Olympus PEN W

[Dave S.]

Two Olympus PEN W cameras sold on *bay over the last couple of weeks. I guess they must be pretty rare for these prices. I've always hoped I would stumble upon one at a yard sale or thrift store for a few bucks...

#1

"Overall condition would be fair to good. It shows signs of use, but not abuse. The shutter/film advance wheel doesn't work so I can't tell how good or bad the lens is."

SOLD for $456.99

#2

"Camera is in very good condition…. Shutter seems to work as it should. It has a nice leather case as well.

SOLD for $1,713.00

 

[Maiku]

These cameras are rare and expensive even in Japan. The median between the two prices you posted would be the norm here. They were only made in black and had a short run in production. Collectors typically pay 800 USD for a working one.

 

[Roger Hicks]

These cameras are rare and expensive even in Japan. The median between the two prices you posted would be the norm here. They were only made in black and had a short run in production. Collectors typically pay 800 USD for a working one.

What? Warts and all? The black paint was abysmal, fell off, and went all warty. At least, that's what happened to mine, and from all I've read, it's normal. For a picture, go to http://www.rogerandfrances.com/short/z short schrift archive.html and scroll down to October 7th -- where you'll see that my assessment of the value is apparently way off. How many pairs of Levis am I bid?

Cheers,

R.

 

[btgc]

scroll down to October 7th -- where you'll see that my assessment of the value is apparently way off. How many pairs of Levis am I bid?

Our man in Japan, RFF'r Frontman has mentioned cameras of this look count more valuable in Japan. Hey, but some people pay more for worn and torn jeans than for ones looking new and clean 😕

 

[kbg32]

The Pen W is very rare. I have been after one for years. Prices have more then doubled lately. I wish I had my Levi's from the 60s, 70s. I would be sitting on a nice nest egg.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The Pen W is very rare. I have been after one for years. Prices have more then doubled lately. I wish I had my Levi's from the 60s, 70s. I would be sitting on a nice nest egg.

Dear Keith,

Or possibly in...

But as far as I am concerned, Levis are to be worn. Yes, the fabric can be recycled -- how about a bedspread made entirely of old Levis? Frances is making one -- but if I had all my old Levis, there'd be several cubic metres of them.

Why, particularly, do you want a Pen W? I mean, it's a lovely little camera, as I say in the piece on the site, but what will it do for you? I''m not questioning your wisdom or judgement or anything, but I bought mine when it came up at the right price ($40 or so, 20-25 years ago) just for fun. It somehow doesn't seem 'worth' $800 now, though if it is, I'm not complaining.

Cheers,

R.

 

[oftheherd]

What? Warts and all? The black paint was abysmal, fell off, and went all warty. At least, that's what happened to mine, and from all I've read, it's normal. For a picture, go to http://www.rogerandfrances.com/short/z short schrift archive.html and scroll down to October 7th -- where you'll see that my assessment of the value is apparently way off. How many pairs of Levis am I bid?

Cheers,

R.

I have a friend where I work who got a Pen F and some lenses at an incredible price from a thrift shop. It required some repair which he did and now he seems to really like it. I don't know if it is the W or not. But as far as I know, all Pen Fs are reather expensive. In fact, I think most decent half frames are. I was never much impressed by them myself, as I always thought 35mm was about as small as I wanted to go.

BTW Mr. Hicks, I am sorry to admit I hadn't checked your Short Shrift in a while, so I read it again. I noticed you comment on the danger of photographic chemicals. I once had a commander while in the military who had some kind of phobia about fire. He discovered my chemicals in my room closet and immediately demanded I remove them from the building and store them outside, since they constituted a fire hazzard.

I tried to explain they were not fire hazzards, and in fact, being mainly water, could even be used to throw on a fire to put it out. It made no difference. As I said, he had a real phobia about fire. Logic and phobias do not get along well together. I ended up throwing them out. If he wasn't going to let me store them, he sure wasn't going to let me use them in the latrine to develop film. Imagine the dire consequences of that during a time when he might be most vulnerable!

 

[Sonnar2]

21,000 made? Amazing what is called "rare"... 😉

Rolleiflex SL350, beautiful classic SLR mostly going for 200 USD. 7,500 made, somewhat rarer. But (obviously) less wanted...

 

[kbg32]

No, I don't think it is worth $800+. I wanted one, as you said Roger, for fun. There was a time when I was using and collecting half frame cameras. Prices were, at the time, cheap.

As for Levis, there was an article i reading quite awhile ago, about a man who was searching high and low, for vintage Levis, circa late 1800s. He did find a pair, and were worth quite a bit.

http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2005/05/19/worlds-oldest-levis-jeans/

http://www.denimology.com/2006/08/world_oldest_levis.php

 

[jonal928]

My Camera

My Camera

This in my camera, and thus are the pictures that I took with here
one month ago. I never taught that that piece of junk is worth so much...

P.S
The camera have bean given to me by my girlfriend mother.
for the shut's I used Kodak Gold 100 (24) film.

**

 

[twopointeight]

I sold a pretty beat up Pen W here, last year, for about $200. I have another in much better condition, with a lens hood made for that camera. This Pen W and my first M6, are my last 2 film cameras, not going to be for sale. BTW, does anyone know a good repair person for a CLA of the Pen W?

 

[jonal928]

From the mechanical/technical side, it's very simple shutter mechanism.
the problem is the finder small group of lens's assembly. Thus are tend to
get haze and dirt inside, but since they are glued together, It's very
difficult and hard to take them apart. I cleaned my finder very gently
(took just one piece of glass out), and That's all.