Lomopedia: Olympus Pen F

Following the success of the original Olympus Pen launched in 1959, Olympus decided to make an SLR version of the iconic compact half-frame camera. Called Olympus F, it was introduced in 1963 and was designed by the legendary Maitani Yoshihisa, the engineer who also fashioned the original Pen, Olympus OM-1, and Olympus XA.

This half-frame camera is one of the most compact SLR cameras, doing away with the traditional prism bulge since it's equipped with a Porro prism viewfinder and a reflex mirror that flips sideways. It also has a focal plane shutter with a rotary metal disc and allows flash synchronization for all its speeds up to 1/500 seconds. Like the twin stroke concept of Leica cameras, the winding lever of the Pen F must be advanced twice before each exposure. While it does not have a built-in light meter, it can be attached with one on the shutter speed dial through a two-pronged bayonet mount.

The Pen F can be equipped with a variety of 17 dedicated lenses and a full range of accessories, making it the first complete system by Olympus at the time.

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Technical Specifications

Picture size: 24 × 18 mm
Lens: (with f/1.2 standard lens) H Zuiko Auto S, F1.2, f = 42 mm; (with f/1.4 standard lens) G Zuiko Auto S, f/1.4, f = 40 mm; (with f/1.8 standard lens) F Zuiko Auto S, f/1.8, f = 38 mm
Lens replacement: Bayonet system ("Pen" mount)
Shutter: OLYMPUS rotary metal focal-plane shutter; B, 1 - 1/500 sec. (equally calibrated) one-pivot non-rotating shutter speed dial
Synchronizing viewfinder: Porro prism finder, magnification 0.8X (standard lens), with microprism and special Fresnel lens
Mirror: Horizontally opening shockless quick return mirror
Loading: EL (easy loading) system
Film Advancing: 1-stroke lever type with an advancing stroke angle of 150 degrees, self-cocking to prevent double advances and double exposures
Film counter: Exposed counting, self-resetting type
Film rewinding: Crank type rewind button system
Focus adjustment: Direct advancing helicoid system, minimum close-up distance 35 cm
Exposure adjustment: Through-The-Lens number system, both open and stopped-down aperture methods available
Light measuring range: EV 3 ~ EV 17 (ASA 100) with F1.4 standard lens
Light acceptor: Extra large CdS meter, average light measurement method
Power source: Mercury battery (1.3 volts)
Film speed rating scale: ASA 25 - 400
Self-timer: Lever system (90 degrees) actuated in about 11 seconds
Rear cover operation: "Magic" locking hinge system
Size and weight: (with f/1.2 standard lens) 127 (W) × 69.5 (H) × 77.5 (D) mm, 720 grams; (with f/1.4 standard lens) 127 (W) × 69.5 (H) × 68.5 (D) mm, 630 grams; (with f/1.8 standard lens) 127 (W) × 69.5 (H) × 62.5 (D) mm, 600 grams

All information for this article was sourced from Camerapedia and Camera Manuals.

written by plasticpopsicle on 2014-04-22 #gear #lomopedia #35mm #review #olympus #half-frame #slr-camera #olympus-pen-f #lomopedia