Thank you for making this video! A couple of years ago, my dad gave me his Olympus-Pen F camera along with a 38mm, 40mm and 140mm lens. It was what he used while he was in the Navy in the late 60's. So this camera has seen several places including Japan and Vietnam. I haven't done any shooting with it but I plan on doing so soon. Sadly, my dad passed away a couple of months ago and I am more determined to go out and take some photos with his old camera. Again, thank you for the video. I learned quite a lot about this camera and it's capabilities.
Travis you are a refreshing practical Guy with the ability to explain photography in a captivating very interesting manner. I have a quite a collection of Olympus Pen F cameras. Pen F, FT & FV + a wide array of genuine lenses from 20mm upwards including a 42mm f1,2 & f1,4 + fully working Pen F coupled exposure meters for the F & FV. I have genuine lens adaptors for the Pen F to fir M42, Nikon F & Olympus OM Lenses three very useful adaptors. The Pen F was the only complete half frame camera system offered by any manufacturer. When travelling light is the order of the day the Pen F system fits the bill, with the camera body plus a selection of lenses taking less room than a conventional full frame SLR. My first SLR was a early 60's Pen F c/w coupled meter + a few lenses my Mum bought me for my 21st Birthday in 1971, i still have the camera along with many others & surprisingly the meter is still accurate to one stop. !.35 volt mercury batteries where needed now no longer available so i get voltage reducer adaptors (1.5 to 1.35) from a guy that makes them in France. Film can take some using up in one of these. I bulk load my own colour & b&w film especially for this camera depending on what i intend to use it for. I have a working collection of certain cameras & i tend to lean towards all mechanical models. Over the years i've ammassed quite a heap of Nikon F in all varities, Nikon F2 all models my very first i bought in 1988 being a F2SB c/w 50mm f1,4 lens original boxed with manuals. i have most of the other models also. one of my favourite Nikons is the Nikon EL2 it pre dates the FE & has the same overlaying needle metering. The model before it was the Nikkomat EL identical camera only lacking the AI coupling ring. Please accept my sincere apologies for my rant & haven't caused any annoyance either to yourself or other subscribers only i too am passionate about certain film cameras.
I develop and scan the film for a lab and I always enjoy seeing what people have paired together on the half frames when using a pen f. It is like viewing an entire roll of diptiychs. I like to see how the pictures might be related, even if the photographer did not mean for them to be related.
I’m in the process of looking for a new lab. I’d love to give you a try however I’m having difficulty finding your website for pricing etc… Great channel. Thanks.
Welcome back. The half-frame Pen F was a b-day present to myself last August. And I bought it from an ebay seller in Forest Hills (Queens) NYC. My copy, in decent condition, set me back just under $200 - with both the 38/1.8 and 100/3.5 lenses, hoods included. Have yet to run film in it - something to look forward to. About a month later, I added the digital Pen-F, a cool little camera that's now discontinued (and the OM-D M1 Mk II). I'm enjoying the compact Olympus cameras.
Hi Travis, I really enjoy your camera reviews, you tell it like it is, which has helped me in some of my purchases. I don't own a half frame camera but you have given me something to think about. Thanks for video!
Hi sorry to correct you but the view finder on the original pen f and the later Fv are brighter than the Pen ft. The FT has the dimmer view finder because of the addition of the light meter. Great vids .
What a coincidence- I came across one of these little beauties for the first time at a vintage camera shop last week and I was enamored on the spot! It wasn't in working condition so I got a Canon Demi! Glad you're back! PS the one I looked had the Selenium "electric eye"- I think it was the EE 17 or 28
Haven't tried half frame yet but I just got the tiny Olympus 35 RC and love it! Very sharp lens and perfectly normal at 42mm. If you shine a black light on it all the engraved numbers on the lens flouresce.
Pretty sure the earlier Pen F has a brighter viewfinder, as the Pen FT diverts a bit of light towards the light-meter, resulting in a dimmer viewfinder. Also it's worth noting that the Lever for the double stroke is far shorter than the single stroke, so it won't bind up in a strap like the single can, and also it's easier to advance the lever with one hand as you can keep a proper grip on the body. Great vid though, always good to see people talking about PEN's
Welcome back Travis! I have the Pen F and love it! I find the image quality totally acceptable, and on social media you can't tell the difference between it and a full frame 35mm. Also love the ease of focusing with just a ground glass focusing screen, so clean and clear with no distractions, especially in lower light where a split image focusing screen would just black out! Keep up the great work!
One often forgotten reason for the development and marketing of the Olympus half frame cameras, especially the Pen F series was the increase in size of 35mm full frame cameras in the 1950s even before the SLRs already with rangefinders like the Leica M3 compared to the pre war Leicas and Contax cameras. The Pen F has more or less the exact size as a 1930s Leica I. The available lenses for the Pen F system are amazing, especially the rare 38mm pancake, the easy to get 40mm f1.4 and the again rare 38mm macro and 60mm f1.5. I got two Pen FTs and enjoy them a lot. Thank you for the video.
Your panos are great nice creativity. I have always been intrigued by half frame. I recently learned of a Konica 35mm SLR that can switch between full frame and half frame which is pretty wicked if you ask me.
I bought a pen f and love it so much. Really nice to see somebody else beeing so excited too! Nice content in generell. I like you straight opinions and the passion for what you are doing!
My first Pen F my Mother bought a used one for my 21st Birthday many years ago which i still own. This & the other Pen F models have a special meaning for me because of my Mothers Birthday present for me. I have over the years collected quite a useful range of genuine Pen F lenses from 20mm, + a f1,2 & f1,4 & various telephoto & zoom lenses. i find them incredible masterpieces of engineering, when i'm out using one i get the satisfaction of the camera i'm using is very special not only to myself but also in camera history as it was the only true half frame SLR available that sported a complete camera system something only matched by leading manufacturers of full frame cameras. It's simply a one of a kind & takes it's place in history as being such. The Pen FV was basically the FT Model less the built inTTL metering + a return to the 1/4 turn bayonet mount to enable the fitting of the dedicated exposure meter that couples to the shutter speed control. By simply rotating the wheel on the meter the shutter speed changes as does the reading for exposure which you then manually change the f stop to match. The lenses for the FT model had two exposure markings on the lens aperture ring, one with single numbers refer to the FT meters reading & are 'T' stops an exposure system already in use by the Movie industry i believe. On the opposite side of the aperture ring are the f stops, if you have one of these lenses if you gently pull the aperture ring to the front of the lens you then can rotate it 180 degrees to bring either the f stops or the FT numbers to the top of the lens when you release the ring it automatically locates itself making easy use of what you which readings to choose. Another small point the Pen F uses a "Porroprism" hence no hump on the top of the camera, the shutter is not of the focal plane type it's rotary shutter which enables the camera to flash sync at all it's speeds.
I always have to think about the direction the camera transports the film in order to begin the pano on the correct side and having the frames in correct order on the film slide (using a Penti 2, East German halfframe Camera)
The gothic version finder is clearer than the FT due to the metering requirement of the latter. These cameras are amazing. A technical masterpiece. The vertical format makes you take different pictures. They are great.
Tuisitala ah damn it! I did not know that. Only making me want one more. Believe it or not I actually found an original Nikon lens adapter for this camera. I didn’t talk about it because I’ve not used it yet. Something I definitely left out.
What I'm really interested in is, how is it in the darkroom and working with that negative. Making prints.Could you show some examples of your prints.What are some cool things you could do with prints as suppose to just shooting regular full frame 35mm. What size paper would you recommend to print. I will get one because I love Olympus camera's just like you love Nikons.
Ive done a lot of printing with the negs and I love them. They get pretty grainy because of the small sized negative but I like that anyway. I've done 8x10s with no issue but I prefer to print 5x7 with these.
I use a 35mm or 40mm lens in my Durst AC707 enlarger with a lens board that brings the lens very close to the negative. 5x7 & 8x10 isn't a problem, i am going to try 12x16 basically because there's nothing to stop me & i'd really like to see the result if only to satisfy my curiosity. I will be printing from the same negative for comparison purposes. I intend trying this with a Monochrome negative & with a Colour negative. Personally all results are good when you've done it all yourself.
The Pen F - I really liked this review and overview of it. Thanks.- it is the best - looks and feels better than a FT - some advice -for buyers - make sure the the mirror coating is bright and hasn’t blackened or faded.
Hey Travis,Thank you for this very fine video. I purchased an Olympus F camera last week for 85 Euros :) . It is the 1966 model for microscope but without a lens. Can you recommend a good allround -not too expensive - lens for my camera. The viewer on this camera is fantastic, you see a round hole with a cross trough it. Thank you for any advice and love to see more off your video's. I already have a nice camera collection (200-250 pcs) Cheers from Belgium. Frank
I really love the half frame cameras. I have the Pen EE3 and even though it's a true point and shoot, I absolutely love it ! I have a favorite dealer in Japan that's getting a Pen F gothic ready for me with a few lenses and I can't wait. Thanks for the great review. LarryMac
Wonderful, the original version of the Pen F i hope it's fully operational & you can find the time to use it. I have this model myself amogst other Pen F models, i have a special place for the model you have as my Mother bought me a used one for my 21st Birthday many years ago which i still have & use. I now use a bulk film loader to reduce the frame count as i found exposing an over the counter bought film took some getting through at times. The days are gone when you could buy a 12 exposure film over the counter which was ideal for the Pen F (24 Exposures). Loading my own gives me the flexibility of choosing the ammount of exposures to load into the film cassette. The quality of the prints from the Pen F is excellent given half the frame size, it must all boil down to optical quality.
Even though you have done reviews on most of your camera’s you can do them again but from a different angle. There are new people being added all the time and I know I do miss things. Also different cameras have different quirks. Mamiya RZ 67 had a spring release on the lens I never knew about and as far as I know only one person on you tube showed it. Which lengthens the life of a lens.
The FV utilses the same bayonet fit dedicated coupled meter as the original gothic F Giving a brighter viefinder. In all respects the FV ia a FT without the metering & including the self timer & slightly improved mechanics. The coupled meter has two vaiants i've personally come across with later type having a higher ASA setting. All the Pen F range can sync flash at all of it's speeds due to it's unique rotary titanium foil shutter. They also use a porroprism not a pentaprism very clever in making the camera even more compact..
VVTV yea just normal 35mm and I don’t really know how a lab would scan it. But my scanner naturally scans them two at a time so I assume the same goes for a lab
I used to work as an extra at a Photo store with a mini Fuji lab system. I am not sure whether or not the machine would scan the whole film first or if it were 6 frames at a time, as we would only be able to edit 6 frames at a time per page(we would go through as many pages needed until we went through all the frames). When editing we were able to add/remove colour and light. Considering this video is about half-frames, I would try my best to use both halfs of a whole frame on the same target using the same setting. I were an extra, so I didn't know half the stuff the scanner could do, so perhaps it could scan half-frames without me knowing, or adjust which segment of the film the scanner would do at a time. I imagine the latter way would be time consuming if it would have to be done frame by frame. This is 13 years ago, things have changed for better or worse since then. Like, there is not anybody in my town that can scan whole strips of positive film anymore, only whole strips negative film and slide per slide. Edit: Added more text
I loved this camera to death but it broke during a shoot with a model. Then I heard about the Autorex P... This thing is insane: the only SLR that can switch between half frame and full frame!! You should try it. And it has a Microprism for focusing, which helps a lot. Lenses are cheap and very good.
Bro i have one of them with a set of 3 lenses haven't used it yet. Shoot with an olympus om10 that has the manual adapter a yashica d and a mamiya 645j also a canon rebel digital. I have like 6 other vintage cameras that i haven't had a chance to use yet i guess now is a good time to start trying them out exept for my canon and the yashica all the others were given to me
@@ForesthillFilmLab don't know i guess just waiting for some encouragement so far i feel very comfortable using the cameras i know but definitely i will like to try some of my other cameras thanks for all your videos
So glad to see that youre giving love to half frames. I have a pen fv with zuiko 40 f1.4. Images were sharp and i also shoot diptychs and triptychs with it. Will never ever ever sell this camera
Very pleased you would never consider selling you FV. I too have a couple of the FV models + others & a number of coupled Pen F meters in GWO. Not many FV models where made fewer than any of the others. Nice amazing cameras & take up very little room. Basically the FV was the same as the original gothic F only by then it had the added self timer & updated mechanicals. as you'll know only too well the bayonet that surrounds the shutter speed dial was reintroduced on the FV as was the speed dial with the meter locating notch. Mechanical marvels.
Even though I am subbed, I am not too familiar with this channel, so here I was thinking this would be a review about the digital version of the Pen F. How embarrassed I am on how long it took me until I figured you were talking about an analogue version. Perhaps it's cause half-frames is not something I have come across much. I was wondering what you meant by zone focus, why the pictures ought to be taken vertically, why you didn't mention m4/3, what's this mirror you were talking about 😅😅😅. When I figured, zone focus and the other things made a lot more sense. HA! Anyways, glad I were subbed already and that I watched this video. Half-frames sounds like an interesting way of shooting and thinking. By the way, what encyclopaedia were you looking in to get info about the cameras?
Gjermund Skogstad Lingås haha that’s hilarious! When i searched for a photo of the camera the digital is all that came up! And that’s the mckeowns vintage camera price guide. Basically an encyclopedia!
I've seen videos where folks using manual cameras turn to a light meter app for the Smartphone. It's not as "quick and dirty" as "Sunny f/16 Rule," but you get another way to use the ubiquitous Smartphone. For Gear Acquisition Syndrome folk, look around for accessory shoe-mounted vintage rangefinders. That way, you have another conversation starter mounted on Ye Olde Camera which insures sharp photos.
Haha, it didn't even cross my mind to shoot diptychs. I never had a problem with image quality of 110 film, so I figured half a 35mm frame is plenty of negative. I was planning on doing street photography and just holding the camera vertically and getting twice the exposures ;)
Cool video and awesome shack darkroom! Btw, has anyone ever told you that you look a bit like Michelangelo? I'm a painter so I mean that as a total compliment.
There would be no reason why the full frame camera's like Sony...couldn't do this...just split the sensor in half down the middle...I really dont think it would be hard to do, it would only take a software change....great video, thanks...
Kennynva I mean.......that’s a pretty good reason why it couldn’t don’t you think? Sony would have to change the software to make a digital sensor only half sensitive? Then it would switch to the other half of the sensor? Then it would stitch them together? Hmmm not sure Sony would implement this software ever. There’s definitely a few reasons why a Sony couldn’t do what a half frame does.
I’m needing some help maybe you can help, you have motivated me over the last several months to get back into doing one of my first love so after unpacking some equipment that’s been stored away for many years I’m running into an issue where I forgot how the timer hooks up on my Bessler 45MX. I do not remember if I plug the timer in the voltage rheostat or into the motor switch control any info would be a big help thank you would love to talk to you about this if you can supply me your phone number. Thx John
![Olympus Pen F Review - [How film photography will HELP you to be better]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kB2je75KCDA/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for making this video! A couple of years ago, my dad gave me his Olympus-Pen F camera along with a 38mm, 40mm and 140mm lens. It was what he used while he was in the Navy in the late 60's. So this camera has seen several places including Japan and Vietnam. I haven't done any shooting with it but I plan on doing so soon. Sadly, my dad passed away a couple of months ago and I am more determined to go out and take some photos with his old camera. Again, thank you for the video. I learned quite a lot about this camera and it's capabilities.
Travis you are a refreshing practical Guy with the ability to explain photography in a captivating very interesting manner.
I have a quite a collection of Olympus Pen F cameras. Pen F, FT & FV + a wide array of genuine lenses from 20mm upwards including a 42mm f1,2 & f1,4 + fully working Pen F coupled exposure meters for the F & FV. I have genuine lens adaptors for the Pen F to fir M42, Nikon F & Olympus OM Lenses three very useful adaptors. The Pen F was the only complete half frame camera system offered by any manufacturer.
When travelling light is the order of the day the Pen F system fits the bill, with the camera body plus a selection of lenses taking less room than a conventional full frame SLR.
My first SLR was a early 60's Pen F c/w coupled meter + a few lenses my Mum bought me for my 21st Birthday in 1971, i still have the camera along with many others & surprisingly the meter is still accurate to one stop. !.35 volt mercury batteries where needed now no longer available so i get voltage reducer adaptors (1.5 to 1.35) from a guy that makes them in France.
Film can take some using up in one of these. I bulk load my own colour & b&w film especially for this camera depending on what i intend to use it for.
I have a working collection of certain cameras & i tend to lean towards all mechanical models. Over the years i've ammassed quite a heap of Nikon F in all varities, Nikon F2 all models my very first i bought in 1988 being a F2SB c/w 50mm f1,4 lens original boxed with manuals. i have most of the other models also. one of my favourite Nikons is the Nikon EL2 it pre dates the FE & has the same overlaying needle metering. The model before it was the Nikkomat EL identical camera only lacking the AI coupling ring.
Please accept my sincere apologies for my rant & haven't caused any annoyance either to yourself or other subscribers only i too am passionate about certain film cameras.
I develop and scan the film for a lab and I always enjoy seeing what people have paired together on the half frames when using a pen f. It is like viewing an entire roll of diptiychs. I like to see how the pictures might be related, even if the photographer did not mean for them to be related.
I’m in the process of looking for a new lab. I’d love to give you a try however I’m having difficulty finding your website for pricing etc… Great channel. Thanks.
Welcome back. The half-frame Pen F was a b-day present to myself last August. And I
bought it from an ebay seller in Forest Hills (Queens) NYC. My copy, in
decent condition, set me back just under $200 - with both the 38/1.8
and 100/3.5 lenses, hoods included. Have yet to run film in it -
something to look forward to. About a month later, I added the digital
Pen-F, a cool little camera that's now discontinued (and the OM-D M1 Mk
II). I'm enjoying the compact Olympus cameras.
I love seeing people still using quirky old film cameras. Thanks....
Hi Travis, I really enjoy your camera reviews, you tell it like it is, which has helped me in some of my purchases. I don't own a half frame camera but you have given me something to think about. Thanks for video!
Those panoramics are AWESOME.
Bro, I love your technique of panorama with half frame. I'm definitely going to try this!
Hi sorry to correct you but the view finder on the original pen f and the later Fv are brighter than the Pen ft. The FT has the dimmer view finder because of the addition of the light meter. Great vids .
What a coincidence- I came across one of these little beauties for the first time at a vintage camera shop last week and I was enamored on the spot! It wasn't in working condition so I got a Canon Demi! Glad you're back!
PS the one I looked had the Selenium "electric eye"- I think it was the EE 17 or 28
So glad you’re back! Keep it up. Missed your content a lot
Ditto that
G.O.A.T.
Wow! Been shooting the Pen F & FT's for 40 years and never considered dyptichs. Thanks!
Haven't tried half frame yet but I just got the tiny Olympus 35 RC and love it! Very sharp lens and perfectly normal at 42mm. If you shine a black light on it all the engraved numbers on the lens flouresce.
First time in my life to see a black & white footage from a drone! :)
Pretty sure the earlier Pen F has a brighter viewfinder, as the Pen FT diverts a bit of light towards the light-meter, resulting in a dimmer viewfinder.
Also it's worth noting that the Lever for the double stroke is far shorter than the single stroke, so it won't bind up in a strap like the single can, and also it's easier to advance the lever with one hand as you can keep a proper grip on the body.
Great vid though, always good to see people talking about PEN's
Welcome back Travis! I have the Pen F and love it! I find the image quality totally acceptable, and on social media you can't tell the difference between it and a full frame 35mm. Also love the ease of focusing with just a ground glass focusing screen, so clean and clear with no distractions, especially in lower light where a split image focusing screen would just black out! Keep up the great work!
One often forgotten reason for the development and marketing of the Olympus half frame cameras, especially the Pen F series was the increase in size of 35mm full frame cameras in the 1950s even before the SLRs already with rangefinders like the Leica M3 compared to the pre war Leicas and Contax cameras. The Pen F has more or less the exact size as a 1930s Leica I. The available lenses for the Pen F system are amazing, especially the rare 38mm pancake, the easy to get 40mm f1.4 and the again rare 38mm macro and 60mm f1.5. I got two Pen FTs and enjoy them a lot. Thank you for the video.
Ive used one of these almost almost exclusively for the past couple of years abd have done a few small series with it. I love it.
Never heard of half frame before. Really like the photo groupings. It's almost like a blend of photography and the panels of a graphic novel
Nice work. Looking forward to give this a go... great way to work with multiple frames. Great to see another video from you.
Your panos are great nice creativity. I have always been intrigued by half frame. I recently learned of a Konica 35mm SLR that can switch between full frame and half frame which is pretty wicked if you ask me.
I bought a pen f and love it so much. Really nice to see somebody else beeing so excited too! Nice content in generell. I like you straight opinions and the passion for what you are doing!
My first Pen F my Mother bought a used one for my 21st Birthday many years ago which i still own. This & the other Pen F models have a special meaning for me because of my Mothers Birthday present for me.
I have over the years collected quite a useful range of genuine Pen F lenses from 20mm, + a f1,2 & f1,4 & various telephoto & zoom lenses.
i find them incredible masterpieces of engineering, when i'm out using one i get the satisfaction of the camera i'm using is very special not only to myself but also in camera history as it was the only true half frame SLR available that sported a complete camera system something only matched by leading manufacturers of full frame cameras. It's simply a one of a kind & takes it's place in history as being such.
The Pen FV was basically the FT Model less the built inTTL metering + a return to the 1/4 turn bayonet mount to enable the fitting of the dedicated exposure meter that couples to the shutter speed control. By simply rotating the wheel on the meter the shutter speed changes as does the reading for exposure which you then manually change the f stop to match.
The lenses for the FT model had two exposure markings on the lens aperture ring, one with single numbers refer to the FT meters reading & are 'T' stops an exposure system already in use by the Movie industry i believe. On the opposite side of the aperture ring are the f stops, if you have one of these lenses if you gently pull the aperture ring to the front of the lens you then can rotate it 180 degrees to bring either the f stops or the FT numbers to the top of the lens when you release the ring it automatically locates itself making easy use of what you which readings to choose.
Another small point the Pen F uses a "Porroprism" hence no hump on the top of the camera, the shutter is not of the focal plane type it's rotary shutter which enables the camera to flash sync at all it's speeds.
Thanks, Travis! You have been missed while your darkroom was getting its makeover. I love your videos!
I always have to think about the direction the camera transports the film in order to begin the pano on the correct side and having the frames in correct order on the film slide (using a Penti 2, East German halfframe Camera)
I haven’t purchased a PEN F yet, and I’ve been looking for an answer to this, is it right to left or left to right? Thanks
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PERSPECTIVE AND REVIEW ON THE OLYMPUS PEN F! Thank you for this!!!
Thank you for another cool and informative video. I particularly love your instructional videos. The Sunny 16 Rule video is a classic.
I would love to see your workflow from shooting the frame till printing.
Yay love the new videos your posting in 2020. Keep up the great work Travis
Thanks for another great review. good to see you back.
The gothic version finder is clearer than the FT due to the metering requirement of the latter. These cameras are amazing. A technical masterpiece. The vertical format makes you take different pictures. They are great.
Tuisitala ah damn it! I did not know that. Only making me want one more. Believe it or not I actually found an original Nikon lens adapter for this camera. I didn’t talk about it because I’ve not used it yet. Something I definitely left out.
What I'm really interested in is, how is it in the darkroom and working with that negative. Making prints.Could you show some examples of your prints.What are some cool things you could do with prints as suppose to just shooting regular full frame 35mm. What size paper would you recommend to print. I will get one because I love Olympus camera's just like you love Nikons.
B_W Tangible_Moments I haven’t tried to print from them yet but I certainly will! I’ll keep you posted
Ive done a lot of printing with the negs and I love them. They get pretty grainy because of the small sized negative but I like that anyway. I've done 8x10s with no issue but I prefer to print 5x7 with these.
Benjamin Vos I was just thinking about how 5x7 would be a really nice size for a little diptych. I’m gonna have to give it a shot!
@@ForesthillFilmLab I just printed a series of 10 shots from a road trip around Arizona and was really happy with that size.
I use a 35mm or 40mm lens in my Durst AC707 enlarger with a lens board that brings the lens very close to the negative. 5x7 & 8x10 isn't a problem, i am going to try 12x16 basically because there's nothing to stop me & i'd really like to see the result if only to satisfy my curiosity. I will be printing from the same negative for comparison purposes. I intend trying this with a Monochrome negative & with a Colour negative. Personally all results are good when you've done it all yourself.
The Pen F - I really liked this review and overview of it. Thanks.- it is the best - looks and feels better than a FT - some advice -for buyers - make sure the the mirror coating is bright and hasn’t blackened or faded.
Hey Travis,Thank you for this very fine video. I purchased an Olympus F camera last week for 85 Euros :) . It is the 1966 model for microscope but without a lens. Can you recommend a good allround -not too expensive - lens for my camera. The viewer on this camera is fantastic, you see a round hole with a cross trough it. Thank you for any advice and love to see more off your video's. I already have a nice camera collection (200-250 pcs) Cheers from Belgium. Frank
I really love the half frame cameras. I have the Pen EE3 and even though it's a true point and shoot, I absolutely love it !
I have a favorite dealer in Japan that's getting a Pen F gothic ready for me with a few lenses and I can't wait. Thanks for the great review. LarryMac
Nice to see you again producing content. Hope it's a New Year's resolution.
Missed ya! So nice to have you back!
Thanks for posting this. I’m inspired to take my Pen-F out on a photo trip!
Love to see you back on youtube! Missed your content.
Such a cool camera! Even cooler video, thanks Travis!
Great video and awesome photos - thanks for that. I just wonder: is there a way to switch ISO?
Happy you returned to RUclips!!
Great film photography content......
I own the pen f version love the gothic f engraved on the body
Wonderful, the original version of the Pen F i hope it's fully operational & you can find the time to use it. I have this model myself amogst other Pen F models, i have a special place for the model you have as my Mother bought me a used one for my 21st Birthday many years ago which i still have & use.
I now use a bulk film loader to reduce the frame count as i found exposing an over the counter bought film took some getting through at times.
The days are gone when you could buy a 12 exposure film over the counter which was ideal for the Pen F (24 Exposures). Loading my own gives me the flexibility of choosing the ammount of exposures to load into the film cassette.
The quality of the prints from the Pen F is excellent given half the frame size, it must all boil down to optical quality.
Even though you have done reviews on most of your camera’s you can do them again but from a different angle. There are new people being added all the time and I know I do miss things. Also different cameras have different quirks. Mamiya RZ 67 had a spring release on the lens I never knew about and as far as I know only one person on you tube showed it. Which lengthens the life of a lens.
Dude yes, glad to see another video even if I’m 8 months late lol
I really enjoyed this one! I have to have a half frame!
The OG vertical frame camera!
The FV utilses the same bayonet fit dedicated coupled meter as the original gothic F Giving a brighter viefinder. In all respects the FV ia a FT without the metering & including the self timer & slightly improved mechanics.
The coupled meter has two vaiants i've personally come across with later type having a higher ASA setting.
All the Pen F range can sync flash at all of it's speeds due to it's unique rotary titanium foil shutter. They also use a porroprism not a pentaprism very clever in making the camera even more compact..
I love half frame cameras, I do mostly dypdicths with them ... gotta try a pano!!!
The lighting here is tasty.
Another great video. Do you just use standard 35mm film in these? And I don't develop myself, so will a lab just develop it like normal 35mm film?
VVTV yea just normal 35mm and I don’t really know how a lab would scan it. But my scanner naturally scans them two at a time so I assume the same goes for a lab
You can get it developed but most places charge extra for the unusual frame size. The scans usually come back with 2 frames per scan.
I used to work as an extra at a Photo store with a mini Fuji lab system. I am not sure whether or not the machine would scan the whole film first or if it were 6 frames at a time, as we would only be able to edit 6 frames at a time per page(we would go through as many pages needed until we went through all the frames). When editing we were able to add/remove colour and light.
Considering this video is about half-frames, I would try my best to use both halfs of a whole frame on the same target using the same setting.
I were an extra, so I didn't know half the stuff the scanner could do, so perhaps it could scan half-frames without me knowing, or adjust which segment of the film the scanner would do at a time. I imagine the latter way would be time consuming if it would have to be done frame by frame. This is 13 years ago, things have changed for better or worse since then. Like, there is not anybody in my town that can scan whole strips of positive film anymore, only whole strips negative film and slide per slide.
Edit: Added more text
I loved this camera to death but it broke during a shoot with a model. Then I heard about the Autorex P... This thing is insane: the only SLR that can switch between half frame and full frame!! You should try it. And it has a Microprism for focusing, which helps a lot. Lenses are cheap and very good.
Good to see your back, just love watching your video's. Have you already made a video about the Hasselblad?
Julian Barry yea I have but it’s real old and kinda shitty haha maybe it’s time to make another
@@ForesthillFilmLab Just watched it, all good, it had great info:-) i bought myself a Hasselblad 4weeks ago:-)
Bro i have one of them with a set of 3 lenses haven't used it yet. Shoot with an olympus om10 that has the manual adapter a yashica d and a mamiya 645j also a canon rebel digital. I have like 6 other vintage cameras that i haven't had a chance to use yet i guess now is a good time to start trying them out exept for my canon and the yashica all the others were given to me
Isaias Zepeda ya what are you waiting for?!
@@ForesthillFilmLab don't know i guess just waiting for some encouragement so far i feel very comfortable using the cameras i know but definitely i will like to try some of my other cameras thanks for all your videos
Isaias Zepeda hey all cameras are the same! Photography is just aperture and shutter speed if you can use one you can use them all. Get to it 👌🏻
So glad to see that youre giving love to half frames. I have a pen fv with zuiko 40 f1.4. Images were sharp and i also shoot diptychs and triptychs with it. Will never ever ever sell this camera
Very pleased you would never consider selling you FV. I too have a couple of the FV models + others & a number of coupled Pen F meters in GWO. Not many FV models where made fewer than any of the others. Nice amazing cameras & take up very little room. Basically the FV was the same as the original gothic F only by then it had the added self timer & updated mechanicals. as you'll know only too well the bayonet that surrounds the shutter speed dial was reintroduced on the FV as was the speed dial with the meter locating notch. Mechanical marvels.
welcome back! what about photo books or scanning process videos?
Can you please do a review of a Leica IIIf?
one of the best camera of all time if you have a low budget on film/chemicals
you are alive! glad you comeback
greetings from russia
Even though I am subbed, I am not too familiar with this channel, so here I was thinking this would be a review about the digital version of the Pen F. How embarrassed I am on how long it took me until I figured you were talking about an analogue version. Perhaps it's cause half-frames is not something I have come across much. I was wondering what you meant by zone focus, why the pictures ought to be taken vertically, why you didn't mention m4/3, what's this mirror you were talking about 😅😅😅. When I figured, zone focus and the other things made a lot more sense. HA!
Anyways, glad I were subbed already and that I watched this video. Half-frames sounds like an interesting way of shooting and thinking.
By the way, what encyclopaedia were you looking in to get info about the cameras?
Gjermund Skogstad Lingås haha that’s hilarious! When i searched for a photo of the camera the digital is all that came up! And that’s the mckeowns vintage camera price guide. Basically an encyclopedia!
Man welcome back!
I've seen videos where folks using manual cameras turn to a light meter app for the Smartphone. It's not as "quick and dirty" as "Sunny f/16 Rule," but you get another way to use the ubiquitous Smartphone. For Gear Acquisition Syndrome folk, look around for accessory shoe-mounted vintage rangefinders. That way, you have another conversation starter mounted on Ye Olde Camera which insures sharp photos.
Great the cameras and your video. I like to ask about the book you have shown, is possible to find it? thanks in advance.
Ramon Borreguero it’s called the mckeowns guide to vintage cameras! 5th edition I believe
@@ForesthillFilmLab Thanks I will find it.
Haha, it didn't even cross my mind to shoot diptychs. I never had a problem with image quality of 110 film, so I figured half a 35mm frame is plenty of negative. I was planning on doing street photography and just holding the camera vertically and getting twice the exposures ;)
Cool video and awesome shack darkroom! Btw, has anyone ever told you that you look a bit like Michelangelo? I'm a painter so I mean that as a total compliment.
Never heard of a half frame, but I am looking for a rangefinder camera. The price is very attractive
hey when doing your panoramic do you shoot left to right or right to left?
Did you ever find an answer to this? Don’t really want to go through a whole roll and then realise that ones I wanted to line up are wrong
Welcome back!
Awesome review!!
Yes! Youre back!!
Olympus now has a Pen F Digital micro 4/3 camera that has a half size sensor.
What is the name of that camera book you have?
Bro......we need to get together and burn some silver. Med and LG format. Love your channel. I'm in Sacramento.
This is very goog book about cameras.
I would like to see how to develop & print my own
Ever try a Minolta cle?
4:04 what films u use in those pics?
Looove mine
that intro :D
There would be no reason why the full frame camera's like Sony...couldn't do this...just split the sensor in half down the middle...I really dont think it would be hard to do, it would only take a software change....great video, thanks...
Kennynva I mean.......that’s a pretty good reason why it couldn’t don’t you think? Sony would have to change the software to make a digital sensor only half sensitive? Then it would switch to the other half of the sensor? Then it would stitch them together? Hmmm not sure Sony would implement this software ever. There’s definitely a few reasons why a Sony couldn’t do what a half frame does.
Wellcome home
I’m needing some help maybe you can help, you have motivated me over the last several months to get back into doing one of my first love so after unpacking some equipment that’s been stored away for many years I’m running into an issue where I forgot how the timer hooks up on my Bessler 45MX. I do not remember if I plug the timer in the voltage rheostat or into the motor switch control any info would be a big help thank you would love to talk to you about this if you can supply me your phone number. Thx John
there is no curtain
First