random Olympus Pen F questions

[mooge]

Hey guys,

I have some random Pen F / FT questions:

1. What's the shutter noise like? (compared with Leica M2, Nex, or Canon FTb/F-1)

2. How dim is the FT's viewfinder? Focus-able in the dark? and how 'useless' is the TTL meter?

3. 38mm 1,8 or 40mm 1,4? Any reason to choose one over the other besides price and maximum aperture?

4. 25mm lens... don't bother? I'm a cheapskate. But I really like my EE-3's 28mm and sort of can't use 50mm lenses (on 135) anymore (too tight!).

just thinking: A Pen F sounds like a good complimentary camera to shoot B+W in with slides in my M2. Half frames for random stuff and spam and close-ups and low light. Pretty much everything the M2 can't do with slides. Good travel combo?



(And rather conveniently, I found $200 in some envelopes a week ago....)

 

[Film dino]

Hey guys,

I have some random Pen F / FT questions:

1. What's the shutter noise like? (compared with Leica M2, Nex, or Canon FTb/F-1)
Sharp, short, higher pitched; "distinctly audible"; compared to film M "inaudible in certain situations

2. How dim is the FT's viewfinder? Focus-able in the dark? and how 'useless' is the TTL meter?
I think you need to try the viewfinder 🙂

3. 38mm 1,8 or 40mm 1,4? Any reason to choose one over the other besides price and maximum aperture?
I prefer the 38 for it's smaller size & therefore portability

4. 25mm lens... don't bother? I'm a cheapskate. But I really like my EE-3's 28mm and sort of can't use 50mm lenses (on 135) anymore (too tight!).
The 25mm is a decent performer, but like you I wonder about value for money

Good travel combo? Yes, very much so.
Other random answers 🙂Good for diptychs- there's a good thread of these somewhere on RFF
Servicing- John Hermanson ww.zuiko.com still does Pen Fs

Cheers, David

 

[mooge]

"Distinctly audible" without being noisy or obvious?

Diptychs and stitch-panoramas, yes!

Thanks, David!

 

[Dana B.]

The Pen F/FT has an audible shutter "click," but I don't know how it compares to a Leica. The standard 38/1.8 is a superb lens. I have the 40 but it's been some time since I used it. As for the FT viewfinder, it depends on the camera. I sold my FTs and kept my F, which was brighter, and also has the external attached meter. Never shot mine in the dark, but the later OM series has a fantastic viewfinder for night work.

I suggest you get either model with the 38 and take it around the block. Last I heard, JH was still servicing Olys, though he had gone to working full-time for Tamron and his CLAs took somewhat longer to turn around.

 

[zuiko85]

Don't discount the Pen D viewfinder camera. That is if you can put up with the 32mm , fixed lens.

Compact size.
Weight w/film, 14oz.
32mm f1.9 lens, 6 element 4 group, scale focusing to 2.5 ft.
Very quiet Copal leaf shutter from 1/8 to 1/500 + B, X sync via standard PC (but no flash shoe)

The lens is killer sharp at f5.6~11, still respectable opened up from f2.8 to f4

The built on meter is a 'transfer-the-reading' EV scale and only useable outside even if working (forget about the meter, not very useful)

 

[shadowfox]

Hey guys,

I have some random Pen F / FT questions:

1. What's the shutter noise like? (compared with Leica M2, Nex, or Canon FTb/F-1)

2. How dim is the FT's viewfinder? Focus-able in the dark? and how 'useless' is the TTL meter?

3. 38mm 1,8 or 40mm 1,4? Any reason to choose one over the other besides price and maximum aperture?

4. 25mm lens... don't bother? I'm a cheapskate. But I really like my EE-3's 28mm and sort of can't use 50mm lenses (on 135) anymore (too tight!).

just thinking: A Pen F sounds like a good complimentary camera to shoot B+W in with slides in my M2. Half frames for random stuff and spam and close-ups and low light. Pretty much everything the M2 can't do with slides. Good travel combo?

1. The shutter sound of the Pen F is more audible than Leica M. Remember, even though small, there is a mirror-flapping inside the camera body. Related to this, the Pen FT mirror-shake is less than other SLRs'.

2. I can focus just fine in dim light, the matte focusing screen is actually more usable in a dim scene with something to focus on (a candlelight, for example). The meter is not useless, but I often overexpose one stop on mine to compensate the meter being old.

3. 38/1.8. I sold mine for a 40/1.4 and I prefer the former.

4. Pick 25/2.8, it's very sharp and quite wide.

Cheers:

Pen FT + Zuiko 38mm 1:1.8. Near darkness, handheld at 1/2th of a second.

 

[mooge]

Thanks for the responses, guys!

I have an EE-3 but almost everything it can't do the D can't do as well. The EE-3 is also pretty sharp... well, at medium distance and in reasonable light at least.


I still really like the idea of having a Pen F as a travel back-up for my M2 but really, I don't have any pressing need for it at the moment and unless I fail stability and control, I should be graduating this spring so I should save my dollars for... funemployment. So at least for now, reason prevails.

 

[goamules]

...
1. What's the shutter noise like? (compared with Leica M2, Nex, or Canon FTb/F-1)

2. How dim is the FT's viewfinder? Focus-able in the dark? and how 'useless' is the TTL meter?

3. 38mm 1,8 or 40mm 1,4? Any reason to choose one over the other besides price and maximum aperture?

4. 25mm lens... don't bother? I'm a cheapskate. But I really like my EE-3's 28mm and sort of can't use 50mm lenses (on 135) anymore (too tight!).
...

1. The shutter sounds like what it is, precise, and titanium. Quieter than any SLR. You never have to worry about pinholes or replacing cloth curtains.

2. The FT is ok, the unmetered FV is brighter still. I sold the FTs and kept the FV. The focusing circle in the middle is like pre-digital "focus peaking" in that it shows little pixels unless it's right on.

3. The 38/1.8 is a fast, small, very sharp lens with great bokeh. The 40 is soft wide open. I sold the 1.4, keep the 1.8.

4. The 25/4 is about the best lens out there. I use it all the time on my Pen-FV, m4/3, and now Fuji X-E1. Very, very sharp and contrasty. It will look darker through the viewfinder than the 1.8 of course.