Olympus Pen D

Or you could say ancient arrival. I got my Olympus Pen D half frame camera in the mail today. If you are unsure of what half frame is, here is a picture from the internet to give you an idea.



You get two exposures in the same space you would normally take one picture. I like the possibilities of juxtaposition that this presents.

I was prepared for a slightly beat up camera with more defects than the listing stated. However, I was very surprised by what I got. The camera is in beautiful condition. No mold, the lens is crystal clear, and overall the body looks great.



The only thing that might not work is the EV meter but I expected that more than anything else. The selenium sensor degrades over time and 1962 was a while ago. I can just learn with the camera and this part is not necessary. I'll chart the various EV settings, light conditions, shutter speed and aperture to create a rough outline for settings in different conditions.

There is no battery to this camera so I don't have to worry about that. It's full manual. In fact I read that these 'D' models are some of the best made in the Pen series. The lenses and shooting options stand out according to many things. I found some unopened film in a closet at my home and loaded the camera up. I'll look forward to seeing the first shots from this camera. Time to experiment. It should be fun.

I hope I haven't found a new addiction to old cameras....