What do you want to do with the camera, how much do you want to spend, and how
much capability do you want:
Look here for a list of resources:
http://www.skipwilliams.com/olympus/non_om.htm
My picks for the best blend: One with full focusing lenses and CDS meter.
That means a D2, D3, or EED. E-series cameras had mostly zone focusing.
Selenium meters are usually unreliable, but OK if you can ignore them and meter
manually. (Info below from the Sub Club site).
Pen D
(1962-1966) This was basically a more advanced model of the Pen/Pen S. It had
a meter (built into the body), a much faster, six-element lens, and a much
wider range of shutter speeds. The lens was a focusing 32mm (f1.9 - 16.0) with
click-stops at four and ten foot settings. Closest focusing was 2.6 feet.
Shutter speeds were B, 1/8 - 1/500. A flash shoe was not built-in, but a flash
bracket was available (and probably came with every camera). The meter was a
selenium type, with a little EV /needle readout window on the top of the
camera. PC contact, cable release socket and tripod socket. Film speed 10 -
400. An accessory copy attachment was available. It used the same filter
thread size as the Pen F series -- 43mm.
Pen D2
(1964-1965) Same as Pen D, but with a CDS meter. This made the camera three
stops more sensitive than the original. The film speed stayed the same: 10 -
400. Uses one 625 battery.
(Further info on the D2 at http://www.cameraquest.com/olypend2.htm.
Pen D3
(1965-1969) Same as Pen D2, but with an even faster lens (f1.7). Uses one 675
battery.
Olympus Pen EED
(1967-1972) A melding of the Pen E series, the Pen F series and the Pen D
series, this camera took the lens from the Pen D and put it on a camera body
like the Pen F with the easy automatic exposure system of the Pen E series.
The Pen E's lacked fast lenses and slow shutter speeds, while the Pen D's
lacked automatic exposure. This camera turned everything around. It has a 32mm
(f1.7-22.0) manually-focusing lens with a CDS exposure system. Close-focusing
to 2.6 feet. Speeds from 1/15-1/500. The aperture and shutter speed are
automatically selected by the meter in a programmed exposure system, from 1/15
at f1.7 to 1/500 at f16. It was one of the first cameras to offer this
exposure method. You still select the f-stops in flash mode, as with most Pen
E cameras. Built in flash shoe, PC contact, cable release socket and
self-timer. Film speeds 12 - 400. It uses a 625 battery, and takes a 43mm
filter.
Skip
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Machiel machiel.botman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001 09:31:29 +0100
Subject: [OM] Pen halfframe
Is there anyone who has a lot of user experience with the different Pens? I
want to use this camera, but there are so many different types (I've checked
Hans' and some other sites). I guess I like automatic exposure and lens
quality that's closest to the Pen F series.
So, it's more the practical side of using them that I need some opinions on.
Thanks, Machiel
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This message has been posted from Mail2Web http://www.mail2web.com/
Web Hosting for $9.95 per month! Visit: http://www.yourhosting.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|