The name "Pen EES-2' didn't age well in the world of the internet good stuff Kyle - been wanting to get a Half frame for myself for the past couple of years now - to play around with diptychs
Nice review. I'm surprised you didn't mention the weird "hold the camera vertically to shoot landscape" fun part! Also, a DOF app or chart, plus a little more use would nail the focusing issue. Pentax just released the Pentax 17 so this format won't go away 😊
This has already happened here in Brazil. Some analog cameras were already expensive because they were considered "collector's pieces", but the prices increased a lot after some celebrities posted on their Instagrams some photos holding certain models, like the olympus trip 35 and olympus mju, more or less that happened with Contax T2 after Frank Ocean used it to take some pictures. In addition, some people end up discovering these cameras kept at home, look at the sale sites and see the high prices, and finally end up selling cameras full of fungus or not working at the price of revised cameras, or else they sell based on the international price, commonly the price on ebay, and as the dollar is five times more expensive than our currency, prices go up.
@@Matheus.MRoque This especially bothers me when people sell their untested cameras on eBay at the same prices as fully functioning ones, yet don’t offer a return option. It’s ridiculous to make someone pay $100+ item that is not deemed working.
@@ElishaDavid Yes, it really is to make anyone angry. but the analog market is absurdly abusive around here. There's only one guy who sells movies fairly. One of the good things is that one of the biggest sales sites, similar to ebay, has a return service within 30 days, in case the product has a problem that was not mentioned in the description.
With the zone focusing, viewfinder and selenic meter / automatic exposure, this reminds me a lot of my Olympus Trip 35 which I LOVE. Great video as always, I especially like your variance in background music which is a nice break from the monotonous music of other film photography channels.
The canon Demi is another good choice for a half frame camera. It's a 4 sprocket format as opposed to the 8 sproket full frame. 35mm movies use the same 4 sprocket format.
Beautiful shots and love the way you’ve structured this video, Kyle. As someone who enjoys vertical shooting about 80% of the time, I’m keen to see how I’d get on with a half-frame camera. I half expect there to be times when you lose “count” of your shots and end up 1 frame out of sync to the images you think you’re pairing; but then there’s opportunity for happy accidents to happen!
Cheers Joe! Yeah, it’s definitely a fun camera. As for the out of sync frames, it happens but you can always cut/crop in post. I had a few moments where I had to take a shot twice because of focus issues. You can always fix the order in post if you need.
I grabbed an AGAT 18k, and as an amateur it was really rewarding to put an emphasis on composure. Very simplistic while allowing a degree of control, and an accurate exposure guide.
The Pen F is a wonderful system.getting hard to find in good condition and definitely getting more expensive. I have two EES-2 cameras beautiful little things. One has been CLA'd , the other needs one. Thanks for sharing you images.
I just recently bought a Fujica Half 2.8, and I am astonished with the quality of the images! I initially questioned whether a half-frame camera could produce quality enlargements , but my concerns were unjustified. Considering that the negatives are the same size as an APS-C sensor and, surprisingly, the same dimensions as 35mm motion picture film, significant enlargements are not unreasonable! Just for giggles, I've bought a couple of rolls of Eastman XX cinema film to run through it to see what I can get. I am also going to run a roll through my Leica, just for comparison. If you can’t play around and have fun, then why bother? 😊
I have a Pen F and absolutely love it. The 38mm f/1.8 Zuiko lens is phenomenal (I adapt it to my Fuji x-e3 on occasions and gives great results). Love your images and have me keen to get back out there with my Pen F. Thanks
Saw you posting these photos on Instagram and then came home to find the exact same camera waiting for me! I’d never heard of it before, my great grandfather bought it decades ago while visiting Fiji.
I was definitely going to recommend the Pen F when you were listing the cons of the EES. I've been using one for a while and it is always refreshing to come back to. 72 frames seems intimidating at first but when you start to shoot and look for pairs, it goes by quite fast. Glad you have enjoyed half frame!
The first 35mm half frame camera I saw was a college classmate's Canon Demi camera. I borrowed it and ran a roll or two of Tri-X Pan film through it. It was a fun camera, and I considered buying one, but continued to use Ye Olde Nikkormat FTN, instead. In the 1970's I found a Univex 35mm half frame camera of the 1940's in Shutterbug Ads. Another college friend bought an Olympus Pen FT, which was even more interesting as a "system SLR" with a number of lenses and "X synch at any speed."
Currently in London, for a few days. Decided to leave the digital’s at home, and bring my trusted Pen ee, love this little camera, so much I bought the ee s too. Have noticed prices shooting up! Think I paid £13 for one of mine, both in fantastic condition with working red flags.
The images you created with this little half frame were really impressive! I like the more mindful approach of a complimentary second frame. Very cool! Great b-roll too. The tight shots and flaring had a nice vintage look 👍 Awesome video and music as always!
Kyle I'm going to be a bit of a curmudgeon here. I understand your reasons for going with a half frame system but... I lusted after the Pen F when they came out. The advertising photo of Eugene Smith with one hanging around his neck was way cool in the day. I couldn't afford it at that time. Fast forward until a couple of years ago I finally bought one and several lenses and even a second body. I found the view finder dim and basically the eye relief poor. I couldn't properly frame with my glasses on and even with them off it was a challenge. Focusing was difficult with dim view finder. There are also well documented issues with the rotary shutter. Finally, the system used mercury batteries which are no longer available. There are zinc air substitutes which have a fairly short life. In the end I dumped the whole mess. I should mention that Canon also made half frame cameras one of which appears to have a actual range finder mechanism for actual focusing. Leica and Nikon also dabbled in the half frame world but these cameras are rare and expensive. And just for fun there is another half frame system. Roll Film 645 (A half frame 6X9). All the Best - Rich Ball
Dude I LOVE my pen ft, go for it, you won't regret it! Sunny 16 gave me a perfect batch of photos and the 38mm 1.8 handles so well and is so sharp you almost can't tell it's half the resolution!
It's so portable too - I keep it in my pocket when I shoot medium format. 72 frames gives me the option to take only the best shots with my medium format, and having the Pen right there gives me the chance to get those peripheral shots just for fun.
Here, long after this video was made, but I completely agree. These pairs are some of my favorite images I’ve seen from you, Kyle. Such a knack for echoes of shape and light from one frame to the other.
So happy you made this video, was really looking forward to it since you first announced it! I am really digging your 1/2 frames experiments and have even been developing a small project since you started sharing those. Thanks for the inspiration 🙏 🙏 🙏
I completely agree with you on the 35mm comment at the beginning. Really tricky to get through a roll if there's not much opportunity to fill it and make it worth the ridiculous price you pay. As regards half frame cameras I own a Zeiss Super Ikonta from the 1930s which comes with a mask for 6x4.5 images. Instead of 8 photos you therefore get 16. That can be hard enough. Yet I brought a Ricoh half frame yesterday for £20 (about $25). Gonna try it and use it for candid photos of my friends.
Pen EE3 is my childhood camera. We called it “doubling”, rather than “half frame”. Cute little thing. But it was hell to finish a roll of 72 frames. Took 1/2 a year 😂 I still have 300 9x13 cm prints from 2 weeks in Europe back in summer 84. We didn’t even put it in albums. We just couldn’t handle so many prints from each roll (in the 80s that was the main print size, until 10x15 took over)
@@KyleMcDougall Today, there is a great advantage to these, because you don’t print everything, and you usually scan the entire frame rather than printing. So you can have each frame be comprised of 2 half frames of the same “storyline”. Then, you treat it really as 36 frames with 2 halves of a story, which is great.
I have seen until now 2 reviews that convinced me to buy those tiny half frame camera, and the pen F, they were made by analog insights. This review is different and definitely rrally good and photos from this tiny little camera are extremely sharp once you master zone focusing. Thanks for this really good videos as always
Great video. This is one of the Pens that I use. I have a Pen F also. I sometimes leave film in it for a year or so which makes the negatives interesting.
Ever heard of the FED Mikron? It’s basically a soviet version of the PEN, it has a Helios 1.9 30mm lens, by far my fave half frame camera! Great video nonetheless 😊
The video and the pictures of course look so amazing. Beautiful nostalgic editing! ;) i saw the pen today for the first time and never heard of a half frame camera before. The idea to compose two pics in one 35mm frame is beautiful and very exciting! Loved the pairs you shot for this video.
I do have a Pen FT, in black, in great condition (with the exception of a non-working light meter). I can attest that it's a wonderful camera, small and discreet (except for the shutter sound, which is actually louder than you might expect). But I'm going to sell it, now that I have a Pen FV coming. I love half frame; it forces you to be creative in a different way. Check out some of the triptychs and diptychs on line, they are very creative.
Love the simplicity in your shots especially with the border ❤ thanks for introducing me to my first film camera after doing digital for years! Also love the videos in between, what were they shot on if you don’t mind me asking?
I have used the Pen FT and the Pen F. I bought the FT first and, while I liked the camera in general, the dim viewfinder was worse than I had expected. Additionally, the meter was so awkward to use the I usually used my iPhone meter app. I then bought the older Pen F and it fixed my complaints. It does require two stroke advance but otherwise, the viewfinder is so much better and easier to use. I then sold my FT. (I have the 38mm f/1.8 lens.)
Nice review. If you like SLRs, consider also the original Konica Auto-reflex (also called the Autorex in Japan), which is the only interchangeable-lens SLR that I know of that lers you change from half frame to full frame on the same roll of film. I imagine having both full and half frame on a single roll probably drives the lab crazy, lol.
I wanted to get a Pen F, but couldn't afford a good one (they're like $500-$900 on eBay), so I ended up buying a Canon Demi EE17, which is much like the Pen E series half frame cameras. I'd still like to get a Pen F, but I'll have to save up for one :D
Ive been shooting the Olympus ee lately but I can't wait to see if it works aha it's hard to tell if it always fire but we will see soon. love the idea of shooting half frame
Great video, ive been shooting with the EE2. Ive just bought the EES-2 though so i have a little more focus control. I noticed for close up photos of subjects it's perfect but often landscape type photos beyond about 10m the images are too soft for me.
Loved the images. The Olympus Pen FT is in my top favorites even after owning NF3, CF1, LM3, LM6, HXP. If I had do it all over I would opt for the non metered Pen F or FV as I understand they have a brighter viewfinder. Keep up the great content!
Personally I have an Olympus Pen S and that set up does not allow you to frame up the way and SLR would but is fully controllable of your exposure and focus without the size of the Pen F basically a 35mm SLR size.
My uncle in law had a half frame camera. I wonder where it is now. I like the doublet image idea. Also a doublet "pano" would be fun. I am also thinking how weird it would be to turn the camera to take a landscape orientation shot.
I have an EES-2, but it suffers some sticking in that part of the exposure mechanism which sets aperture. The shutter (two speed only) seems responsive to light level, so if cleaned up, the camera probably will function. Happily, there is a YT video on how to disassemble the lens from the front to get far enough into the mechanism to clean it. Salvaging this camera from the bin would be very satisfying for me.
Great shots! I have the canon demi ee17 which I absolutely love. Cute as a button but sharp, sharp lens. I also have the demi ee28 which is also another great half frame, but find the ee17 to have better sharpness and possibly better details. Have a look at the demi ee17, plenty of info and examples on the net.
Hey Kyle, just revisiting your video as I'm about to acquire my first half frame - it belonged to my first cousin twice removed's late husband (I had to double-check that 😆) . I have a Trip 35 which I really enjoy, and I guess this is really the half frame equivalent. So I'm very much looking forward to shooting with it!
Honestly appreciate content makers, especially your quality content, but this camera started my love for half frames camera back in 2005, I captured some of the most special moments of my life with this camera. And yeah I'm now worried the prices will hike up fast.... So I have mixed feelings about videos hyping old gem of a camera... but then again this knowledge should be shared.... aaaaaaaaahhhhhh
Very cool! After shooting 110 film, then 35mm then digital, then MF and then 4x5, I'm having trouble going back to 35mm let alone 35/2. Still, I loved your paired shots. They looked amazing!
I dug out my old Pen EES-2 and found your video (excellent BTW). I had to double take when I saw one of your photos was taken of my friends car just along the road from me. I'm in the UK and you're based in Canada! I just wonder how you came to be walking along my road with a Pen EES-2. Amazing! (Have subscribed)
My first half frame camera was the pen ee2. I thought moving to a pen F would be a better move but I found I lost that carefree style of set focus, point and shoot love I got from the ee2. Dont sell the ees2. I've got a feeling you'll be going back to it.
I've been shooting with the Pen-FT for about a year. I think you'll enjoy the full SLR experience if you end up getting the Pen-F. You've probably seen in your research that the Pen-F has a brighter View Finder due to the lack of built in light meter. So, if you don't plan to use the built in meter, that's definitely a good choice. I really enjoy having this camera & format alongside my M3 and RB67. It's a lot of fun and makes me shoot so differently.
The resulting image scans are very nice! Did you "pull" your film in development or in lightroom to compensate the overexposure setting on the camera? I wonder because I want to try to put a 400 iso film in my Pen EE on a iso 200 setting. I am just sceptical of the results I'll get and if overexposing my color-neg film would help.. maybe?
