Peter Del
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One of the two reasons I bought an E-M5 mk1 (coming from Nikon) was that it reminded me of my OM2 film cameras from decades earlier.
Peter Del
Peter Del
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RIP Olympus PEN-F. best small M43 camera with articulating LCD
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Harold66
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Never had an Olympus film camera but I used to like the on/off switch on the left side anyway. But now that I got problems with this switch on TWo different OMD bodies ( em1 and now on the em5.2) maybe they should abandon this feature on the em5.3 if they cannot implement it correctly
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The PEN-F was overpriced and was ironically a little bit too large and had that annoying permanent scene mode front dial. It's a good idea, but was nothing special as a rangefinder style mirrorless (Sony a6xxx line, Panasonic GXx line, Fujifilm X-Ex line). It could have done with a few refinements. They really milked the premium price of the PEN-F for as long as they could. Wouldnt be surprised if thats the end of the line. The Panasonic GM5 is the one that had the most potential, but was sadly abruptly scrapped.https://www.43rumors.com/olympus-japan-confirms-the-pen-f-has-been-discontinued/
Olympus PEN-F is a jewel of a camera. It is perhaps the best design, best built, and the smallest M43 camera with an 360 degree articulating LCD screen. I ♥ the look, but the initial high price tag give me pauses. Too bad there isn't going to be a Gen II. Sad, but also not surprising since the entire industry is suffering from a new sad trend of:
RIP PEN-F, you're small is beautiful camera design will be solely missed
- making Camera Bigger for no good reason
arrest the GX9 for its murder. At $797 with a kit lens, this camera has effectively killed the Pen. The GX9 is overall a better camera and can be had for less money than the Pen F with a decent kit lens thrown in for free. It should be no surprise what has happened.
Good looks are mostly what the Pen F had going for it and, as is usual in life, functionality eventually wins once the cute looks wear off.
Good looks are mostly what the Pen F had going for it and, as is usual in life, functionality eventually wins once the cute looks wear off.
First, maybe you should call your mom a bonehead who taught you to speak like this. Second, why not to express my impressions regarding a camera based on its look, its output, and concept? I started with the statement that I have never used it to let everyone consider it when reading; and I criticized the camera based on its aesthetics and IQ (linked a gallery to show how I mean) - none of them needs a personal handling. If you are not interested in my opinion, then fine, you could have skipped it, but the truth is that my opinion hurts your identity, right? Why not just go out and shot with your Pen-F instead of calling a person 'bonehead' without a reason?
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http://peterdegay.wix.com/photos
--What posses you to write an overlong critique of a camera you never used? The pen-f is a camera that makes sense when you pick it up and use it. Go try that and report back. Actually, scratch that. If you’re the kind of bonehead that judges a camera simply by a test shot odds are you’ll be totally lost with a pen-f.
When I express my opinion, it is important, that I have never had the (digital) Pen-F. But still, I can't share the enthusiasm.
I always saw the digital Pen-F as an overdesigned, misconcepted camera. I don't think it is beautiful (this is personal taste of course), but it could have been IMHO if they designed it to look simplier. Look at the original Pen-F: it is a very simple camera; they could have mimic it better - or they should not use the Pen-F name. The digital version simply has too many knobs, wheels, buttons, and it harms the aesthetics - while maybe helps the usage, but I am doubtful about this concept really. A simpler, but stylish reborn of the original Pen-F would have been what I liked. Olympus also missed to design an aesthetically matching lens for this camera. Maybe the 12 f2 and the 45 f1.8 is not a bad match, but the 17 f1.8 looks too modern on it, while that should be the 'default' walkaround for that body.
As for IQ, I can only judge based on net samples, but I don't really like them too. Many times I feel the images are flat, and the transitions are too harsh - I can't help, but I see this. When I saw the dpreview samples for the Olympus 17mm f1.2 lens, which was tested on a Pen-F, I was practically shocked, how weak a few images[1] look with this quite expensive combo. This is not against m43 before anyone reacts this: while not perfect, I prefer images from the Panasonic GF1 + 20mm f1.7 any day.
Cheers,
Loga
[1] This is one particular example for what I wrote, look at the faces:
https://4.img-dpreview.com/files/p/sample_galleries/4080077450/0760014998.jpg
https://www.43rumors.com/olympus-japan-confirms-the-pen-f-has-been-discontinued/
Olympus PEN-F is a jewel of a camera. It is perhaps the best design, best built, and the smallest M43 camera with an 360 degree articulating LCD screen. I ♥ the look, but the initial high price tag give me pauses. Too bad there isn't going to be a Gen II. Sad, but also not surprising since the entire industry is suffering from a new sad trend of:
RIP PEN-F, you're small is beautiful camera design will be solely missed
- making Camera Bigger for no good reason
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http://peterdegay.wix.com/photos
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Harold66
Forum Pro
Well I have zero interest in the Pen F but your assertion is very debatable
the Pen F viewfinder is MUCH BETTER than the crappy one on the GX9
Harold
MEDISN
Senior Member
What exactly is “unfunctional” about the PEN-F? If the GX9 is selling so well, why is it already discounted?
Last edited:
EarthQuake
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Yep same here. Main reason I'm still using 2 EM1s and don't have much interest in the EM1.2. I bought a Pen-F and played with it for a while but the FAS was a pain for a street style camera, and it weighs about the same as the EM1 anyway so there wasn't any benefit to using it for me. Not to mention that stupid JPG dial that digs into my finger when I hold it.
Still, some nice features on the Pen-F, the dedicated exp comp dial for instance. It's a really nice camera to look at too, just not the nicest to use.
I always thought for the price the Pen F should have come with weather resistance. If it had I believe it would have sold much better. I know I would have bought one for sure.
I don't think Olympus drafted the PEN-F with the aim of it being a 'better camera'.
Sure they packed latest 20MP sensor, High rez mode and other nice features but what made the PEN-F sell (albeit not to their expectations) was the absolutely unique design, look and 'feel'.
PEN-F was only second or third (or fifth, in my case) camera body and could hardly have been first camera for anyone.
GX9 was no and could never be object of desire, like PEN-F was.
Sure they packed latest 20MP sensor, High rez mode and other nice features but what made the PEN-F sell (albeit not to their expectations) was the absolutely unique design, look and 'feel'.
PEN-F was only second or third (or fifth, in my case) camera body and could hardly have been first camera for anyone.
GX9 was no and could never be object of desire, like PEN-F was.
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