I remember the first time I saw the Olympus Pen online. This sleek and vintage-looking camera was something I wanted so badly. I waited for the longest time until I managed to find a tested one for $78.
The Olympus Pen EE is a half-frame camera that was produced in 1961. It’s old, and using a selenium meter makes it tough to find a working one. But it was worth the wait.
Upon getting this camera in the mail, I was terrified of damaging it. The camera is hefty and the shell feels like something that would dent easily. The design and build of the camera are not flawed, but it feels like something that could break without challenge.
To load the camera you twist a knob at the bottom of the camera body and separate the bottom and top halves. Loading the film is simple, loading a camera is not a strong suit of mine so it took me a bit however, it did not take much effort to figure out on my own.
My only negative is the selenium meter. When that gives out, I have no clue what to do with this camera. I am certain it will be functional, but the “red flag” that stops you from taking photos will probably misfire or never fire again. Being unable to find a replacement selenium meter is expected, considering this camera is 60 years old.
While using this camera, I noticed that the film winder clicks, purrs, and the shutter sound is phenomenal. This camera has so much going for it in terms of aesthetics, but how does it do with photos?
I loaded my Pen EE with a roll of Kodak 400 film. I took it out on a couple of occasions around my school’s campus and my home. My one dislike with half-frame cameras is the fact that they take forever to shoot film on. But in the end, the photos I got were cool.
I like this camera, the look of the photos suits its personality. The photos may not be outstanding, but for an awesome-looking point-and-shoot I think it was worth every penny. I have received so many comments carrying this camera around, and I will continue to make good use of the Olympus Pen EE. I think this is a really fun camera, but if you are looking to buy one I would recommend going in a direction with a camera that can be serviced with little effort. I think what you have to pay for this is way too high considering it’s essentially a one-and-done camera.
