Our rumors where 100% correct! Olympus just registered the “PEN-F” camera in Taiwan. Like I told you a week ago the PEN-F has an integrated viewfinder and the camera will ship early Spring 2016 (probably March). The camera is designed to “honour” the [shoplink 56521 ebay]original PEN-F film camera (See them here)[/shoplink].
via Digicameinfo.
[shoplink 56059 ebay]
[/shoplink]
The [shoplink 56521 ebay]Olympus Pen EED film camera[/shoplink] had a built-in viewfinder. Source: Exacta.
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56 Responses
I hope it looks EXACTLY like the picture above.
That would work – if it records images on 35mm film.
Yes, but PEN was HALF-FRAME.
There were two kind cameras that used 135 film, there were the original ones that used 36x24mm area for a frame (or as said, two movie frames) and then later cameras that used 18x24mm area for frame, began to be called as “Half-Frame” and then the cameras that used the 36x24mm were began to be called as “Full-Frame” cameras. Why so? Because the Half-Frame cameras gave 2 times more exposures for same film length (48/72 in standard roll), while Full-Frame cameras had the common amount (24/36 in standard roll).
And then Canon got idea to call every 35mm digital sensor as “Full-Frame” because they wanted to people know that decades old lenses made for film, that drawed a image circle that covered 36x24mm film, were no again offering same field of view per focal length as people were custom to, instead what APS-C caused problems when field of view was different than the focal length was on film era as sensor used smaller proportion of the image circle.
Well he did say 35mm film, which is true, regardless of frame size. I’m guessing it was the film part he was aiming at in particular .. with the camera having a winder and all .. if you want it to look ‘EXACTLY’ alike.
The current PEN line already does look alike by a feasible amount.
I have been aware of what the Pen F is for some decades now, thanks. I only went digital when I got an E-M5. My comment was with respect to the concept that a camera that looked ‘exactly’ like the original Pen F could only function well if it actually shot film.
I hope it looks exactly like the one above, too….so all of the retro haters can get their anger out!!! 🙂
Penf… ^^
Not sure if that is a real good name 😀
Just wait until the model with image stabilization (IS)…
Not a limited edition of 500 to celebrate the Pen F 50th birthday, is it?
I’m sure I won’t be the first to tell you that the camera pictured with the post is not the Pen EED (per the caption) but the Pen FT, as marked on its top. The EED was a viewfinder camera, while the FT was a single-lens reflex, much beloved in spite of its dim viewfinder, difficult focusing, and weird metering system, which required the user to read off an arbitrary number from a scale in the viewfinder and then set the same number on a scale on the bottom of the lens’ aperture ring.
“weird metering system”
Olympus keeps their oddball interface traditions alive! ?
Its what we love about them.
I shoot with 2 OM4T bodies. LOVE the metering system on that. Multi-spot metering is pretty sweet.
Until I got an E-M5, I also used a 4Ti and loved multi spot metering and thought it was the bees-knees – which it was for film cameras. Never thought I would say this, but Olympus’ matrix metering together with the exposure compensation dial is both more consistent and is quicker.
You can actually flip the ring 180 degrees [but for heaven’s sake read the manual first].
We have an Ep5 and optional EVF. Nice, but next time I want a BSI could still come out as 16mp, because what I want is better upper ISO with less noise. To increase the megapixels to 20mp would real world not be a significant enough increase to be clearly noticeable. We would have to see an increase to 28mp and that would even with BSI not be clearly better at higher ISO.
I would like to see a full stop better higher iso, meaning same noise level at plus one EV with the same resolution 16mp.
There is not going to be any significant effect on high ISO from BSI on 16mpix m43, pixels are too large anyway. BSI could only potentially help to keep the same high ISO performance on 64mpix+ 4/3 sensor made with the same old 180nm tech (newer process would make BSI unnecessary anyway).
The only real way to increase high ISO performance at this point is getting rid of color filter array and using very advanced multi-layer sensor (much better than what Sigma does). 1 stop is there.
i wish one like that with a fixed 35mm f1.4 lens eq…
x100 competitor
I am just wondering if this is going to me a high-end PENN…with all the bells and whistles (like the E-P5 or a middle of the road camera priced more competitively. i.e. …with it take on the GX8 for stills (I don’t care about video)..and performance.
My sentiment exactly, but I doubt if that is the intent. An obsession with compactness has produced cameras that compromise ergonomics and capabilities, particularly for those of us who use bigger lenses. Olympus designed some really nice bodies with the original E-System which facilitated handling and had decent battery life. The Panny GX8 was a step in the right direction in those respects, but IMO it falls short on the IQ of the sensor-processor and the IBIS system. Olympus can do better than that, but in this PENN-F they might be adhering to a “retro” design philosophy which limits their ability to build the camera with a more form-follows-function approach. We shall see.
Yeah….sounds like you have it right, perhaps. I have two OMD’s and and E-PL6. I use the Penn when I want to go super lite and simple. I do not think that there is any PENN, now or in the future that I will be slapping my 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro on….but it would be REALLY nice to have a PENN with a viewfinder that has the capabilities of the EP5 without the shutter shock and perhaps (ITS TIME!!! LOL) have a better sensor. For me..if the sensor is the same…I am fine with slapping my VF4 onto my oh-so-small PENN……won’t buy the new one.
I am affraid you are right. I would like Pen-F with great corner EVF, AF + many features that can compete with GX-8 but in smaller body…. but I think it will be just “retro” looking camera with many limits. So no buy for me. The only Olympus camera that have broght true my attention for photography is EM1 but I hate centered EVF, so no buy for me.
Your consent should on will it have new sensor ?
Nothing is important on new imaging standard .
Otherwise what is the point carrying EM1 & EM5 2 & now this new PEN , all
produce the same imaging quality ?
Pen F for Full-frame with a fixed lens 🙂
Olympus certainly makes a fashion statement at least as compared with some others. Likes or Dislikes, sure but I don’t think I am only one who isn’t a huge fan of Panasonic’s designs – one of the reasons why I purchased EM5II over G7. I know, a silly reason.
Don’t count me in, the retro hipsters kind of stuff is truly getting old for me, and the gm5 for instance, is more or less what a modern pen is meant to be, as to the G7, I also prefer it over the em5II, don’t like the GX8 at all, though.
Oh Agreed, no way I would have gone for GX8…. I hear about your take on Oly esp Pens, well, back home (Japan), Pens have been well targeted, besides hipsters, towards female audience, like Pentax Q was. Whenever I saw Oly Pens’ related articles in their magazines, it made me really feel old….EM was my good compromise!
Finally! I’m so excited about this. The Pen line are some of the prettiest cameras out there.
So the original PEN-F has
–a vertical VF
–takes pic in the portrait orientation
–its film size ~APSC size w 90deg rotation.
–the camera is about 2 cm longer than the M43 Pen.
So what are we going to see in the modern reincarnation? Hopefully not something too weird.
Actually, I am one of the few people that believes the above are just weird enough to keep Olympus in business. If they don’t do something innovative soon, they become just another modular camera maker for 5 year old Sony parts bin scraps.
You might get your wish–shooting in portrait orientation is in vogue, esp for video, thanks to Snapchat’s popularity
I never get my wish, camera makers hate me. I’m off to the Leica store… at least I don’t have to worry about another mount.
People who hate vertical videos are just idiots.
Vertical videos are great for portrait videos, it actually supports the person. It is about the person instead the environment. And it is for smartphones use, not for television or home theaters!
But vertical video has very limited use, specifically for when only the person is the mattering subject! Like example when you do the video presentation of yourself to company, they don’t need to see your environment!
Video calls and such are better in vertical! You can place 3-4 vertical webcam streams side by side with the person in it instead having 3-4 tiny frames where person doesn’t fill the frame at all!
No, it is not for home movies, it is not for movies and it doesn’t work for landscapes so well etc! But it is just like photography with vertical framing or even squares!
I still find the EP5 to be the best camera I’ve ever owned. I like the style, build and feature set. It balances perfect with the 9-18, 25mm and 45mm. 75mm fits well. I’ve even put full frame glass on it. I’ve used 300mm F4’s and fast 135’s. The mount is solid. The touch screen works with precision. It gets compliments. You want to pick it up and it’s fun. The viewfinder is quite good should you purchase it. It is the pinnacle of small without being too cramped. The buttons are bigger than my previous A7 and have a more tactile feel.
It may IMO- withstanding all out performance- be the most sensible camera if approached with the right mindset. It can take demanding applications, be inconspicuous and work through various scenarios. It delivers what it claims. It’s the perfect back up camera although it can hold it’s own. It never is a burden and it’s full of pleasant surprises.
I welcome any other PEN to the series. If built in a similar vein I’d be interested.
Perfect description.
Love the E-P5! Make the Pen-F an E-P5 with a great EVF and up-to-date features (silent shutter, etc.) and it’ll be awesome.
I don’t care what PEN-F will be or what other E-Px bodies will be.
Olympus just should release firmware update to E-P5 as it is their top PEN model. Firmware should add next features:
– 24/25fps for video
– Extra peaking colors and density (and removed overlay color)
– Electronic shutter (because 0-sec antishock is supported!
– Focus Bracketing (would be nice for landscapes!)
– Timelapse updated from 99 frames to new 999 frames (and same time update the OM-D ones to 9999 frames!)
And then if wanted to be nice:
– MF Focus Clutch Disable/Enable (because 12mm f/2 and 17mm f/1.8 etc).
And if the hardware supports:
– Live Composite
Just with those updates for top PEN model would signal that PEN line is as well worthy to buy. I would get PEN-F even later just because updating E-P5!
Eventually the E-P line should be same as E-M10 but without EVF!
Owned 5 Olympus pen bodies, all failed to keep the date after the first year. Will that be fixed?
Owning one PEN for 3 years and haven’t encountered the problem.
Maybe they decided to do something about their horrible model names (Olympus PEN E-PL7, WTF) and bloated model line (for their tiny sales).
It was PEN E.
Now it could be PEN-F, PEN-G etc. Every year or two, better than the last year model, using previous model as a cheap model in the line. Like iPhones, very successful model, even better for low volumes where fixed costs matter so much that developing several parallel lines (like PEN E-P, E-PL, E-PM) just costs too much, not allowing them to price their cameras properly (under APS-C competition).
Pen should be condensed to one maybe two models. PEN-F and PEN maybe? Likely they will continue with the Mk designations from there. The ‘light’ and ‘mini’ designations can go. O e with EVF and one without.
I have always said that every manufacturer that release new product should do same thing as the car manufacturers has.
Line – model – year
So it would look with Olympus like this:
OM – N – 2013
OM – G – 2015
PEN – F – 2016
PEN – E – 2013
This way you know that which line it belongs (OM or PEN) and then the model as single letter and then the version as year of release.
So you can just say “F 2016”
Lets make a guess, Panny sold to many gm5, for Olympus liking, and now we are getting competitor?
an Olympus GM5 version? I hope so!!
GM5 is better than any Pen.
Strongly disagree as an ex GM5 owner.
It must have two things to become significant, and not another niche camera that will fade away quickly after the initial.excitement. These two things are missing from all the current products from.Olympus:
– a new competitive sensor
– a compact 35mm equivalent lens with decent quality
I.am afraid it will be released with the same 4-year-old sensor.
No M43 sensor no buy.
In other words, a Fuji X100
I still shoot with the EPL2 and the results from that sensor are amazing. I would be happy with a low light version of the 12 mp camera.
Sony only makes 1 sensor for m43.
No, they make 3 sensors for m43’s.
The PENs always Taiwanese favourite camera compare with other countries .
Olympus make the right move this time .
But It still the same question here , will it have new sensor to it’s support ?
Huge disappointment if the new PEN still with that 5 years old 16MP sensor .
Do you realise how senseless your bleating about ‘new sensors’ is? There are only very few companies that have fabs that can make sensors and which have researchers employed in advancing the basic technologies that could lead to meaningful improvements. Those advances are announced in the tech press well in advance of actual deployment in actual cameras, usually on the time scale of a year or more before.
The companies that make the sensors, like Panasonic, Sony and Samsung, apart from making sensors for their own products, are also in the business of sf selling sensors to other fab-less companies like Apple and Olympus. They WANT potential customers to know what their products can do in order to entice them to buy them so they announce new developments to the world, rather than hide their capabilities in secret, so you will hear about new sensor developments well before you see them in a camera.
Olympus do not manufacture sensors and none of the manufacturers that do are going to give them first access to secret technical developments that have never been announced. Even if they did have secret tech they would put it in their own products first, not hand it to a rival on a plate. Just look at Panasonic’s dealings with Olympus – how they contractually restricted Olympus from allowing the E-M1 to have the video related capabilities, like lower frame rates, that were just released in the latest firmware update. With behaviour like that, there isn’t a snowballs chance in hell Panasonic would give Olympus first access to a new sensor. Same goes for Sony and the other manufacturers. The only company they would do that for – if they were even in the business of doing that – would be Apple.
So stop saying every single new camera Olympus releases must have a new sensor because it will never happen.
Another argument: it’s not because thos sensors are still 16MP that they’re the same old sensor… There are many revisions of a circuit layout, sometimes to improve energy savings, frequency or bus speed… It’s not always about DR, S/N, etc.
In other words, it’s not because one can’t see the difference that there’s no difference…
I’d be happy is they managed to speed up the sensor so the camera could shoot higher speed movies.
Or of course, if they manage more DR form the next sensor. 16MP is WAY more than enough. I print large prints from my 6MP Fuji F30 that people rave about.