Olympus Pen EES-2 (1968-1971)

Olympus Pen EES-2 (1968-1971)

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Características

The Pen series is a family of half-frame cameras made by Olympus from 1959 to the beginning of the 1980s. Aside from the Pen F series of half-frame SLRs, they are fixed-lens viewfinder cameras.

The original Pen was introduced in 1959. It was designed by Yoshihisa Maitani, and was the first half-frame camera produced in Japan. It was one of the smallest cameras to use 35mm film in regular 135 cassettes. It was thought to be as portable as a pen; thus the name. The idea was to be much copied by other Japanese makers.

A series of derivatives followed, some easier to use with the introduction of exposure automation, e.g. the Pen EE; others with a wider aperture lens and a manual meter, such as the Pen D.

In 1966 the arrival of the Rollei 35, a camera almost as compact but making normal 24×36 exposures, would announce the beginning of the end for the half-frame concept. However, Olympus went on producing the simpler models of the Pen family until at least 1983.

In the descriptions below, the focal lengths indicated do not give the same angle of view as for full-frame cameras: 30mm on the Pen is roughly equivalent to 45mm on a full-frame, and 28mm to a 40mm.

Fonte: Camerapedia

The Pen EES-2 is a half-frame camera. Many people don’t know that it is the predecessor to the more well-known Olympus Trip 35. The Pen EES-2 was released before the Trip 35. It uses exactly the same autoexposure system and a very similar lens.. Both cameras use a very clever “trap-needle” autoexposure system that automatically chooses between shutter speeds of 1/200” or 1/40” and apertures of 2.8 to 22. You can adjust the selenium meter for film speeds from 25 to 400 ASA which makes both cameras perfect for shooting redscaled film. Both cameras use around-the-lens metering which automatically compensates for filters. The Trip 35 has a 40mm lens which is one of my favorite focal lengths. This makes it a slightly wide-angle camera, but just barely. The Pen EES-2 has a 30mm lens, but being a half-frame camera it works like a 43mm lens on a full-frame camera which gives it an exactly “normal” perspective, so it actually has a slightly narrower angle-of-view than the Trip 35 even though it has a shorter focal length lens. The Trip 35 exposes a standard 24mm x 36mm frame on the film which produces a picture with a 2:3 aspect ratio. The Pen EES-2 exposes a 18mm x 24mm frame on the film which gives you a 3:4 aspect ratio. This is a very interesting ratio for a few reasons. First, it’s the original 35mm movie aspect ratio, so your pictures have a classic cinematic appearance. Second, it’s the same aspect ratio of new digital 4/3 cameras and cameras with a APS-C sensor. In fact, most APS-C sensors are the size of a classic half-frame.

Both cameras use four-position zone-focusing, but you have to be just a bit more careful with focus on the Pen EES-2 because of the slightly higher magnification. You will notice is your focus is off. Both cameras have icons for “One Person”, “Two People”, “Three People”, and “Mountain”. Both cameras have a hot shoe as well as a PC connector for off-camera flash capabilities. Both cameras have tripod threads. Both cameras have eyelets on both sides to attach a strap. Both cameras use a thumbwheel to advance the film. Both use 43.5mm filters! This size is uncommon, so it’s a bit difficult to find, but not impossible. You can still find 43.5mm filters and you can also use step-down rings. Cokin makes a 43.5mm holder for their filters, so this isn’t really a problem. The interesting thing is that both the Trip 35 and the Pen EES-2 have threaded lenses and they’re the same size. Both cameras have a four-element f/2.8 Olympus D Zuiko coated lens. Many people consider the 40mm lens on the Trip 35 one of the greatest lenses ever designed. The 30mm lens on the Pen EES-2 is almost exactly the same design in a wider focal length to support the half-frame format.

Fonte: Lomography

Especificações

The Pen EE was introduced in 1961 and was the amateur model, with fully automatic exposure and fixed focusing. It is a true point and shoot camera, and has a 28mm f/3.5 lens. The Pen EE family is easily recognized by the selenium meter window around the lens.

EE.S
The Pen EE.S, launched in 1962, is the same model with a 30mm f/2.8 and a focusing ring, made necessary by the wider aperture.

The Pen EE.S2, produced from 1968 to 1971, is the same as the Pen EE.S with the addition of a hot shoe.

Fonte: Camerapedia


Modelo

A minha possui o n.º de série 3957248.


Sítios de referência

Camerapedia

Lomography


Manual

Manual em inglês


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