it makes me glad to have purchased multiple Pen F cameras across all the models and a nice collection of lenses. I too saw the rise in film prices and have predicted that these bargain priced jewels will soon reach epic high prices and the days of $200 Pen Fs are numbered. I recently got a mint Pen F gothic with a slightly sticky shutter for $49 on eBay and after spending $150 for a CLA from John Hermanson I have what amounts to a brand new Pen F. Get them while you can.
Smart move Mike and thanks very kind! Great buy for $49!! Yes I think you have a smart investment there, good move.
This is fabulous Matt.
Thanks 👌
Cheers, Kevin.
Thanks Kevin! One of my older longer vids (now I try to talk less haha)
I have a black FT and an FV. Also many other half frame cameras, including several Olympus, a Ricoh, a Konica IIIM (which shoots full or half frame, with an adapter mask), a Canon Demi EE17, a Canon Auto Tele 6 (shoots full or half frame), and two Konica Autorex SLRs, which allow you to switch between half and full frame on the same roll. The FV is my favorite of these. And you are absolutely correct: I can easily shoot 3 rolls of 36 exposure film in an afternoon, but it takes me weeks or months to shoot one roll in a half frame, lol.
Black FT and FV.. nice Andrew! Thanks for the info on all the other models. It was the Demi that made my search for the Pen originally. Good to hear also that the FV is potentially the 'best' / favourite. ..and yes it just takes somehow longer to shoot through the film, maybe the double stroke helps that!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the double stroke is only on the original F. The later models have single stroke advance. It still takes me weeks to finish a roll, lol.
@@andrewrothman7805 ah interesting thanks! Must just be the double amount of frames then haha :)
Olympus should remake this camera. It would be so much fun!
Agreed! And with higher film prices now
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I can't wait to see what which film camera Pentax is making.
The Zuiko 1 : 1,2 was razor sharp.
For best results the ADOX KB 14 single layer B&W film was used in the Sixties..
I used to be more mad in the Sixties because I shot on ADOX KB 14 ( 20 ASA)
Today I hate my digital APS-C; ; so everything is on AUTO and the speed is 6400 ISO.
Europa's biggest photo store does not want to believe the setting is on 6400 ISO,
because of the low noise.
I like the sound of 6 x 6 mirrors, auxillary shutter blades, leafshutters and Swedish knackebrod.
Thanks Jaco, I was late finding this camera, (even 5ish years ago) so most of the "best" lenses were hard to get.
The Pen F has a TITANIUM rotary shutter.
To mount strange brand lenses to the Pen F with an adapter:
Pentax screw (M42), Nikon, Exa, Leica M.
And of course T2.
Yes I saw the adapters thanks but less common now. I wanted the reverse too, Pen F lens to L39 :)
Just do it.
The Zuiko 1 : 1,2 was razor sharp.
For best results the ADOX KB 14 single layer B&W film was used in the Sixties..
I used to be more mad in the Sixties because I shot on ADOX KB 14 ( 20 ASA)
Today I hate my digital APS-C; ; so everything is on AUTO and the speed is 6400 ISO.
Europa's biggest photo store does not want to believe the setting is on 6400 ISO,
because of the low noise.
I like the sound of 6 x 6 mirrors, auxillary shutter blades, leafshutters and Swedish knackebrod.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom
I bought 100’s of rolls of 120 and 35mm slide, BW and color negative films in 2013. Still have a lot of film stored in my freezer ready to shoot. Film and film camera prices are insane now. I bout an RZ67 Proii w/lens and for $400 in 2013. That same setup is $2,200 today 🤯
You were smart JL! I sold all my Fuji FP film earlier this year when I saw the current price. I rarely used it and it filled the fridge up. I sold it for a lot more than I paid! One of my students bought one of my RZ Pro II off me just yesterday. You'll see it in a future video if you look carefully!) I gave them a good deal (much less than you quote) but still I made a money on it.
You can use Nikon AI lens on the Pen F. There is a Nikon AI lens to Pen F mount. A bit expensive if you can find one.
Or, a Canon EOS lens to Pen F camera mount and a Nikon Ai lens to Canon EOS mount. That will do it. A bit complicated, but effective.
Thanks, very cool! I'll keep an eye open as I still have a lot of Nikon F glass.
Hello Matt, I am loving your channel so far. I was looking into getting a Pen F Camera and adapting my Nikon Ai & Ais lenses, but I can't actually find an adapter anywhere. Do know where I can look?
Hi yes sorry the adapters seem hard to find. It would be easier and cheaper to shoot the lenses on a Nikon body and get 36 exposures only.
Tempting beautiful. My best mate had one.
Thanks Christopher! Yes lovely little cameras and full manual controls too vs P&S
i have a question
can we attach olympus pen f zuiko 38mm f/1.8 to modern olympus pen f digital ?
Hi, this is a half frame lens so not sure if the images circle will cover FF (or if you have dark corners). If you can find an adapter then you can try.
One cheap way is to buy Silbersaltz 35 . A color film , witch you buy 4 rolls with developing and professional scanning for 59,60 euros for 4 film times 36 exp. plus developing and scanning .
They have 050D, 250D,200T, and 500T color film a super nice deal at the moment .
Cio
Thanks Luka, great tip and agreed! I have a video coming out on this soon (I had 8 rolls so shot them on a trip)
Hi Matt. Just watched the video. I have a Pen EE3 with the built in light meter. As you said, it takes a long time to great through a film, but I was surprised how good the results came out, both with b&w and colour, even with developing them myself :)
Congrats Martin and thanks! Yes great lenses on these little cameras!
Looks like the OLYMPUS PEN EED is also an option on Ebay. No Pen F's though in the UK other than a good condition Pen FT in a Leeds for £500 !!
Yes all the ones I saw listed were in Japan I think.. sorry I should have said that.
..same is true of the next camera I will review but this is cheap as chips compared to the next one. Out tonight :)
For those that are interested, Olympus also made a digital Pen-F, a micro 4/3 format with a 20.3MP resolution (50MP in high res mode). It is very similar to my Olympus OM-D EM5ii, which is also a great camera. This is an option for a nice vintage looking digital camera that is capable of producing beautiful images, with zero film costs.
Great tip James, yes apologies I was supposed to mention the digital version in the video and the fact that half frame cameras were designed because colour film prices were too high in te 1960s.
Hi Matt, I can't find any adapter for this camera except the OM to FT one, which is expensive. Do you know if I could find anything to adapt my M42 and Minolta MD lenses?
Hi Sam, yes finding adapters is really difficult (it’s a forgotten camera). I’ve never managed to get any myself but keep looking and fingers crossed. (Research old forum for what adapters were made)
Great review. Would love to hear your thoughts on the 50mm f/2 Nikkor; it’s one of my favorite lenses.
Thanks Aaron! Yes the 50mm f2 seems amazing so i'm sure it will feature in a video review soon, stay tuned! :)
Wow a friend of mine used to have one of these. The Pen F gives a neg not much bigger than the old 110 format, remember those? I would love to shoot film again but looking long an hard at this the cost is doing nothing but go up and the support network shrinking. Without the introduction of new film cameras we are eventually going to run out of cameras too. How do you see the future of film? I see film as the ultimate way of living in the moment as it has no future..but I wish it did :)
Thanks SS, yes we need the release of new affordable film cameras. Leica talked about it so I hope it happens but that will be too pricey for most users I think.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Leica's version of cheap won't be lol. It's not the cameras that put me off, they are quite durable. I'm very tempted to buy an FM2 The cost of film and all that goes with it puts me off.
Which one of the Pen-F models has a flash shoe or is it an accessory? One of the photos there shows a flash mount/cold shoe.
Hi Antti, none of them have a cold shoe (F, FV, FT) but all of them can be fitted with the accessory coldshoe (as shown in one photo). It just clips on the top.
Back in the early nineties I gave up film because I couldn't afford it and went digital has things really changed.
early nineties, what with? a 0.25 Megapixel Casio...
@@robertmathieson97 I had one of the Casio cameras Exilim S2 I think, it was a tiny camera tempted to buy one just to see how bad it was.
I always think of 35mm film costing £1 (in Poundland! - Agfa Vista 200) 5-6 years ago or £20 for a 120 5 pack of Kodak so in comparison the prices are 3-4x more now in many cases.
I got into digital 10 years+ later with a Pentax Optio S4
Hey Matt
Look up the very rare limited edition of 72 Nikon FM2 half frame cameras produced for the Norwegian Police
All the very best
Great info Ronald, thanks I will do!
I enjoyed this video and as new to your channel I have now subscribed. However....a Pen F with the 38mm 1.8 for £160? There are very few from outside Japan on eBay. These including shipping can be had for typically around £200. However on top you will pay 20% Vat plus custom charges and duties. So we are looking at £240 plus. If the other costs are only £20 it's a £260 camera not a £160 one. I'm still tempted though! Perhaps not for the film economy but for the different shooting style you describe that was the real eye opener for me. So thanks for the video!
Thanks Edmund and welcome! Sorry some of these videos are older and prices have rocketed. Take the price with a pinch of salt. For economy it would be cheaper to shoot a £50 Nikon or Minolta (I use both) and spend money on film but agree this camera lets you shoot differently which is cool.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom At least you didn't say you got yours 'for $5 from thrift store'! The other point you hint at is that the Pen F is not likely to be anyone's first film camera. My lucky find just recently was a very tidy and fully functional Pentax MV from a 'vintage' shop for £35 which will be my new daily shooter. As for prices shooting up just wait until some celebrity or 'influencer' is photographed holding a Pen F - think Contax T2!
That lens cap looks glorious! Supercool little camera.
Really interesting point about shooting in pairs. Does that mean that one would get scans from a lab in pairs as well?
Thanks Christian! Some labs can be funny with half frame scanning but if they are tell them to scans as pairs (as you would anyway) and yes you then get a pair of images in 1 scan (pretty cool). If you scan at home like me you can then do 3s 4s etc too.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks, Matt! I just got my first film camera, the Olympus OM-2n, but all of Maitani's designs look stunning. I'm keeping this one in mind if film costs get too expensive!
@@Christian_from_Copenhagen enjoy the OM2n!
can you put Leica M lenses on the Pen F ?
There might be some rare adapter somewhere but i've never seen it
Hi Matt well after watching this video I ended up buying a Olympus pen F, got it from Japan and arrived today wow it’s beautiful got it with the 40mm 1.4 absolutely perfect I can’t believe how it’s in such good nick for it’s age,went through all the shutter speeds all good. Oh and I did some research on that Nikon 50 mm 2 AI lens and only found out that it’s one to for sharpness and yes brought one in mint condition from Japan, looking forward to when it arrives so last I counted I’ve now have 8 50mm Nikon lens hmm were did I go wrong:) thanks for a great video Matt Cheers from down under 🇦🇺.ps looking forward to when you might do a video on the Nikon 50mm 2 ai.
Thanks Brendan and congrats on your buys! :) I will try to take my 50 AI on my next trip, a video will come when I get chance.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks bad news I put some film in and the camera has Seized up shutter advance, nothing works have contacted supplier hopefully they can work it out, looking at this camera it looks like new. Have a Nikon FM2,FE2,F4s and F5 so if anyone knows this has seized I would appreciate it thank you.
Can you recommend an adapter for Olympus OM system lens (do I need one?)
Hi Aleks, I can’t recommend as I’ve not used by try eBay
Interesting that the spool next to the take up spool is metal. I have one and it's plastic. At some point, they must've changed it, which means you may have an early one.
Ah interesting, thanks for spotting that! Yes the same happen with the Kiev 4 cameras too, later ones were not great. Not the case here though.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I'm convinced you have a rare model - cherish it!
I guess there's no hope of adapting Leica M mount lenses, because of the body thickness.
Sadly not as far as I know.
I had a lovely Pen F but sold it because the shutter was like a bomb going off. I wanted a quiet shutter consistent with a small camera and found it in a Pen D. This is a magnificent piece of precision engineering that is even more compact than the F. Focussing is a challenge but that all adds to the fun.
Thanks for the information on the Pen D, nice to know thanks!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It is actually a Pen D3 the last of the viewfinder Pens. It has a f1.7 lens and is fantastic.
@@tuisitala9068 ah thank you for confirming!
I saw a rough Oly Pen F in a flea market. The seller was still asking $250 for it and he was also selling random poor condition cameras for only $20. He knew what its worth so I couldn't haggle.
Hmm yes it's not as fun if the seller knows how good the camera is! (I've never really got any bargains like this, I just get everything on eBay).
You can just hold the pen and know it a quality item. The stylus however is plastic but still expensive
Gotta be real careful with the PEN F, if that drive sprocket fails the camera is a paper weight. Even the best Olympus repair tech, John Harmensen can't fix it. Other than that, I love that camera.
Thanks Steve!
In Germany we have the OM-Doc. He is a retired (chief) technician from Olympus Europa, trained by Maitani himself, and his apartment is completely stocked with original Olympus spare parts. I was there once and you have to be careful where you step 😀 ). He can almost build a new OM or F from spare parts.
Pen F over 150 exposures on a
ILFORD HP5 135 - 72
Nice, great cameras!
The photo labs killed the half frame camera.
No carton frames for Kodachrome 18 x 24 slides.
Unsharp prints; caused by forgetting to adjust the
enlarger with the 18 x 24 mm frame.
Ah very interesting thanks for this Jaco
My FT came with 2 lenses, and an "Olympus-pen F Mont Adapter N" . (Still wrapped new, and in it's red felt lined box)
If you start using yours again, maybe you can play, with some if your favorite Nikkor glass.
Rebuilding a Hurricane Harvey, (praying for Lousiana) Canadian Summicron-m 50/2 3167xxx. The M4-P that came with it, is probably toast. Do you recommend an adapter for M lenses to Pen F?
Thank you so much for your videos, they've kept me entertained, and distracted from the nonsense on the boob- tube. Stay safe. Peace.
PS. Only on shot 23, of first test roll. Just 25 diptychs to go. (Sounds better than 50).
Haha only "25 diptychs to go" :) Thanks William. It sound like you got a lovely set. Yes i'd like to try my Nikon lenses on mine or Leica M, if I see adapters. All these adapters are less common with the Pen F series mount being old but i'm sure things crop up on eBay from time to time.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the flange distance of Leica M is too short to allow you to use them on a Pen F except in Macro mode or if you have a collapsible M Mount lens you can collapse it enough to achieve the correct flange distance when mounted. The Leica M Mount adapter and LTM adapter are both very rare. I have the LTM one.
@@mikeahmadi Thanks for that bit of info, very cool.
Stays safe. Peace
Do a review of Epson rd1 please. Kia Ora from New Zealand
Thanks Jomel, I will if I get the opportunity in the future!
RE: Your 800mm example: The image will be exactly the same SIZE whether its mounted to this camera or a full-frame. It'll just fill this frame more easily, that's all.
Thanks, yes technically it's the same. I was trying to explain it simply
Not everything has to look like ASA 125. Take advantage of the smaller frame and push for the gritty grain look. Portraits can be artistic too.
Great point Ryan, I am guilty of going for the less grain look but I know grain can look great too.
I think after this vid, the pen f price will go up! Quickly, grab one while you still can!
Haha I think my channel is too small to change the price
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom No, no, no, we self-taught photographers are searching the content online like this all the time, I bought myself a pen f after watching this vid, and I am pretty sure lots of them will do the same. I like your channel and the content, great works, much appreciated!
@@shenyin9989 thanks Shen! I’m 100% self taught too, I’m probably just a few years ahead of you time wise 👍🏻🙂
If you pay a lab for develop and scans, it actually costs more to shoot half frame. They up charge drastically because the film needs to be hand cut and scanned because the automation wouldn’t work.
Thanks, this is lab specific but I know what you mean. A note for others, I pay standard lab prices for dev only and scan myself for E6 film. I develop C41 and B&W myself.
they look like nice little cameras. but i'ts definitely not for me. i don't scan and i like to spend time printing in the darkroom and i'm afraid that this would be too small for me. Then again, they look wonderful and i'm sure that in the right hands (yours for example) they could do marvelous things !
Thanks Teddy, yes for darkroom work I would expect larger negatives to be a lot easier and more rewarding to work with. Thanks for the kind words!
готов к труду и обороне
Great little camera
Hello! since the pen f doesnt have dials for setting your iso/asa, how do you push/pull ur film?
Hi, I know we speak already. Sorry I miss this before.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom hi it's okay!! thanks for replying in instagram tho :))
Hey Matt you neglected to mention one major down side to this camera or should I say the development of the film. Most places have a pretty hefty upcharge for half frame development and scanning. So unless you develop and scan yourself the savings isn't no where near as good.
The developing cost is the same and the film can be scanned as 36 scans with two frames per scan but you need to crop and edit after. Matt mentions in the video that he scans in pairs.
@@robertmathieson97 it's hasn't been the same price when I checked here in the USA. One example is the dark room charges a extra $10 dollars per roll for half frame.
Thanks Jon, ah someone else mentioned this too. I've never come across it as my dev costs hav always been standard prices (if I used a lab, say E6 film) and I scan myself.
Thanks Robert, yes that is how I do it BUT i'm sure as Jon says, some labs will try to charge more if they can.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom yeah sadly mine do. Years ago I looked at the pen f when I first started photography so I could get more practice in and actually bought one. Sadly it wasn't as the seller described so I sent it back. I later learned of the up charge for developing here so I never continued the hunt for a replacement. I might also note from what I hear the view finder on the ft from what others have told me is pretty dim compared to the other F and FV.
Do normal pc sync cords work on this?
Yes Andrew, some of the photos in the video are with flash
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom awesome! which cord do you use? Mine works but I have to manually hold my finger against it because it wont thread onto the port
@@andrewcollar4923 I use an eBay cord and tried to use elastic band to hold it on!
Interesting video, but I think this half-frame camera is not for me. I have shoot film in medium and large format, and I'm now happy with the quality I get from 35mm with fine grain films. So I don't want to have a lower quality than this. But the film is getting more and more expensive. The cheapest film option in Germany is also gone now. 3 rolls of 36 picture Gold 200 for 8€ is not available anymore. I still have a lot of film in my fridge, but if I ran out of the film, I would consider 30,5 Meter spools. But then I have to switch to Ilford because Kodak does not import these spools to the EU, which is a shame. Or I have to import them from the US.
Thanks Alexander, yes agreed re.film prices and sorry you now can't get Kodak Gold. I waited too long (with Covid) that now I miss the cheap price in the EU).
I wonder when you were getting to the fact how long it takes to finish a roll. With my Pen EE3 I use 24exp rolls. 36exp takes forever to get through
Thanks Jonno! Haha, yes 24 exp makes good sense! (I tend to only buy 36s though).
If you go to the Arctic looking to film Penguins, you will be disappointed
Haha thanks Mike!
Great video but soooooo many adverts - spoilt the continuity.
Thanks, sorry the ads are set to auto so for longer videos I think they are every 5mins (standard for all YT vids) but yes I know what you mean. I get the same watching videos from others and just get ready to hit skip!
Close your eyes
hold her in your hands
gently press her button
nice sounds she will make.
Thanks Jaco!
Noooooooo
To the camera or the prices going up or..!? :)