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Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

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Photo of the Day

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

Digital Moments: Image making with a super compact mirrorless setup, a vintage Olympus Pen E-PM2, and a legacy Olympus F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8.

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While the 'Compact Comeback' resurgence refers to a recent trend in the interest of smaller and more portable digital cameras, or digicams, with young enthusiasts looking for a nostalgic appeal in retro looks and simple point-and-shoot photography, senior vintage veterans, on the other hand, can equally look at the concept through a more elaborate setup with a small and compact vintage mirrorless digital mounted with an equally small and petite legacy manual focus lens.

As reviewed, an example of the setup is the mirrorless Olympus Pen E-PM2, the smallest and lightest compact system camera on the market when it was launched in 2012, coupled with a legacy manual focus Olympus F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8, a product manufactured for the PenF half-frame SRL camera from the 1960s.

Though designed with a focus on being small, minimalist, and easy to use, with a body dimension of approximately 109.8 x 64.2 x 33.8mm and 223 grams in weight, the Pen E-PM2 is a highly functional mirrorless digital with flagship features including a 16.1MP sensor and TruePic VI image processor (as seen on the E-PL5 and OM-D E-M5), a 3-inch touchscreen, two-axis image stabilization, and a customizable interface that allows the camera to be set up to users preferences.

The accompanying F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8, which should be well past 60 years old by now, is part of the Olympus PenF series of half-frame SLR system cameras, which were in production from 1963 to 1972. The solidly built lens features a classic double Gauss design with 6 elements in 5 groups, 5 aperture blades, measures approximately 50mm x 35mm in size, accepts 43mm filters, and weighs 138 grams.

The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.35 meters, and at 38mm on the half-frame, is equivalent to a standard normal 50mm on a 35mm full-frame camera. Designed specifically for the Pen F system with a fast f/1.8 aperture, the lens is known for its good image quality, particularly when stopped down, with minimal distortion or chromatic aberration.

On the 2x crop sensor E-PM2, the F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8 is equivalent to a 76mm short telephoto lens on a 35mm full-frame. For good use, a 75mm short telephoto lens is an excellent choice for portrait photography, with a flattering perspective, good background separation, and compression. The focal length is also versatile enough for street photography (which I will try on another session), especially when you want to isolate subjects or create tighter compositions from a mid-to-long distance.

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

With its short telephoto mode, wide aperture, and close focusing distance, the lens is equally suitable for use in close-ups and macro shots. Though thoughtfully disadvantageous without the help of a 'peak focusing' feature, the E-PM2 can be fitted, optionally, with an external EVF (electronic view finder) to enhance focusing accuracy.

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.