Olympus Pen

Olympus Pen is a series of cameras produced by Olympus Corporation, a Japanese company known for its high-quality optical instruments, including Olympus OM-1 and Olympus OM-2. The Olympus Pen series was designed by Yoshihisa Maitani, a renowned Japanese camera designer who also worked on the Olympus OM-10 and Olympus OM-20. The cameras were popular among photographers, including Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange, who appreciated their compact size and advanced features, such as those found in the Leica M6 and Nikon FM2. The Olympus Pen series was also compared to other compact cameras, such as the Canon QL17 and Minolta SR-T 101.

Introduction

The Olympus Pen series was introduced in 1959, with the first model being the Olympus Pen, a half-frame camera that used 35mm film and was designed to be compact and portable, much like the Minox 35 and Rolleiflex. The camera was an instant success, and it quickly gained popularity among photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa, who used cameras like the Leica IIIa and Contax II. The Olympus Pen series was known for its high-quality lenses, including the Zuiko lens, which was designed by Olympus Corporation and was comparable to lenses from Carl Zeiss and Schneider Kreuznach. The cameras were also popular among street photographers, such as Garry Winogrand and Lee Friedlander, who used cameras like the Nikon F and Canon F-1.

History

The Olympus Pen series has a long and rich history, with the first model being introduced in 1959, during the same period as the Nikon F and Canonflex. The camera was designed by Yoshihisa Maitani, who was inspired by the Leica M3 and Contax S. The Olympus Pen series was produced until 1983, with a total of 17 different models being released, including the Olympus Pen F and Olympus Pen FT. The cameras were popular among photographers, including Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, who used cameras like the Hasselblad 500C and Mamiya C220. The Olympus Pen series was also used by photographers who worked for National Geographic and Life (magazine), such as Steve McCurry and Gordon Parks.

Models

The Olympus Pen series includes a range of different models, each with its own unique features and characteristics, such as the Olympus Pen EE and Olympus Pen EE-2. Some of the most popular models include the Olympus Pen F, which was released in 1963, and the Olympus Pen FT, which was released in 1966, during the same period as the Nikon F2 and Canon F-1. The Olympus Pen series also includes the Olympus Pen W, which was released in 1964, and the Olympus Pen EE-S, which was released in 1962, and was comparable to the Canon Canonet and Minolta Hi-Matic. The cameras were used by photographers who worked for The New York Times and The Washington Post, such as Bill Cunningham and Cornell Capa.

Features

The Olympus Pen series is known for its advanced features, including its compact size and high-quality lenses, such as the Zuiko 38mm f/1.8 and Zuiko 40mm f/1.4. The cameras also feature a range of different shutter speeds and aperture settings, making them versatile and easy to use, much like the Leica M4 and Nikon FM. The Olympus Pen series also includes features such as flash synchronization and self-timer, which were advanced for their time, and were comparable to features found in the Pentax 67 and Bronica ETRSi. The cameras were used by photographers who worked for Vogue (magazine) and Harper's Bazaar, such as Annie Leibovitz and Richard Avedon.

Impact

The Olympus Pen series has had a significant impact on the world of photography, with its compact size and advanced features making it a popular choice among photographers, including Helmut Newton and Peter Lindbergh. The cameras were used by photographers who worked for Rolling Stone and The New Yorker, such as Annie Leibovitz and Mark Seliger. The Olympus Pen series has also been used by photographers who have won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Medal of Arts, such as Gordon Parks and Dorothea Lange. The cameras have been exhibited at museums and galleries, including the Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Art, and have been featured in books and documentaries, such as The Decisive Moment and The Photographer's Eye. The Olympus Pen series has been compared to other iconic cameras, such as the Leica M6 and Nikon F2, and has been used by photographers who have worked with Apple Inc. and Microsoft, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Category:Camera brands