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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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Olympus Pen-F 38mm f/2.8 Pancake lens
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:16 pm
Post subject: Olympus Pen-F 38mm f/2.8 Pancake lens
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:16 pm
Post subject: Olympus Pen-F 38mm f/2.8 Pancake lens
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When i first got it the size surprised me, man this thing is tiny! Of course, it is a half-frame lens, but either way: it really is a small lens. Which leads to the first comment: it's also hard to operate, but this may be a personal thing because i am not used to them.

So, today the NEX-Pen-F adapter arrived! Time to try it! First i mounted it on the A7 to see if it covers full-frame, and it does! It is designed to cover half of that, so i decided to make the test shots on a crop body, the Sony A3000. This of course still is larger than the original half-frame Pen format.

This little Olympus lens is a true gem. It's a splendid performer, all pictures below are straight out of camera JPGs, no PP whatsoever. I am truly stunned! Such a small lens and such a great performer!

I had to see how the lens combines with the old NEX3 camera, which is also quite tiny and flat, so here's a picture of the little gem:


Indoors at f/4


Wide open at f/2.8


At f/8


At f/8


At f/11


At f/8


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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:33 pm
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:33 pm
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Very nice indeed. Oly has always been a leader in packaging size, both lenses and cameras.


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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:31 pm
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:31 pm
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nice lens!! Like 1 small Like 1 small Like 1 small


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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:46 pm
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:46 pm
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Looks like a nice GEM indeed, congratz! Wink
..but the Pen F Half frame isn`t really smaller than Sony APS-C, half frame is slightly bigger.


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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:42 pm
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:42 pm
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Very impressive!

I've enjoyed my long focal length Pen-F's so far. But haven't had the opportunity to try normal primes due to cost and availability.

It does look nice on the the NEX!


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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:18 am
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:18 am
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Thanks to all!

Nordentro wrote:

..but the Pen F Half frame isn`t really smaller than Sony APS-C, half frame is slightly bigger.


Indeed.... somehow i got confused with the M4/3 format. Full-Frame = 24x36, Half-Frame = 24x18 and the Sony APS-C sensor measures 23.4x15.6, there's not that much difference.
Somehow i always assumed Olympus had their Pen lenses focal lengths converted to the actual format. They aren't, this 38mm lens is 38mm on the A7.


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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:47 am
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:47 am
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That looks great. Neat Smile


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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:51 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:51 pm
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There is one of these Olympus Pen-F 38mm 2.8 Pancakes for sale on ebay right now!


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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:49 am
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:49 am
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goamules wrote:
There is one of these Olympus Pen-F 38mm 2.8 Pancakes for sale on ebay right now!


Indeed, thanks for sharing!
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