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[OM] Re: Pen F/FT ownership - potential pitfalls

Subject: [OM] Re: Pen F/FT ownership - potential pitfalls
From: "om2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <om2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 14:16:44 -0500
Cc: mwalters@xxxxxxxxxxx
The clip-on meters were designed for the Pen F and were "coupled" only to
the external shutter speed dial, much like a Leica MR meter.  I've never
used one, but I think that they read in traditional aperture units. 
They're pretty useless, IMO.  I'll take a handheld meter any day over such
an afterthought.

Yes, the Pen FT lenses with the number scale have both systems on a
reversable aperture ring.  You grasp the ring, pull it towards the front of
the lens, rotate it 180 degrees, and it clicks back in to read the other
scale.  OM-System lenses would need to be used with a handheld meter.

Yes, there's a crop factor.  For example, the six lenses in the 38-42mm
range are all considered Normal (38/1.8, 40/1.4, 42/1.2, 38/3.5 Macro,
38/2.8 pancake, 38/2.8)

Skip


Original Message:
-----------------
From: Walters, Martin mwalters@xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 13:13:44 -0500 
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: Pen F/FT ownership - potential pitfalls


Skip:
Thanks for the insight.

I had mentally ignored an FV - rarity and price premium. From John's
comment, the FT seems the way to go, despite some drawbacks.

There is a "clip on" light meter for Pen Fs. Does this use the "number
system" or does it register ss and aperture? Can it/does it need to be used
on F/FT/FV (even though the FT has its own meter)?

As far as the aperture ring is concerned, I assume that one side is numbers,
the other is conventional apertures. If so, the issue is rather whether you
can use the number system or not, is that correct? If one used OMZ lenses,
then I presume that one has to use a separate (conventional) meter. 

It's interesting to realize that there's a field of view factor for
half-frame (versus standard full frame). I hadn't thought of that. Shades of
digital "crop factors" here.

Martin 

-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of om2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: February 2, 2006 12:26
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: Pen F/FT ownership - potential pitfalls



Nice cameras, nice, ultra-tiny lenses.  A good kit would be an F/FT and a
20/3.5 (28mm equiv),  40/1.4, and a 70/2 or 100/3.5.  It will all fit in a
tiny case.

<<< Some questions:
<<< -  F versus FT (e.g., FT uses mercury batteries, stand alone light
meter 
for F)?

I like the FV the most, as it has the newer mechanics and the brightest
finder.  An FV is essentially an FT without the meter and it's
light-stealing meter.  And the meter in an FT is the PITA "light value",
where you see a number in the finder for a given SS, and then transfer it
to the lens via a special aperture scale on a reversible aperture ring.

You can use a CRIS adapter for the FT to gain meter use, if it still works.
Otherwise use a hand-held meter.

I also like the F's, even though I know parts are only available via
cannibalization.  Many are very smooth and their bright fresnel finder is
nice for my longer 150/4 lens.  The double-stroke operation is quaint.

<<< -  Repairability (e.g., to what extent are they economically
repairable; 
what problems to avoid)?

John's the expert there.  

-  Buying F/FT lenses (e.g., is element separation is a concern; should 
one stay away from the older zuikos)?

I've never heard of any big problems.  The 40/1.4 lenses are the easiest to
focus, esp on an FT.  I'd stick with later lenses with the reversible
aperture ring, otherwise their operation with an FT is relagated to a
hand-held meter.  Olympus did sell stick-on numbers for "upgrading" older
lenses, but I've never seen such items for sale.

Skip

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