Vintage Classic Cameras: The Unvarnished Truth
The Olympus Pen Saga, Part 1
The great success of the Olympus Pen series of compact half-frame (18 x 24mm format) 35mm cameras ignited the half-frame camera craze of the 1960s that saw dozens of competitive models from makers including Canon, Yashica, Minolta, Petri, Fuji, Agfa, etc. It all began with the humble Olympus Pen of 1959, and ended more than 20 years later in the early ‘80s.
The original Olympus Pen was designed by Maitani Yoshihisa (last name first per Japanese tradition), one of the truly great camera designers of the 20th century and the principal designer of the landmark Olympus OM-1 full-frame 35mm SLR in 1972.
The Original Olympus Pen launched in 1959 started the hall frame camera craze
Original Olympus Pen
Initially subcontracted to Sankyo-Shoji, Olympus began making the Pen themselves within a year. A modest, elemental compact, it measures a pocket-sized 2.7 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches (H x W x D), and weighs in at a portable 12.3 ounces, not including its cool zippered leather pouch case. It has a 28mm f/3.5 D. Zuiko lens, an excellent 4-element 3, group Tessar type that provides a full-frame-equivalent focal length of about 40mm, a Copal leaf shutter with speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200 sec plus B, a 0.5x luminous bright frame optical viewfinder, a thumbwheel film advance, a removable back for loading, and helical focusing by scale with markings down to 2 feet, but focusing to about 1 foot with the lens fully extended. This elegant little camera is a masterpiece of minimalist design, and its imaging performance is spectacular, especially when you consider that its original list price was a mere $29.95. It’s still my personal favorite scale-focusing Pen and I’ve owned a half dozen of them over the years. All have proven sharp, reliable picture takers, very enjoyable to shoot with, and as easy to carry as a (what else?) pen.
Back view of Olympus Pen shows signature thumb wheel for film winding
These days, an original Pen is considered something of a collector’s item and pristine examples are occasionally offered at fancy prices in the $150-200 range. But if you’re patient you can snag one that’s clean and functional for $75 or even less. They were produced in prodigious numbers so they’re not rare, and they’re definitely great, fun user-collectibles.
Olympus Pen S
Strictly as a picture-taking proposition you’re probably better off with an Olympus Pen S which debuted in 1960 and says OLYMPUS-PEN S on the front of the chrome finished top plate, next to the front finder window. It’s essentially the same camera with the same linear dimensions as the Original Pen but its Copal shutter has 6 timed speeds ranging from1/8-1/250 sec, plus B and its lens is a 30mm f/2.8 D. Zuiko lens, also a Tessar-type, that’s a tad faster and longer. Note: a smaller number were fitted with f/3.5 lenses. The S is also slightly heavier than the Original Pen, but it’s hardly noticeable. Like its more Spartan stablemate, it’s a superb picture taker and a gorgeous little machine. You can expect to shell out $80-100 for a clean working Pen S and it’s well worth it.
Olympus Pen S of 1960 has an f/2.8 or f/3.5 lens, wider shutter speed range
Rare black Olympus Pen S is a collector's prize that fetches $250 and up
Olympus Pen D
Launched in 1962 as a higher-spec Pen aimed at enthusiasts, the Pen D sports a high-performance 6-element, 4-group 32mm f/1.9 F. Zuiko (45mm equivalent) lens that focuses down to 0.8 m, a Copal X shutter with 7 speeds ranging from 1/8-1/500 plus B, and X-sync, and a built-in uncoupled selenium cell meter which reads out in EV numbers from 7-17 (there’s an EV scale on the lens barrel). The bright frame is no longer transilluminated because the frosted window was eliminated to make room for the meter, and the Pen D is nearly ½ inch thicker and somewhat heavier than its predecessors because of the larger, faster lens. The overall feel of the camera is a bit “chunkier” than the S, but it still handles and balances very well. While the tiny selenium meter isn’t sensitive enough for low light work, the fast lens sure is, so all the D models, including the plain D, are definitely the most versatile models for street shooters. The lens is outstanding, though you do have to estimate your distances more accurately (or carry a separate rangefinder) when shooting at its widest apertures at close distances. At the current price range of $50-100 the Pen D is a good value and a fine shooter. Make sure the meter is working—selenium meters are easily damaged and hard or impossible to fix!
Olympus Pen D, has fast 32mm f/1.9 F. Zuiko lens, built-in uncoupled selenium meter, and a 1/500 sec top shutter speed
Olympus Pen D2 and D3
The Olympus Pen D2 which debuted in 1964 is basically a Pen D with a built-in uncoupled CdS meter in place of the D’s selenium cell meter. The good news: the meter is more rugged and more sensitive, covering an EV 3-17 range, still at ASA 10-400. The bad news: it was designed for a mercury cell, so you’ll have to have the camera converted and adjusted to give accurate readings with currently available alkaline or silver-oxide cell that fit. Most camera repair shops can do the job at relatively moderate cost, but check before you buy, or just use a separate handheld meter. You can find an Olympus Pen D2 in nice shape for as little as $80, but pristine examples with everything in the original box can fetch up to $200. It’s a very nice camera, but the plain Pen D is probably a better buy for users and no battery conversion is required.
Olympus Pen D2 has more sensitive CdS meter, but it was designed for banned mercuric oxide cells, requires conversion to work with available batteries
Olympus Pen D3: The Last Pen D had a 32mm f/1.7 F. Zuiko lens
The Olympus Pen D3 introduced in 1965 is the last of the Pen Ds. It incorporates the same uncoupled CdS meter as the Pen D2 and it also requires conversion and adjustment if you want to use the meter with currently available batteries. Its signature feature is a slightly faster 32mm f/1.7 F. Zuiko lens, also a high-performance 6-element, 4-group design. All comments about the Pen D2 apply, and both models are handsome, well made, reliable cameras that deliver outstanding on-film performance and an enjoyable shooting experience. Prices for a clean, functional Olympus Pen D3 now run around $100-120, but you can occasionally spot them for less, and mint examples with everything in the box can fetch up to $200.
The Olympus Pen Saga, Part 1
The great success of the Olympus Pen series of compact half-frame (18 x 24mm format) 35mm cameras ignited the half-frame camera craze of the 1960s that saw dozens of competitive models from makers including Canon, Yashica, Minolta, Petri, Fuji, Agfa, etc. It all began with the humble Olympus Pen of 1959, and ended more than 20 years later in the early ‘80s.
The original Olympus Pen was designed by Maitani Yoshihisa (last name first per Japanese tradition), one of the truly great camera designers of the 20th century and the principal designer of the landmark Olympus OM-1 full-frame 35mm SLR in 1972.
The Original Olympus Pen launched in 1959 started the hall frame camera craze
Original Olympus Pen
Initially subcontracted to Sankyo-Shoji, Olympus began making the Pen themselves within a year. A modest, elemental compact, it measures a pocket-sized 2.7 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches (H x W x D), and weighs in at a portable 12.3 ounces, not including its cool zippered leather pouch case. It has a 28mm f/3.5 D. Zuiko lens, an excellent 4-element 3, group Tessar type that provides a full-frame-equivalent focal length of about 40mm, a Copal leaf shutter with speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200 sec plus B, a 0.5x luminous bright frame optical viewfinder, a thumbwheel film advance, a removable back for loading, and helical focusing by scale with markings down to 2 feet, but focusing to about 1 foot with the lens fully extended. This elegant little camera is a masterpiece of minimalist design, and its imaging performance is spectacular, especially when you consider that its original list price was a mere $29.95. It’s still my personal favorite scale-focusing Pen and I’ve owned a half dozen of them over the years. All have proven sharp, reliable picture takers, very enjoyable to shoot with, and as easy to carry as a (what else?) pen.
Back view of Olympus Pen shows signature thumb wheel for film winding
These days, an original Pen is considered something of a collector’s item and pristine examples are occasionally offered at fancy prices in the $150-200 range. But if you’re patient you can snag one that’s clean and functional for $75 or even less. They were produced in prodigious numbers so they’re not rare, and they’re definitely great, fun user-collectibles.
Olympus Pen S
Strictly as a picture-taking proposition you’re probably better off with an Olympus Pen S which debuted in 1960 and says OLYMPUS-PEN S on the front of the chrome finished top plate, next to the front finder window. It’s essentially the same camera with the same linear dimensions as the Original Pen but its Copal shutter has 6 timed speeds ranging from1/8-1/250 sec, plus B and its lens is a 30mm f/2.8 D. Zuiko lens, also a Tessar-type, that’s a tad faster and longer. Note: a smaller number were fitted with f/3.5 lenses. The S is also slightly heavier than the Original Pen, but it’s hardly noticeable. Like its more Spartan stablemate, it’s a superb picture taker and a gorgeous little machine. You can expect to shell out $80-100 for a clean working Pen S and it’s well worth it.
Olympus Pen S of 1960 has an f/2.8 or f/3.5 lens, wider shutter speed range
Rare black Olympus Pen S is a collector's prize that fetches $250 and up
Olympus Pen D
Launched in 1962 as a higher-spec Pen aimed at enthusiasts, the Pen D sports a high-performance 6-element, 4-group 32mm f/1.9 F. Zuiko (45mm equivalent) lens that focuses down to 0.8 m, a Copal X shutter with 7 speeds ranging from 1/8-1/500 plus B, and X-sync, and a built-in uncoupled selenium cell meter which reads out in EV numbers from 7-17 (there’s an EV scale on the lens barrel). The bright frame is no longer transilluminated because the frosted window was eliminated to make room for the meter, and the Pen D is nearly ½ inch thicker and somewhat heavier than its predecessors because of the larger, faster lens. The overall feel of the camera is a bit “chunkier” than the S, but it still handles and balances very well. While the tiny selenium meter isn’t sensitive enough for low light work, the fast lens sure is, so all the D models, including the plain D, are definitely the most versatile models for street shooters. The lens is outstanding, though you do have to estimate your distances more accurately (or carry a separate rangefinder) when shooting at its widest apertures at close distances. At the current price range of $50-100 the Pen D is a good value and a fine shooter. Make sure the meter is working—selenium meters are easily damaged and hard or impossible to fix!
Olympus Pen D, has fast 32mm f/1.9 F. Zuiko lens, built-in uncoupled selenium meter, and a 1/500 sec top shutter speed
Olympus Pen D2 and D3
The Olympus Pen D2 which debuted in 1964 is basically a Pen D with a built-in uncoupled CdS meter in place of the D’s selenium cell meter. The good news: the meter is more rugged and more sensitive, covering an EV 3-17 range, still at ASA 10-400. The bad news: it was designed for a mercury cell, so you’ll have to have the camera converted and adjusted to give accurate readings with currently available alkaline or silver-oxide cell that fit. Most camera repair shops can do the job at relatively moderate cost, but check before you buy, or just use a separate handheld meter. You can find an Olympus Pen D2 in nice shape for as little as $80, but pristine examples with everything in the original box can fetch up to $200. It’s a very nice camera, but the plain Pen D is probably a better buy for users and no battery conversion is required.
Olympus Pen D2 has more sensitive CdS meter, but it was designed for banned mercuric oxide cells, requires conversion to work with available batteries
Olympus Pen D3: The Last Pen D had a 32mm f/1.7 F. Zuiko lens
The Olympus Pen D3 introduced in 1965 is the last of the Pen Ds. It incorporates the same uncoupled CdS meter as the Pen D2 and it also requires conversion and adjustment if you want to use the meter with currently available batteries. Its signature feature is a slightly faster 32mm f/1.7 F. Zuiko lens, also a high-performance 6-element, 4-group design. All comments about the Pen D2 apply, and both models are handsome, well made, reliable cameras that deliver outstanding on-film performance and an enjoyable shooting experience. Prices for a clean, functional Olympus Pen D3 now run around $100-120, but you can occasionally spot them for less, and mint examples with everything in the box can fetch up to $200.
I remember when you could pick one up for peanuts and I never bothered cause I thought the IQ wasn't good. Now that I want one...the prices have gone up :/
