Jeannie88

I have been reading about the Pen F. It looks like a fun camera. What do you use it for, and with which lenses..and is there a new model coming soon, as it was announced 3 years ago in January?

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Jeannie check out this website "mu-43.com" which is dedicated to micro four third cameras. Lots of discussion (all favorable) on the Olympus Pen F camera...it has a cult following!!

Jeannie88

Thanks. That is where I have been reading about it as well as looking at shots. I am itching to buy one,and will be going in to a store after the holidays to look at one and hold it in my hands. I didn’t realize that it was a cult thing. I used to have a manual 105 f 2.8 lesterdine lens that I shot with my Nikons it too was a cult thing and I loved it.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

It is a “fun” camera I keep a tamron 18-150 on it but my more go to is my OMDem1mk2 camera with Olympus lenses

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Also take a look at the Olympus OMD e-m5 Mark II and the e-m1 Mark II while you’re at the store. All of the Olympus lenses will work on the Pen. I have the Oly 14-150 II (the more expensive one) that’s weatherproof that I adore. Great range and image quality. Have fun!

Jeannie88

Thanks. I also have hte em1 M2, as well as the em1. I was waiting for the upgrade to my em1M2, But the new camera that has been rumored for next month is not that upgrade

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I have the Pen, as well as an EM1 and EM1M2. The Pen is a nifty little package, but I find I just don't like using it as much as the EM1s. I really WANTED to like it, in part because the first film camera I bought new with my own money was an Olympus Pen FT, back in 1969. It was an ingenious little half frame SLR that took beautiful pictures and had a wide lens selection.

But I find I use the exposure compensation feature of these MFT cameras all the time, something that's simplicity itself to do when I assign the function to the front dial of the EM1s, but for which the Pen has a separate dial that I do not find at all convenient to use, especially with the camera at eye level. And the Pen does NOT let me assign exposure comp to the front dial.

So the Pen mostly stays in the drawer at home, while one or both of the EM1s travel around in the camera bag. Just my perspective.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I just bought a pen F. It is quite small and light as are the lenses. I purchased it for general (travel) photography and to do some macro work where the reduced sensor size could be of some advantage. There are three ways to remotely trigger the shutter - an old fashioned mechanical cable release. a wired release via the USB port (just like Nikon - cable is wired differently,however.) and an android or iphone app via Bluetooth. In answer to wrangler5's comment, The front or rear dial can be assigned for exposure compensation if you like. I have not tried this however. It appears to be a very capable camera.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

I have the Pen F. It is my travel and almost always with me camera. I have a small Spider belt camera holder. With the Spider, the Pen F is always in reach, unobtrusive, secure, and most important. both hands are free for activities. Recently on a tour of Sicily, that combination convinced me that his would be my main take-along camera. I have several Olympus lenses. When traveling, I almost exclusively use the pancake 14 -42 (28-84 FF equivalent).

Last week I visited with an Olympus representative at our local camera store (Wolf's Camera Topeka, Kansas). He told me that the main significant differences with the Pan F and Olympus OM e m-1 Mark II (Olympus flagship camera) is the em-1 Mark II has water resistance (water proofing?) and is better in action shooting. Otherwise they have the same sensor and features.

I have a Nikon D500 and lenses I use when doing macro, portraits, soccer/football, landscapes, etc. I LOVE the Pan F. It helps that I am right eyed dominant. I do highly recommend the small Spider belt holder.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

As best I can tell, the front dial on a Pen F CAN be set to control different functions, but exposure compensation is NOT one of the choices (flash compensation is, but not general exposure comp - probably because of the dedicated exposure comp dial.) I know it's not much more than a personal pet peeve, but when I use exposure comp so much on the EM-1s I just find it disconcerting to not have it where I like it to be on the Pen. Especially when I CAN have exposure comp on the front dial of the even-smaller Lumix GX-85.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

My main camera is a Canon 5Dii, and it has been a real workhorse, reliable, with great features. But when planning for two weeks in Europe, something small, less obvious, less heavy/bulky, and with smaller lenses was what I was looking for. My local camera shop's owner (Southeastern Camera in Raleigh) showed me a used Pen-F, and it fit the bill perfectly. My main lens in Europe was a "pancake" lens that went from wide angle to mild telephoto, and with that lens, the camera looks more like a simple point and shoot camera when walking crowded streets. I also brought an almost equal range (wide to mild telephoto) lens with an f/2.8 max aperture, for use at night and when inside without flash. This was a great set of lenses to travel with, and all of it could be carried in pockets of trousers or vest. It clearly is the combination to use when traveling light, and wanting to blend in more without the camera being so obvious. Good luck with your own decision. JimR

User ID

It very much IS a fun camera ... built-in perspective
correction, etc, etc. I use various lenses but I would
guide you to a certain "breed" of Zuiko prime which
features the "Manual Focus Clutch". The MF Clutch
disengages the focus-by-wire and engages a classic
mechanical focus ring, with footage and DoF scales.
[Warning, the scales are hard to read on the chrome
version]. As to a possible next version of the Pen-F,
looks pretty definite as the price has dropped twice
now. If budget is no concern you should wait for the
new one. Otherwise, the current price is attractive,
and will prolly drop one more time when the newer
version is officially announced. The current Pen-F
has been on the market long enuf so that there are
refurbs and used ones around.

Back to FUN: Latest game for me is combining the
built-in perspective control with a 7.5mm fisheye !
Mixing two forms of "distortion" is intriguing. One
more intriguing feature is the 50MP hi-rez mode
for stationary subject and tripod use. Very useful
for copying, duping, macro, etc.

Also, fun-wise, I found the Pen-F more compatible
with my adapted EF mount lenses, as compared to
using them on my Panasonics.

Last and possibly least ... it's threaded for a classic
mechanical cable release. This means you can use
hi-rez mode without buying an electronic remote :-)

What do I use it for ? Welllll ... I take pictures ! It's
not a specialty camera. Here's some:

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Jeannie88

Thanks so much for all your info

User ID

`

Normally, any gear-oriented techie thread
would have hit 2 or 3 pages in its first 24
hours. Looks like the Pen-F is of extremely
little interest around here. What does that
tell you ?

I know what it tells me, cuz I already have
an absurdly loooooow opinion of the geeks
around here, all just parrots and lemmings.
IOW, their collective silence is reason enuf
to go get you a Pen-F !

But when you get one, you're on your own.
Don't discuss it, or seek advice from these
forums. Mumz the word ;-)


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