After the EPM-2 and old 25mm Pen F lens failing to make a useable pairing, I tried a different and more fitting combination.

I present the Pen F (new) camera and Pen F (old) 25mm lens.

The finder on the Pen F is way better for focussing, the heft is perfectly balanced and the tactile feel of the all metal combo is soothing, natural. The lens, Fotodiox mount and camera have a “tightness” to them, that feels like it will go on forever. Sad to think, the sensor in the Pen will be the thing to go in ten years or so, otherwise it feels timeless. Ironic. The lens gets a new life, faults fixed and all, but the new tech will still be outlasted by it.

Sharpness is fine from f4 on and useable, after some post at f2.8. It is perceptually strong. This is similar to the performance of my old Zeiss 50mm, that was not sharp on a micro level, but more than sharp enough to the eye. Micro contrast. Compared to a lens like my kit 14-42, which is a surprise packet, this lens is not technically as good, but is pleasant in a different way and defies toe to toe comparison. It has earned the right to a gentle, but active retirement.

Colour is also different to that of my newer lenses, which I also see as a real win. The colour I am seeing takes me back to older images, film era ones (specifically Kodachrome 64). It is cooler than my current glass and tends to lean on a 1970’s period purple-green hue in the shadows. Most of my Olympus lenses are leaning towards the warm end (not all of their lenses, but many of the ones I have), so a cool accent is another arrow in my quiver.