Something Special
I am happily exploring recently neglected cameras and lenses. Having a work kit that stays there most of the time, has allowed (forced) me to use the “left overs” for school and personal projects.
The crowning glory is the Pen F, a camera I have always admired, but sometimes struggled to commit to. Recently it has been identified as my premium black and white image maker, mating nicely with a couple of similarly sidelined lenses.
I must admit though, I had forgotten the very special colour images it can produce also. The sensor is the last evolution of the original EM5 mk1 series. It has more pixels, slightly wider dynamic range and looks more delicate in rendering, but the files share that same earthy, natural depth and robust reliability. A little bit old school, film-like even.
One thing I really do appreciate about it is the files, either colour or mono, rarely need much work.
All these images were taken using the Olympus 25mm f1.8, usually wide open, but the same magic is obvious using any of the better Oly or Panasonic lenses, especially the 17mm, 15mm and 45mm’s or the Sigma 30.
Unlike the other images here, this was taken at f2.8. The deeper depth is still harmonious, but the snappiness is curbed.
The maturity of the files is a reminder to me to back off when processing some of my other cmaera’s files. The Pen is a partner in the process, not just a step.
Gorgeous muted tones, something I recently put down to the antique 25mm f2.8 Pen half frame lens, is it seems, partly down to the camera. The Sigma 30mm tends to go into slightly magenta hues, but otherwise, all my lenses seem to be more neutral on this camera than most of my others.
The teal and amber look so very common on modern TV series. These files hold on really well.
If I had to descibe the files by “feel” when processing and the results coming from them, I would say they have the same neutrality and deicateness as the G9‘s, similar sharpness to the EM1x and the robustness and consistancy of the EM5 mk1’s.
On the other hand, they are also noisy like the EM5’s sharing the same film grain-like sharpness and the AF is frustrating sometimes. However, to really enjoy the camera, I feel you should use it with the screen flipped inward and in manual focus.
I have often put the quality of this image down to the 25mm lens, but I feel the Pen F, taken only once on a trip to Japan, must share the credit.
Favourite lenses are the 17mm Oly, often mated with the Pen in kits, which has the dual street photography advantages of forgiving, long-draw Bokeh and real manual focus, the Leica 15mm which has a rendering that is just very special (and it’s annoyingly light aperture ring is disabled) and the 25mm Oly, which is such a good pairing. The Oly 25mm is also slightly wider in reality than it’s name suggest, converting closer to a full frame 45mm.
That 75mm magic at work on a very harmonious and sound platform.
Other lenses that work well with it are the 75mm and 45mm teles and the old 25mm half frame lens. I have even had some luck with the 40-150 kit, although the balance is odd.
Speaking of balance, the Pen F is heavy. With the little grip added, it is a solid and reassuring lump of a thing, feeling far more substantial per square inch than even an EM1X.