Who Likes Olympus Half-Frame SLRs?

[Les Sarile]

As others have said, half-frame is what I generally opt for when shooting 135 color positives. The single-stroke advance on my Pen FV is what can best be described as 'super crunchy' compared to something like the FM2. I don't have any native glass for it, but most of my nikkor outfit adapts as well to the FV as it does to other bodies.

Yup, the original adaptable lens mount, scroll to the bottom -> http://www.f22.org.uk/Galleries/Pen_Collection/slr_pen.html

I only have the one Zuiko lens for mine but with the Nikon adapter, I can use my Nikkor lenses and accessories . . .

Olympus FT&Nikon by Les DMess, on Flickr

 

[Les Sarile]

Less stress and wear... until they realized they were worrying about nothing! See Leica DS -> SS. Any Nikon F etc.
I do wish the Pen F series had a much smoother wind action though. It is weirdly ratchety.
But man the shutter action is amazing!

My FT was serviced and I would not characterize it as ratchety.Not the smoothest in my collection, probably somewhere in the middle. Was also converted to use available batteries.

 

[Cholentpot]

Nice! Yeah I updated my NLP yesterday. It took me a moment to find where to change the file export settings (it is under Advanced).

The exposure bar is a nice addition. Along with the ability to move to the next photo without shutting the interface. I think the colors are a bit more accurate too.

 

[drmoss_ca]

38/1.8, XP2 Super, HC-110:

 

[Helge]

Less stress and wear... until they realized they were worrying about nothing! See Leica DS -> SS. Any Nikon F etc.
I do wish the Pen F series had a much smoother wind action though. It is weirdly ratchety.
But man the shutter action is amazing!

Small, compact mechanics are more fragile and subject to more stress than more robust, generously spaced out gears, like in the F.
Winding is one of the things that go first on a Pen F.
Remember, this is not just a standard film and leaf shutter in a Trip 35 you are cocking.
It’s a mirror, a rotary shutter, aperture cam and film advance.

 

[Huss]

My FT was serviced and I would not characterize it as ratchety.Not the smoothest in my collection, probably somewhere in the middle. Was also converted to use available batteries.

What's less smooth than your FT in your collection (hopefully a mainstream camera that I have used)? So I can understand if your idea of not ratchety is the same as mine!

 

[Cholentpot]

What's less smooth than your FT in your collection (hopefully a mainstream camera that I have used)? So I can understand if your idea of not ratchety is the same as mine!

Promaster 2500PK Super.

That is the jankiest film advance I own. Smoothest is the F3 and Spotmatic II.

 

[Huss]

I'm almost tempted to get an adapter, but the Olympus lenses are stunning and small, while an adapted Nikon lens definitely will be a lot bigger, and perhaps not as good.
I like having only the 40 1.4 as my lens for the Pen FT. It is liberating, small, and superb!

 

[Huss]

Promaster 2500PK Super.

That is the jankiest film advance I own. Smoothest is the F3 and Spotmatic II.

See, I don't think the F3 is particularly smooth. Just very light and floppy thanks to the ball bearings. And I've had a bunch, including my just sold like new F3 Limited!
Minolta XE7, Leica R7/8/9, and a whole bunch more from other mfgs are smoother.

 

[Les Sarile]

What's less smooth than your FT in your collection (hopefully a mainstream camera that I have used)? So I can understand if your idea of not ratchety is the same as mine!

My Ricoh Singlex is the only one I would consider as having a "ratchety" film advance. And it probably has the highest amount of pressure needed to advance the film next to my XK although both may need some service. Both my OM-3 and OM-4 require more force then my FT and the OM-3 was serviced about the same time as my FT. Been meaning to measure this film advance . . .

 

[mshchem]

The answer to high film prices . Beautiful cameras.

 

[Cholentpot]

See, I don't think the F3 is particularly smooth. Just very light and floppy thanks to the ball bearings. And I've had a bunch, including my just sold like new F3 Limited!
Minolta XE7, Leica R7/8/9, and a whole bunch more from other mfgs are smoother.

Look Mr. Fancy Pants, I don't own any of them there Leicers...

 

[Huss]

My Ricoh Singlex is the only one I would consider as having a "ratchety" film advance. And it probably has the highest amount of pressure needed to advance the film next to my XK although both may need some service. Both my OM-3 and OM-4 require more force then my FT and the OM-3 was serviced about the same time as my FT. Been meaning to measure this film advance . . .

I think your Xk needs service. Mine is delightfully smooth w 'normal' resistance.

When I say my FT is ratchety, by that it just is nowhere near as smooth as my other cameras (which all are great). You can feel the mechanism if that makes sense.

 

[drmoss_ca]

With respect to film advance, my wife's FT is gritty, the F is smooth (but has seen much use and the mount must be slightly worn; lenses feel a tiny bit loose on it), but this one is the best of all, smooth advance, clean viewfinder, barely a mark on it!

 

[Cholentpot]

More half-frame fun.

 

[drmoss_ca]

38/1.8, XP2 Super:

 

[alanrockwood]

Philosophical question: Although history has kind of passed us by, theoretically would T-grain films breath new life into half-frame cameras?

 

[alanrockwood]

By the way, half frame is closer in aspect ratio to 8x10 than is regular full frame 35mm. Therefore, if one is interested in 8x10 prints you don't lose quite as much film area by going to half frame as one might normally expect.

 

[Cholentpot]

By the way, half frame is closer in aspect ratio to 8x10 than is regular full frame 35mm. Therefore, if one is interested in 8x10 prints you don't lose quite as much film area by going to half frame as one might normally expect.

My photos tend to be 5x7, at least from the Pen F.

Philosophical question: Although history has kind of passed us by, theoretically would T-grain films breath new life into half-frame cameras?

We embrace the grain when shooting half.

 

[drmoss_ca]

Philosophical question: Although history has kind of passed us by, theoretically would T-grain films breath new life into half-frame cameras?

Well if you want reduced grain B&W, you already know what I would suggest!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Philosophical question: Although history has kind of passed us by, theoretically would T-grain films breath new life into half-frame cameras?

FWIW, quarter frame (as in Minolta 16 QT or Kiev 30) with TMY or Portra 160 is comparable, in terms of grain to frame, to full frame 35 mm with 1980s vintage Plus-X or Kodacolor.

 

[alanrockwood]

Well if you want reduced grain B&W, you already know what I would suggest!

Medium format?

 

[drmoss_ca]

Medium format?

Even with medium format I like my favourite no grain film...

Sadly, the FV body above has to go all the way back to Japan. The sprockets don't turn when there is a film in the camera, but turn most of the time when no film present. The seller could well have checked and seen no problem. That little bit of drag is enough to stop the film winding on. (Yes, the rewind button on the baseplate is out!) So now I have to retake the shots with the 60mm/f1.5 using the old Pen-F, as the first film was developed with no exposed frames (or rather with all exposures in the same spot right at the start). And I'd set up a backdrop, lights and strobe this morning, all for nothing. I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[removed account4]

took me a little while to find something .. its a fun camera!

 

[drmoss_ca]

The Japanese camera shop apologised and offered either a full refund upon return, or a half-refund and I keep the FV. The body cost $154USD + $26USD shipping, and then I paid duty and taxes to import it. I shan't get them back from the CRA no matter what. If I send it back there will be about $40CDN postage, leaving me out of pocket for the duties, taxes and return postage. I think I'll keep it, and maybe see if the FT or the F could be a donor for the sprocket/clutch and make one good camera. Currently have gone back to the F, which is perfect save for a dirty viewfinder. If I could have the FV viewfinder in the F body I would be very happy. There is a place in Montreal that might manage to do it. I know John Hermanson likely could, but my last experience there put me off - NOT HIS FAULT! Just the bloody CRA wouldn't let me have a pair of CLA'd OM-2ns back until I paid duty and tax not only on the work done by him, but also on the increase in value of the cameras that resulted from them now being 'as new' in their opinion. Added $382CDN to the costs already incurred. Friggin' piracy!

On a happier note, I spent the AM with a backdrop, a couple of lights, my two long-suffering models and the sublime-to-the-ridiculous contrast of a 503cx with a Sonnar 250, and the Pen F with 60.1.5. It's a weird experience to go from the bright and colourful magnified waistlevel viewfinder of one to the tiny, dim and dirty viewfinder of the other. At least after running through a lot of half-frame exposures they had become relaxed and blasé by the time the Hasselblad came out. So the 120 film is drying now, and there's still a few left in the Pen F. But that's alright, as if Fedex deign to actually deliver a couple of items that have been sitting at their closest depot 50 miles away for five days, I'll have a 42mm/f1.2 and a 20mm/f3.5 to try out, in place of the 38mm/f1.8 and 25mm/f4 I already have. 20mm will be like a 28mm on full frame (and I seem to get on better with 28mm over 35mm). The 42mm will be like a 58mm, whereas the 38mm standard lens was like a 53mm. I'm hoping the 1.2 will give me restricted DoF that will outweigh the slight increase in focal length over the 1.8.

Having spent far too much money on Leicas in the past, it's a peculiar thing to be coming back to tiny cameras that are smaller, lighter, and quieter than Leicas, and doing it with the SLR experience I far prefer over the viewfinder experience.