Olympus Pen S (1960–1967)
A half-frame 35mm viewfinder camera with manual controls and a 30mm f/3.5 Zuiko lens.
Overview
The Olympus Pen S is a compact half-frame 35mm film camera introduced in 1960 as part of the Pen series. It shoots 18x24mm images on standard 35mm film, so you get twice as many exposures per roll. The Pen S 3.5 came out in January 1965 and replaced both the original Pen and the Pen S 2.8. Everything is manual. Focusing is by distance, with premarked settings at 2m, 5m, and infinity. The body is solidly built. Olympus sold this model until 1967 and marketed it as an affordable, portable camera for everyday photography.
Specifications
| Lens | Zuiko 1:3.5 f=30mm |
| Film format | Half-frame 35mm (18x24mm) |
| Shutter | Copal shutter |
| Shutter speeds | B, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 second |
| Flash | PC sync port |
| Dimensions | 108mm x 68mm x 40mm |
| Weight | 370g (Pen S 3.5), 400g (general Pen S) |
Design
The Olympus Pen S is fully manual. Its distance-focusing system has premarked points at 2m, 5m, and infinity.
Context
The Pen S 3.5 replaced both the original Olympus Pen and the Pen S 2.8 in January 1965. That meant more accessible pricing while keeping the optical quality. It belonged to the wider Pen series, which included compact and SLR models designed for half-frame 35mm film. Olympus positioned it as a practical, lightweight camera for amateur photographers who wanted portability and efficiency.
Market
A clean, working Olympus Pen S typically sells for $80-100. The Pen S 3.5 in very good condition is valued at $50-60, and mint examples reach $90-100. The rare black variant is sought after by collectors and fetches $250 or more.
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