The Original Olympus Pen: A Camera Design Masterpiece
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- In this video, Jules and I review the original Olympus Pen which was built between 1959 and 1964. It comes with an excellent lens and is the very first creation of the legendary camera designer Yoshihisa Maitani. Watch the video to learn all about the history of the camera, the different production runs, and, of course, how the camera handles and performs.
Gear used:
Olympus Pen
Films used:
Ilford Delta 100
Ilford HP5
If you'd like to get in touch or see some early behind the scenes footage, find me on Instagram: / analog_insights
![MORTAL KOMBAT 1 - KOMBAT PACK 2 REVEAL TRAILER!! [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mi2M58zEQVc/mqdefault.jpg)
Here in Colombia, this lovely camera had a very special place in our hearts, because in the hands of street photographers it made many lovely memories in form of tiny slides.
If a manufacturer were to build new film cameras in 2020 ... the Pen S would be a great benchmark. They’re fun and useful to all levels of photographer.
I think with the internal mechanics, it would be simple to produce as well
Olympus are you listening? :)
no but Pentax was@@mynewcolour
I'am deeply in love with film photography, it gives me back the sense of beauty of creating . By effort, thinking, wathching the real world around me...no matter how humble my talent is, working on images is pure pleasure. I've got few hundreds of cameras (never enough :)), I develop, I print, and and enjoy every aspect of passion for film photoghaphy. Thanks for this video - the little half - frame beauty Olympus will be my next step into my fim madness :)
Alvar Aalto, Mont Blanc pen and Olympus Pen - excellent trio!
I like this video very much. Your appreciation of cameras is superb. Before I knew anyhting about Yoshihisa Maitani I picked up and OM-2 in 1989 and lovet it instantly. A few montha later I bought a second hand OM-2 and still have that camera. Like you I appreciate the first models of a design, I have both an OM-2 and OM-2 just as Maitani intended them to be and they I think are the best. I just got on with buying more Olympus cameras; Pens and XAs. I have never sold a Maitani Olympus camera I like them all. Then a few years ago I read about Maitani and realised why I liked these cameras particularly their lenses. The photographs I get wiht these cameras are special and I can tell if a Maitani canera and lens has been used. Once again I like your appreciation of cameras and how they have come to be.
I bought one because of this video and I love it thank you
So glad to hear that. Enjoy shooting it!
See that flash socket? That means you can fire huge generator style pro flash systems, with light banks, umbrellas, beauty dishes, snoots, and all. See the cable release socket? That means you could do selfies with a bulb, air pressure release. What a BLAST. I know, as I worked at studios in Japan, some with facilities to shoot cars and trucks for commercial brochures. Obviosly, the cameras were 4x5 to 11x14 view cams - but, I could just plug in the Pen for the hell of it, to show friends the work and the lighting jobs we were doing. 📸
Your sample photos are just so exquisite. Your description of the development of this camera and it’s features was elegant as well. Your reviews have deeply influenced several of my purchases.
Diane Swift Thank you so much for your kind feedback. Really glad to hear that. 🙏🏻
I am lucky to also have an original Olympus Pen and everything you say is spot on. They take excellent photos. The shutter button is light and precise and very quiet. The viewfinder is very nice and because it is fully manual, there is not much to go wrong. Unfortunately my frame counter is not working properly and I just shoot until it stops winding. I am looking for another Pen or Pen S.
The original Pen series have been my all time favorite cameras, especially the Pen S 3.5. Firstly I used it as a secondary camera to Leica for street photography, however it turns out to be I got more interesting photos from the Pen. Normally I use 400 speed film on this camera, so 1/250s shutter speed, f22 aperture under sunlight, anything from 1m to infinity is in focus. Just press the shutter! It also feels interesting to end up a roll with more than 80 photos, the lens has very good resolution and color render character too. I think Olympus Pen is a much better choice than most full frame P&S.
Tianyi Liu , I also got 80 frames by careful loading 📸
@@davidlegault2749how do u load it “carefully”, mate? Is out there any video explaining that?
@@blackoorun5113 ruclips.net/video/CK9zfo3qv_k/видео.html
buying a half-frame was long long my dream, when I saved enough money to buy one, I was choosing btw pen f or pen ee series and went to buy a pen ee3. It is such a beautiful camera, I cant tell otherwise. I really enjoy vids like this because I can know more about the stories behind. Thanks for your incredible research and effort
I understand that you are using "btw" to express the idea of "between".
It is an abbreviation for "by the way", normally.
Just had to watch this more than once. Simplicity itself capable of astounding images, especially of your cousin, Max,the clarity and depth of those photos are nothing short of superb. Thanks for the review, thorough as usual.
Steve G Thanks so much for your kind feedback. I really, really appreciate it. 🙏🏻
So I bought the 28 F3.5 and took it with me to Dubai. What a beautiful camera. Thanks for sharing.
Olympus fan boy here, bought my OM-1 in 1978 and still have it. Also have an OM-2 and a assortment of Zuikos.
Oh, I also collect Pen half frame cameras, got 10 of the various models.
But my favorite is my original Pen single-lug, it is a jewel of a camera, so well made.
It is my favorite camera for street photography - small, subtle and sensual to operate.
Thanks for the excellent video Max, love your work!
Big kudos to whomever wrote, played, and recorded the music here... and of course to you guys for piecing together such a correspondingly lovely intro montage.
☆☆☆☆☆
My thoughts exactly! So 60s!
You mention the design compromises brought about by the introduction of new technologies. I think Mr. Maitani felt this way too. I have three early Pens; An original (3rd iteration) like yours. A Pen-S (30mm f/2.8) which I have read was considered Maitani's Masterpiece. It has a metal housing on the viewfinder & a six bladed aperture. If we consider the diagonal of the film format as standard, then a simple Pythagorean triangle calculation shows that the diagonal of the 18 x 24mm frame is exactly 30mm.
My third version of these early Pens is a second iteration of the Pen-S which was made once more with a 28mm f/3.5 lens. Apparently, Maitani wanted to get back to his original concept, but with the new improved shutter that came with the original Pen-S. It did not sell well & is said not to be readily available in Europe. I have linked to an article in which the author (John Foster) refutes the idea that this second version of the Pen-S owes its rarity to "... only being available to Australasia ..." However, I live in Australia & I have two; one that I bought, many years ago, from an old lady who got the camera for a trip to Europe in 1967. It is in dire need of a CLA. The second I got at an online auction. It is in excellent condition & a delight to use. I have seen several others, some in a very sad condition, being offered by Aussies on that auction site.
I like the 28mm f/3.5 versions. I was given an EE2 but the seals need replacing & I don't trust the aging selenium 'electric eye' or the lack of a proper shutter. The Olympus Trip 35 is essentially a full frame version of the EES. It too has an excellent Tessar derivative but suffers the same issues as its parents & it simply does not slip into a pocket like a Pen. Anyway, the removable back of these earlier Pens tends to remain light proof far better than their hinged successors. None of these later cameras have the bright viewfinders & frame lines that 'float' like the originals!
Finally, I figured that with the 28mm lens (if we account for a 2mm gap between the frames) then rotating the camera 40˚ between each frame stitches the image together beautifully. As you note the format encourages a sequential approach to picture making. Rather than thinking of the Pen as a half-frame camera I consider it a one-&-a-half-frame triptych making machine! I don't make the best saving on film. I tend to fire a blank frame between each burst of three for easier handling of the negatives.
I enjoyed your video & share your love of the original grey covered Pen's minimalist beauty, pocketability & ease of use. Here is the link to the article that I mentioned above:
@[ biofos.com/cornucop/pens35.html ].
Thank you for bringing this immaculate piece of history to the for. One of the greatest walk around cameras.
Just again an awesome review. Thank you so much for your engagement to come up with these great clips.
Great video! Loved every minute of it. Being an Olympus Aficionado since i began using Olympus OM1 in 1974 i like your presentation of The Man himself, Yoshihisa Maitani, as the development of Olympus brand. I'll also have to state that your own pictures really show justice to the camera. Good Work! Your channel have a lot of gems in it's archive, which i also appriciate.
Great review! Got me inspired to take my Olympus Pen S that has been on the shelf for a while back out and shooting again!
I picked up the PEN S 30mm 2.8 and love it. Thanks for the video, there's not a lot of info on these gems
Olympus cameras, film and digital, are proof that the best doesn’t always win the race.
Special and endearing cameras... I have 35rc, OM2n, C8080, and EM5mkiii.
This is one of the most charming videos of yours I've watched so far. Wonderful choice of music and somehow the images even reminded me of the available light styles you see from the mid-1960s. I'd like to see more of your videos look into the personalities behind the designs even if it might not be so easy with some manufacturers as it was here for Maitani.
👍Awesome review. Had a few Olympus half frame cameras and recently sold most of them. Fortunately I kept this one and the Pen FT. Thanks again.
Great stuff Max. I am keeping an eye for this little gem.
Great video Max and team - thanks for your efforts ☺️
Thank you max for reviewing Olympus series again, I'm very excited
Great insight and review! I love that you showed the Alvar AAlto book......he's another classic!
Another fantastic video. Thanks
Nice job guys! The photos are ace⭐🤙⭐
Thank you for this excellent review. I particularly enjoyed your discussion of the experience of using this camera and how it engaged you with the environment -- a very appealing idea as I sometimes feel that my camera and the intention to take photographs can act as a barrier to experiencing my surroundings and enjoying the moment. And the music is fantastic!
Great video, as always! Half frame cameras are fascinating, have been really looking forward to using one and this video made me finally get one :)
Pen EE2 is my favorite point'n shoot. Great results in b/w and colour as well, love the grain up to 400
Thank you for uploading such an interesting and informative video.
Excellent review! Thanks!
As usual a number 1 quality video, I did dnot know this camera until watching this video, very interesting
As always, very good work. Thanks for including our humble website in the video. All the best to you! Keep up the good work.
Casual Photophile Thanks for putting such amazing content together on your website. Your article played an important role in the research phase for this video. :)
Like always, amazing video!
Just discovered your channel. First video and you got my subscribe
Thank you so much for your kind comment. This means a lot.
awesome little camera... like the music!
...and, by the way, I noticed the book: Alvar Aalto, excellent finnish architect…!
Half frame is basically just the same format (in fact a bit bigger) as what was and still is projected onto giant movie screens.
If you don’t need the extra resolution and can scan or enlarge half frame yourself, this is absolutely as good as Barnack 36x24 frames, and a good deal more elegant WRT getting focus easily, achieving good DoF and minimizing camera shake.
beautiful camera, great review!
Thanks very much for this video. I bought this camera a while ago and i didn't find a great video explanation like this one!
I love all the Olympus 35mm... except for the Olympus 35 RC, my copy renders relatively flat photos, I don't know it's just my copy or a general characteristic. My favorites are the Olympus Pen F and Olympus 35 RD (although its aperture ring is REALLY hard to turn).
I enjoy watching your videos, Max, everything is soothing (colors, cuts, your voice and turtlenecks!). When things at work are going sour I can watch this and get re-excited about the simple love of manual cameras and taking manual photos. Danke!
Meg Fluffy Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback. Makes me really happy to hear that the videos have such a positive effect. This made my day. 🙏🏻
ABSOLUTE GREAT VIDEO! BOUGHT ONE JUST NOW. CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THIS CAMERA IN THE STREETS! SUBBED!!
Very nice review, I saw one of these at an antique store, I passed on it but maybe I’ll go back for a second look. Tell your cousin to smile a little next time. 😉
My dad had one and he taught me how to shoot, focus, shutter speed and aperture. My daughter recently bought Pen EE (film shooting among young girls is getting popular in Japan). I think now is the time to teach her how to shoot properly….I shall buy this now.
I have a Pen EE in mint condition. I've only run a few rolls through it so far; I need to roll more! It's wonderful.
Love this camera and the later versions of it. It does force you to really think about available light, shutter speed and distance for focus. But I found on a sunny day you can shoot stopped down to get everything in focus easily, using sunny 16 with fompan 100 film, matching to 100 shutter speed.
The wonderful video has the same effect that many of your efforts do: I can't wait to run to eBay and see if I can afford to buy one of the cameras. Thank you.
I only recently got a Pen, the original after messing around with the new Kodak H35 point and shoot. It’s my first film camera. I’ve been shooting digital for 5 years now. I absolutely adore it so far but it’s just the beginning of a new adventure. Can’t wait to see where it takes me.
The vertigo frame seems to fit the Instagram format very well. Obviously there's an inbetween step if they have to be developed and scanned. All the same thanks for piquing my interest. I will definitely subscribe.
Got mine after viewing this video! Looking forward to having fun with it😊
victordesabata Great. So glad to hear that. Enjoy!
Groovy music man and groovy camera.
Awesome intro music, grooovy, it coordinates well with the age of the camera.
Analog Insights A factor that allowed the Japanese camera industry to beat the Germans is the general use of high quality lenses. The European tradition was to offer different lens options for the same camera at different price points. For instance, an Agfa camera could be had with a budget Agnar lens, for more money you could get an Apotar, or for even more, a Solinar. But if you decided to save a bit of money by getting a lower-cost lens, the less-than-sterling image quality on the negative would have ended up biting you. The Pen was basically the start of the move where Japanese camera makers started to offer only the top quality lens without a budget option, so the customers ended up with better negatives that can withstand bigger enlargements.
Truth be told, for the cheapest cameras, all makers all over the world went for the cheapest possible options such as single-element or doublet. Maitani could have followed what all the other Japanese makers did at the time and cut corners on the lens front, but that would not have made the Pen any more distinctive than the other low-price cameras.
Great review
Excellent review and content.
LennyG2006 Thanks so much.
Beautiful video
Beautiful camera 🎐🖤📷
Awesome video! I watched it a few times before buying PEN EE S myself. I kinda agree with you on most of the points except the lightmeter absence. I'm completely okay with shooting based on sunny 16 (i don't like using phone or separate lightmeter), but what i like with pen ee s that i got a model that has working lightmeter, so for me it's a very effortless camera, just measure how far the object and shoot. And 72 pics help with that, if i forgot about focus, i can reshoot easily, i have shots to spare.
Perfect!
I always wanted to try a half frame camera in order to shoot pairs....to consecutive images that compliment or juxtapose each other and then print them as a set at the same time on a single 8x10 paper in the darkroom. Would be a fun composition project.
this is really a masterpiece.
I have an EE-3 that I love and have an EE-2S on the way. But I have to admit I'm really wanting this first one ( made by Olympus )and it will be my next. I like the early S model too. I'll probably own them all someday ! Great videos I've watched about 10 times now ! LarryMac
...I still have my XA...! and I regret not buying then a PenF (I remember the characteristic gothic F)
...I recommend trying the Minolta TC-1... this is a true gem (I also have one, one of the 2 that came to my country)
Stay well and keep the excellent work!
Congratulations. Your videos are so professional, informative and practical. I like the historical bias too and I think your personal comments are spot on.
What is the background music..... is it on youtube..... it goes great with the sequence of photos
many thanks for a great deal of enjoyment
Leica made the Leica 72 half frame camera which is a modified version of their standard model. Very rare. In 1992 i held one while the owner, Kurt Kren, went to the lavatory. Even then it was valued at over £20,000 and it did cross my mind to run away with it and never come back. Kren had used it to shoot 'Trees in Autumn' . A 35mm half frame camera produces a frame size the same as a cinema frame and it can be projected through a 35mm movie projector quite successfully.
I had a PEN EE in the sixties. Half frame film camera. Still have the slides. It had a light meter built round the lens.
Love this pure design , a screwdriver needs neither a bell or a whistle
love your videos especially story of the shoot! if you get your hands on one, i'd love to see you review the nikon f100 (thinking of getting one). keep it up! :)
I have used the Olympus OM-010 and XA-2 and they were very good cameras. I really recommend the OM-10. I luckily managed to get my OM-10 for £40.00 in a vintage shop, it was a bargain.
Fascinating review. I am interested in your thoughts on the limitations of the focussing being an advantage. Also, the advantage of having 72 shots per roll meaning that 3 or 4 different quick fire versions of a rapidly moving scene are not going to use up the roll too quickly. This must give you a better chance of nailing the shot just like shooting digitally.
thank you!
Great video! I have recently been looking into this model and the lenses of the era. Any experience with the 60 mm 1.5?
When you start explaining how you use this camera you telling us the wonderful attributes of proper photography. This is inspirational and your reviews are delightful and emelie is too ....., lol.
Красивые фотографии, с каждым видео всё лучше и лучше.
Thanks a lot for your kind words. Really appreciate them. :)
@@AnalogInsights мне очень понравились фотографии женщины.
Это точно!
Really nice channel and a great video. Congratulations all three of you, I love the presentation style and fantastic content of your channel. Please could you tell me the model of the Sirui tripod and head that you used for the RZ67 video - this would be helpful as as I am thinking about a Sirui for my RB67.
PS. Max, I think that You bear a striking similarity to the young Steiglitz .
Max you are the Masterpiece ! woof
Thank you for the video, just ordered one of these yesterday and I can't wait for it to come in. I have a question about the viewfinder. Which frame lines are for close focus and which frame lines are the infinity focus? Thanks!
Kurt Lacourrege The outer ones are for close distance and the inner ones for infinity, I guess.
i have a half-frame soviet camera Chaika. it's really similar in terms of design, i would say even more minimalist, but the lens are a bit worse. i like it though
it was interesting to see this example of a half-frame camera, because it really feels sort of a really great camera for many conditions. thanks for that video
I have a modest collection comprising a PEN S 28mm 1:3.5, the rarer version (inferior to the 30mm 1:2.8 but rarer and more collectable), a boxed EE and a boxed EE-S with accessories. Lovely little cameras.
Interestingly I read in John Foster's excellent book Olympus Viewfinder Pen Cameras that Mr Maitani did not consider the S3.5 inferior to the S2.8 as it had a superior shutter fitted with better quality control and it allowed a return to a size and weight closer to the original Pen. 10% shallower and 14% lighter. He had not been happy with the size increases for the S2.8. Always good to learn.
Hope you can proceed with pen D for the next episode.
great video, i just wanna make a open ended question - IF i wanna upgrade from the Olympus OM10 which olympus camera should i get?????
This looks like a little pocket rocket. I don’t think its the kind of camera people would immediately pick out at a flea market because it looks so simple (yet perfect) for an untrained eye, hopefully I’ll see one in wild one of these days. Great review and beautiful sample pictures.
Any chance of doing a review on the Yashica T line later on? It’s a popular camera of course but the lack of proper reviews on them is a shame, even though they are just point and shoots it would be fun with some Kyocera/Yashica/Contax history and someone actually testing the limits of the Zeiss lenses. I would consider sending my T5 to you for a review later this year, but I suspect Greg has them all in mint condition, haha!
Patrik Flores Thanks for your comment and great suggestion regarding the Yashica T5. I’ll ask Greg whether he has one and will get back to you. :)
Update: Yes, Greg has one. Just as you assumed. ;) But thanks for the offer.
@@AnalogInsights I didn't expect anything else haha, that's great. Looking forward to a review in the future.
Thank you for your thorough review of the Olympus Pen. I also noticed the Mont Blanc and the Breitling (?). You are an admirer of good design...
john murch Thanks for your kind feedback. Well spotted. The watch is a Longines Flagship Heritage. :)
Half way though, but enjoying so far! I’ve just gotten into the XA cameras - I have XA,2,4 Will you complete the Maitani series and review those?
Lori Brooks Yes, the XA is definitely on our list. :)
I have a Pen EE-3 that has a built in light meter that doesn't work any more. 35-40 years ago I used TLRs for most everything but the Pen EE-3 was my pocket camera. Twice as many shots to a role of film was really cool especially compared to only 12 frames of 120 I was getting on the TLR. :-)
Way Gone hey ! You can still use it without the Selenium lightmeter by forcing it with the flash mode
But it will only shoot at 1/40 sec instead of the normal mode which is 1/200 sec ;)
Hey Max (or anyone else), I have a question regarding Leica SLR’s. I want to purchase a Leicaflex SL, but I’m not sure I should. I want it to last a lifetime, but I’m afraid by the time I’m in my 20’s or 30’s, there won’t be anyone left that can fix it. Do you feel the same? If so, should I get an R series Leica SLR? Thanks!
Nice video. I have the Pen S with the same body and features with 250-1/8 sec also lovely to shoot , especially for 3 shot panoramas. Sadly the flat bed scanners are not satisfactory for the smaller frame.
Great video Max, the camera itself is kinda weird to me because of the format, but it is rather a positive weirdness which makes it interesting
By the way the Montblanc pen visible in some parts of the video seems really cool as well
When I watch your videos I end up getting the camera. but I don't know if I'll do that now because my shelves are full . Enjoyed your video as all of yours.
It’s a small camera...it’ll fit!
My wife would kick me off!
@@NBartrina LOL!
What's up Max? I love it man. I've never been a vertical shooter I try to avoid them but looking at this all of your images came out looking fine and the verticality of it did not take away from the images. I guess I need to rethink that and maybe shoot a whole roll vertical as a challenge.
Raychristofer Thanks for your lovely comment, Ray. You should. Ralph Gibson once did a whole book with vertical images only. You can find some more information here: lfi-online.de/ceemes/en/blog/slideshow-ralph-gibson-1430.html
Can you review a Contax IIa or Contax IIIa if you can get hold of one? keep up the good work
Have you ever considered doing a video on the Nikon rangefinders? Like the Nikon S2?
Gus McKeever Yes, might come at some point. :)
Contax 139q pleaseeeeee!... Gretting from Argentina!!
Обычно я не пересматриваю ролики по два раза, а этот пересмотрел три раза. Красивые фото женщины.
I love my trip 35 .
Interesting