10 Great Lenses for Olympus Pen F-Series Half Frame 35mm SLRs:
A selection of outstanding Zuiko prime lenses from standard to unique
By Jason Schneider
The brilliant Pen-F-series of half-frame SLRs designed by the legendary Yoshihisa Maitani and produced from 1963-1972 were complemented by an extensive line of high-performance F-bayonet-mount Zuiko lenses that were acclaimed in their day and were largely responsible for the system’s enduring success. Indeed, vintage Pen F, FT, and Fv lenses are still held in high esteem and used today, both by retro film shooters using these cameras, and also by legions of contemporary shooters who adapt them for use on APS-C- and MFT-format digital cameras. Selecting “10 Great Lenses” from a line that includes prime lenses ranging from 20mm to 400mm, short and long zooms, an 800mm mirror lens, and a true macro is no mean task, and we do not claim that the list below is definitive. However, we do hope it serves as a useful user’s guide to one of the most fascinating and innovative lens lines of the 20th century.
Normal lenses
38mm f/1.8 F. Zuiko Auto-S: The most readily available, least expensive normal lens for the Pen F, this compact, lightweight (4.8 ounce) 6-element 5-group design debuted on the original Pen (Gothic) F of 1963-1966 and remained in production due to its popularity. It’s not super sharp wide open but captures a pleasant vintage look, improves noticeably across the field by f/2.8, and delivers excellent image quality at smaller apertures. It focuses down to 13.8 inches, provides a 55mm full frame equivalent focal length, and is frequently offered with a compatible body at an enticing price. Price range: $75-125.
38mm f/1.8 F. Zuiko Auto-S
40mm f/1.4 G. Zuiko Auto-S: This fast normal (58mm equivalent) lens is an excellent alternative to the 38mm f/1.8 above, especially due to its enhanced low light shooting abilities and its extended creative depth of field control. Based on a 7-element, 5-group design, it’s larger and heavier (5.8 ounces) than the f/1.8 and not any sharper at its widest apertures. However, it delivers a very distinctive “vintage look” bokeh that sets it apart from modern lenses, it’s capable of very sharp imaging while retaining its attractive rendition at smaller apertures, and it focuses down to 13.8 inches. Price range: $150-200.
40mm f/1.4 G. Zuiko Auto-S
An exotic alternative
42mm f/1.2 H. Zuiko Auto S: This impressive 8-element, 6-group super-speed lens is technically a tad longer than a normal, yielding an effective focal length of 60mm, and it’s substantially larger, heavier (9 ounces), and a lot more expensive that its slower counterparts. It delivers good imaging performance in the center of the field even at f/1.2 but it’s quite soft in the corners and you have to stop down to f/2 to enhance contrast, and to f/2.8 to achieve high resolution and even illumination across the entire field. The chief attractions of this lens are its low light capabilities, its extended depth of field control, and its distinctive bokeh, which most (but not all) users find very attractive. It focuses down to 13.8 inches. Price range: $300-500.
42mm f/1.2 H. Zuiko Auto-S
A unique ultra-compact normal lens
38mm f/2.8 E. Zuiko Auto-S: By far the smallest member of the range this minuscule 5-element, 4-group “pancake” lens measures a mere 0.55 inches long and weighs in at a feather-light 2.46 ounces so it can transform Olympus F-series half frame SLRs into truly pocketable cameras. One small downside: there’s no room for a proper focusing ring so you have to feel for the two focusing tabs on each side of the lens; and it’s scarce and quite costly. Obviously, its diminutive size is its chief attraction, but this 55mm equivalent lens is no slouch in terms of performance, capturing sharp, detailed images in the center of the field with notable softness in corners that sharpen up at f/5.6 and smaller apertures. On the plus side its bokeh, especially at its widest apertures, has smooth, natural transitions, and its overall rendition is replete with vintage character. Price range: $475-$700.
38mm f/2.8 E. Zuiko Auto-S "Pancake" lens
A compact high-performance macro
38mm f/3.5 E. Zuiko Auto-Macro: Commendably compact at 1.78 inches in length and tipping the scales at a lightweight 6.17 ounces, this groundbreaking 5-element, 4-group 55mm equivalent macro lens offers a convenient way of shooting a wide variety of close-up subjects and it focuses down to 6.3 inches, approaching a 1:1 reproduction ratio. It’s said to be based on a Zeiss Planar design and it’s very sharp across the field, improving slightly in the corners by f/5.6. Not surprisingly its smooth, attractive bokeh is reminiscent of lenses employing the classic Planar design. Unfortunately, this fine lens had a relatively short production run, and it’s now a coveted and fairly pricey collector’s item. Price range: $275-$500.
38mm f/3.5 E. Zuiko Auto-Macro
The widest lens in the range
20mm f/3.5 G. Zuiko Auto-W: This excellent 7-element, 6- group lens is the widest-angle lens in the Olympus Pen F range, providing a 73-degree field of view equivalent to a 28mm lens on full frame. It’s very sharp in the center of the field at all apertures, but quite soft in the corners even when stopped down to f/5.6. The workarounds: Place critical subjects near the center of the frame, focus on the corners, and stop down to f/11 to achieve superlative optimum performance. The lens is compact, very well made, reasonably light (5.1 ounces) and focuses down to 7.9 inches for compelling close-ups. Its rendition has lots of vintage “character” but it’s more prone to flare than modern wide-angles. Price range: $150-$250.
20mm f/3.5 G. Zuiko Auto-W
A high-performance moderate wide-angle
25mm f/2.8 G. Zuiko Auto-W: The 7-element, 5-group f/2.8 version of the 25mm delivers noticeably better image quality than the 5-element, 5-group f/4 version according to most users, but it’s also much larger, heavier (5.64 ounces), and more expensive. Central definition and sharpness are uniformly excellent, but it’s soft in the corners until about f/5.6. On the plus side it covers the equivalent of the 35mm focal length popular among street and travel shooters, it focuses down to 9.8 inches, and it has nice vintage bokeh especially at its widest apertures. Price: $175-$300.
25mm f/2.8 G. Zuiko Auto-W
A pair of fast medium telephotos
60mm f/1.5 G. Zuiko Auto-T: This unique wide-aperture lens is equivalent to an 85mm medium telephoto on the full frame format and it’s a great choice for low light work, and artistic portraiture, where its enhanced ability to control depth of field is a real asset. Based on a 7-element, 5-group design, it delivers impressive central sharpness and detail even wide open, and the corners come in nicely by stopping down 1-2 stops. Its inherently smooth, beautiful bokeh is augmented by an 8-bladed diaphragm, it focuses down to 2.6 feet for frame-filling headshots, and it weighs in at a reasonable 9.5 ounces. As you’d expect it’s desirable, relatively uncommon, and therefore commands a premium price. Price range: $900-$1,500.
60mm f/1.5 G. Zuiko Auto-T
70mm f/2 F. Zuiko Auto-T: This outstanding 6-element, 5-group lens is equivalent to a 100mm lens on the full-frame format and it’s acclaimed for its beautifully smooth bokeh and seamless transitions, which are enhanced by its 8-bladed diaphragm. As expected, it delivers good central sharpness with softness in the corners wide open, and noticeably improved corner definition by stopping down to f/4 and smaller apertures. Its classic rendition is great for portraiture and street shooting in low light, it focuses down to 31.5 inches for frame filling headshots, and it weighs in at a portable 8.1 ounces. It’s readily available but its low production numbers and desirability have made it quite costly. Price range $900-$1,100.
70mm f/2 F. Zuiko Auto-T
A nice affordable telephoto
100mm f/3.5 E. Zuiko Auto-T: Compact at 3.2 inches in length and weighing in at a portable 8.8 ounces, this 5-element, 4-groupl lens provides a 143mm equivalent focal length on the full frame format, placing it squarely in the telephoto class. It’s a very sharp lens overall capturing clean, detailed images with classic rendition at all apertures with some softness in the corners wide open—a commendable performance. Its 5-bladed diaphragm can result in the dreaded “nuts effect” in out-of-focus areas of the image, compromising its otherwise attractive bokeh, but it’s still a good choice for portraiture and creative effects that rely on limiting depth of field. Best news: It’s readily available at bargain prices. Price range: $40-$90.
100mm f/3.5 E.Zuiko Auto-T
A selection of outstanding Zuiko prime lenses from standard to unique
By Jason Schneider
The brilliant Pen-F-series of half-frame SLRs designed by the legendary Yoshihisa Maitani and produced from 1963-1972 were complemented by an extensive line of high-performance F-bayonet-mount Zuiko lenses that were acclaimed in their day and were largely responsible for the system’s enduring success. Indeed, vintage Pen F, FT, and Fv lenses are still held in high esteem and used today, both by retro film shooters using these cameras, and also by legions of contemporary shooters who adapt them for use on APS-C- and MFT-format digital cameras. Selecting “10 Great Lenses” from a line that includes prime lenses ranging from 20mm to 400mm, short and long zooms, an 800mm mirror lens, and a true macro is no mean task, and we do not claim that the list below is definitive. However, we do hope it serves as a useful user’s guide to one of the most fascinating and innovative lens lines of the 20th century.
Normal lenses
38mm f/1.8 F. Zuiko Auto-S: The most readily available, least expensive normal lens for the Pen F, this compact, lightweight (4.8 ounce) 6-element 5-group design debuted on the original Pen (Gothic) F of 1963-1966 and remained in production due to its popularity. It’s not super sharp wide open but captures a pleasant vintage look, improves noticeably across the field by f/2.8, and delivers excellent image quality at smaller apertures. It focuses down to 13.8 inches, provides a 55mm full frame equivalent focal length, and is frequently offered with a compatible body at an enticing price. Price range: $75-125.
38mm f/1.8 F. Zuiko Auto-S
40mm f/1.4 G. Zuiko Auto-S: This fast normal (58mm equivalent) lens is an excellent alternative to the 38mm f/1.8 above, especially due to its enhanced low light shooting abilities and its extended creative depth of field control. Based on a 7-element, 5-group design, it’s larger and heavier (5.8 ounces) than the f/1.8 and not any sharper at its widest apertures. However, it delivers a very distinctive “vintage look” bokeh that sets it apart from modern lenses, it’s capable of very sharp imaging while retaining its attractive rendition at smaller apertures, and it focuses down to 13.8 inches. Price range: $150-200.
40mm f/1.4 G. Zuiko Auto-S
An exotic alternative
42mm f/1.2 H. Zuiko Auto S: This impressive 8-element, 6-group super-speed lens is technically a tad longer than a normal, yielding an effective focal length of 60mm, and it’s substantially larger, heavier (9 ounces), and a lot more expensive that its slower counterparts. It delivers good imaging performance in the center of the field even at f/1.2 but it’s quite soft in the corners and you have to stop down to f/2 to enhance contrast, and to f/2.8 to achieve high resolution and even illumination across the entire field. The chief attractions of this lens are its low light capabilities, its extended depth of field control, and its distinctive bokeh, which most (but not all) users find very attractive. It focuses down to 13.8 inches. Price range: $300-500.
42mm f/1.2 H. Zuiko Auto-S
A unique ultra-compact normal lens
38mm f/2.8 E. Zuiko Auto-S: By far the smallest member of the range this minuscule 5-element, 4-group “pancake” lens measures a mere 0.55 inches long and weighs in at a feather-light 2.46 ounces so it can transform Olympus F-series half frame SLRs into truly pocketable cameras. One small downside: there’s no room for a proper focusing ring so you have to feel for the two focusing tabs on each side of the lens; and it’s scarce and quite costly. Obviously, its diminutive size is its chief attraction, but this 55mm equivalent lens is no slouch in terms of performance, capturing sharp, detailed images in the center of the field with notable softness in corners that sharpen up at f/5.6 and smaller apertures. On the plus side its bokeh, especially at its widest apertures, has smooth, natural transitions, and its overall rendition is replete with vintage character. Price range: $475-$700.
38mm f/2.8 E. Zuiko Auto-S "Pancake" lens
A compact high-performance macro
38mm f/3.5 E. Zuiko Auto-Macro: Commendably compact at 1.78 inches in length and tipping the scales at a lightweight 6.17 ounces, this groundbreaking 5-element, 4-group 55mm equivalent macro lens offers a convenient way of shooting a wide variety of close-up subjects and it focuses down to 6.3 inches, approaching a 1:1 reproduction ratio. It’s said to be based on a Zeiss Planar design and it’s very sharp across the field, improving slightly in the corners by f/5.6. Not surprisingly its smooth, attractive bokeh is reminiscent of lenses employing the classic Planar design. Unfortunately, this fine lens had a relatively short production run, and it’s now a coveted and fairly pricey collector’s item. Price range: $275-$500.
38mm f/3.5 E. Zuiko Auto-Macro
The widest lens in the range
20mm f/3.5 G. Zuiko Auto-W: This excellent 7-element, 6- group lens is the widest-angle lens in the Olympus Pen F range, providing a 73-degree field of view equivalent to a 28mm lens on full frame. It’s very sharp in the center of the field at all apertures, but quite soft in the corners even when stopped down to f/5.6. The workarounds: Place critical subjects near the center of the frame, focus on the corners, and stop down to f/11 to achieve superlative optimum performance. The lens is compact, very well made, reasonably light (5.1 ounces) and focuses down to 7.9 inches for compelling close-ups. Its rendition has lots of vintage “character” but it’s more prone to flare than modern wide-angles. Price range: $150-$250.
20mm f/3.5 G. Zuiko Auto-W
A high-performance moderate wide-angle
25mm f/2.8 G. Zuiko Auto-W: The 7-element, 5-group f/2.8 version of the 25mm delivers noticeably better image quality than the 5-element, 5-group f/4 version according to most users, but it’s also much larger, heavier (5.64 ounces), and more expensive. Central definition and sharpness are uniformly excellent, but it’s soft in the corners until about f/5.6. On the plus side it covers the equivalent of the 35mm focal length popular among street and travel shooters, it focuses down to 9.8 inches, and it has nice vintage bokeh especially at its widest apertures. Price: $175-$300.
25mm f/2.8 G. Zuiko Auto-W
A pair of fast medium telephotos
60mm f/1.5 G. Zuiko Auto-T: This unique wide-aperture lens is equivalent to an 85mm medium telephoto on the full frame format and it’s a great choice for low light work, and artistic portraiture, where its enhanced ability to control depth of field is a real asset. Based on a 7-element, 5-group design, it delivers impressive central sharpness and detail even wide open, and the corners come in nicely by stopping down 1-2 stops. Its inherently smooth, beautiful bokeh is augmented by an 8-bladed diaphragm, it focuses down to 2.6 feet for frame-filling headshots, and it weighs in at a reasonable 9.5 ounces. As you’d expect it’s desirable, relatively uncommon, and therefore commands a premium price. Price range: $900-$1,500.
60mm f/1.5 G. Zuiko Auto-T
70mm f/2 F. Zuiko Auto-T: This outstanding 6-element, 5-group lens is equivalent to a 100mm lens on the full-frame format and it’s acclaimed for its beautifully smooth bokeh and seamless transitions, which are enhanced by its 8-bladed diaphragm. As expected, it delivers good central sharpness with softness in the corners wide open, and noticeably improved corner definition by stopping down to f/4 and smaller apertures. Its classic rendition is great for portraiture and street shooting in low light, it focuses down to 31.5 inches for frame filling headshots, and it weighs in at a portable 8.1 ounces. It’s readily available but its low production numbers and desirability have made it quite costly. Price range $900-$1,100.
70mm f/2 F. Zuiko Auto-T
A nice affordable telephoto
100mm f/3.5 E. Zuiko Auto-T: Compact at 3.2 inches in length and weighing in at a portable 8.8 ounces, this 5-element, 4-groupl lens provides a 143mm equivalent focal length on the full frame format, placing it squarely in the telephoto class. It’s a very sharp lens overall capturing clean, detailed images with classic rendition at all apertures with some softness in the corners wide open—a commendable performance. Its 5-bladed diaphragm can result in the dreaded “nuts effect” in out-of-focus areas of the image, compromising its otherwise attractive bokeh, but it’s still a good choice for portraiture and creative effects that rely on limiting depth of field. Best news: It’s readily available at bargain prices. Price range: $40-$90.
100mm f/3.5 E.Zuiko Auto-T
