The best Olympus Pen?

[mkvrnn]

I've loved my Olympus Pen S since the day I bought it, secondhand for around £10, in 1966. I loved it for its portability, build quality, almost silent shutter, brightline viewfinder and its optical performance. I soon found myself using it all the time in preference to my TLR. I still have it, along with an EE model bought later.

I always lusted after a Pen F, so when my interest in cameras was re-awakened a couple of years ago I bought myself one. Two in fact, along with various Rolleiflex, Leicas, Pentax and the other cameras I could only dream about back then. But beautiful though the Pen F is, I still prefer my original Pen S. The F doesn't have the silent shutter of the non-reflex models and it's just too big - I may as well use an OM10 or a Pentax ME, both of which can be bought for next to nothing and still have beautiful build quality.

Anyway, the point of this ramble is that I've just bought the ideal compromise and probably the best camera in the range, a Pen D.

 

[Rodchenko]

There are so many lovely Pens in the range that it's hard to decide. It really depends on what suits you. Personally, I don't like the look or feel of any of the basic EE models. The Fs are beautiful, but I've never managed to convince myself that's what I need, so none have come my way. One might, eventually, but SLRs aren't really my thing.

I like the idea of the EM, but I like winding film on manually (sometimes it's best on the street to leave winding on till a few seconds later). I even miss a winder on my digitals! Although the thumbwheel has taken some getting used to, I tolerate it on my XA and Trip asl well as my Pen. I have an original (2nd version), which is lovely except for the wayward framelines in the viewfinder. I toyes with the idea of an S, but it didn't really offer anything more than I had already for my way of shooting, so, lovely though the S is, I left it.

There was an EED on ebay recently, and I had serious hankerings. It's got a great lens on it, for one, and a self-timer, and a hinged back. But it's creeping bigger, and away from the Pen USP.

The Pen Wide attracts me. It's a field of view I am very familiar and comfortable with, and it's like having a Pen S with a wider lens (all good, IMO). And I'd love one. Last weekend, I watched helpless as the price of one on ebay rocketed skyward in the last few minutes. There are obviously a lot of fans of this particular compact beauty out there, and I can't compete.

The D is a cracker, though, and the first with a serious meter. Although I confess I am a bit put off by the selenium cell window. Put that down to bad experiences of cheap compacts with dreadful knackered meters (a Trip included). As we get to the D2, with the neat CdS meter window (but a ridiculous battery access - ah well, there's always a price!), we've got a fantastic yet tiny machine in the hand. Then the D3, with the faster lens, and, ultimately, the EL system, we have what I think of as the best Pen.

Yes, the Fs can take a range of lenses and accessories, and have some fantastic engineering, but they are of a different order than the rest of the range, sacrificing the tiny portability for versatility - it's always going to be a trade off - but about 80% of my photography can be covered by a Pen D of some sort.

So, yeah, I think that many people will have their favourites. I guess some folk will enjoy the EE for it's snapshot simplicity - no focussing, no exposure settings, just shoot. But, like you, I think the D is the crowning achievement of the range, and I am a bit jealous of you, so please share photos of, and by, your new D.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I used a Pen F for a short time in the late 'sixties. At the time, they were very cheap second hand and I think I paid £25 for mine (about £75 today) with the standard lens. Beautifully made camera but half frame was just too small for me.

Fast forward to the present and I've just acquired a Pen Mini. It's a marvelous little beast and half frame digital works just fine for my needs, now...

 

[zuiko85]

The best?

Wow, that's a hard one. Since 1972 I've never been without a Olympus half frame camera. Presently I have five working ones.

2 Pen original. The ones with a fixed 28mm f3.5 lens, 2 blade 5 speed Copal shutter and scale focus to under 2 feet.

1 Pen D2, a 'basket case' brought back from the dead without meter but working otherwise.
1 Pen that started life as a model D (also with a dead meter) but that now has a top and VF of a Pen S
1 Pen F with a few Pen lenses.

Ah yes, 1 more, a Pen S 3.5 with a slow shutter that I need to spend a day with cleaning the shutter blades (requires total diassembly of the shutter blades) and then relubing the speed controler pivot points.

Addendum: Re. Pen D meters. Built on meters with 'transfer the readings' are just too much trouble. And, both the Pen D and D2 came with dead meters that defied any of my (admittely amature) repair attempts. This means they went by-by, stright to the round file. If I have to transfer the reading I might as well use a hand held meter anyway, works with any of my cameras. Usually when out on a walk it is a Gossen Pilot in it's little gray plastic case. Cheap. Accurate. Reliable.


The 'best one' is the one I take out for the day.

 

[Oren Grad]

I have an EE-S (inherited from my dad, who bought it new more than 50 years ago), an FT and a D. I don't do that much half-frame - usually I want a larger negative. But when I'm in the mood, it's the D that I use the most.

The D is much smaller and quieter than the FT. Also, I have a hard time focusing the FT under any but ideal conditions, even with the 40/1.4. I suppose you could argue that I could scale-focus it just as the D requires, but once I'm doing that I might as well go with the more compact, less obtrusive camera. So I do. 🙂

I'd love to have a W to play with, but can't remotely justify it at current prices.

 

[Rodchenko]

The best?
The 'best one' is the one I take out for the day.

As ever, this is absolutely true.

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

the best olympus pen is any olympus pen that is not digital.

 

[Rodchenko]

Harsh!

And my message is too short.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Harsh!

...but still an entirely valid opinion. :angel:

 

[Rodchenko]

I didn't say it wasn't, but I can't, in all honesty, rate an EE over an EP5. 😀