Ektar + Olympus Pen F... a few photos and a small "review"

[PatrickCheung]

I got a Pen FT last week, shot a roll of Ektar through it. 72 shots is... amazingly hard to finish!

I was interested in the Pen F because of it's design... I'd love to own one just to know that I have such an amazingly engineered and designed camera. When I got it in my hands, I was afraid it wouldn't perform as well as I hoped, being Half Frame and all, and that it would't be worth the price.

But seeing these shots... I have nothing to worry about... other than it taking my attention away from the Nikon S2 I love so much and the Leica M gear I'm supposed to love as a rangefinder fan.

The Pen F made me see and shoot in a different way. In Hong Kong I've always been afraid to shoot through a viewfinder, but the Pen F forced me to look through the VF. I took photos that I normally wouldn't becuse I saw things in a way I normally don't.

The camera was simple and efficient to use... the shutter dial is placed perfectly, the shutter button is flush, not too sensative, beautiful. The VF is a bit dimmer than most SLRs I've used... but compared to the OM series, anything is dim.

Anyway, here are the few I really enjoyed. Scans done by Dotwell Photo in Hong Kong.

 

[ZeissFan]

Nice set of photos. The Olympus Pen F definitely is a different shooting experience. And I agree that it can take a long time to get through a roll of 72.

Patrick, why would you be hesitant about shooting through a viewfinder in Hong Kong? I found Hong Kong to be very accommodating for photography.

 

[PatrickCheung]

Thanks Mike!

Well, it depends on where and when. Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, no problem. But the people at say... Sham Shui Po get a little upset and paranoid when you raise a camera to your face sometimes. I've had bad experiences in the past with shooting through the VF in Hong Kong, people cause scenes and the people in your immediate vicinity get paranoid!

 

[aadi]

Very nice photos! The image quality is very fine for half-frame.

Which lens did you use?

 

[PatrickCheung]

aadi, I used the standard 38/1.8!

Olympus makes great lenses huh?

 

[aadi]

aadi, I used the standard 38/1.8!

Olympus makes great lenses huh?

True. I'm a big fan of the OM series.

I've been thinking of getting a Pen F/ FT. Never shot any half-frame before.

 

[valdas]

Beautiful photos!

 

[Johnlovescameras]

Great shots! I really appreciate the first three; how each 'half' of the 35mm frame is a different view of the same subject. They're kind of in conversation with each other.