OddCameras.com
Olympus Pen D3
The
Oympus Pen series is a brand name for half frame compact cameras from
1959 until the early 1980s by the Olympus Co, Tokio, Japan, an old
camera company. The original Pen was introduced in 1959. It was
designed by Yoshihisa Maitani and was the first half-frame camera
produced in Japan. It was one of the smallest cameras to use regular
35mm film. A series of Pen models followed, some easier to use with
automatic exposure.
The Pen D3 is one of these little half frame cameras, introduced in 1965. It is also designed by Yoshihisa Maitani
(who later created the OM-1 and the XA). It is based on the D2, but has an even more luminous lens of 1:1.7.
The main features are:
Lens: F.Zuiko 1:1.7 /32 mm, 6 elements in 5 groups, F1.7-16, min focus 0.8m
Shutter: Copal X, Speeds: 1/8 - 1/500s and B
Viewfinder: luminous frame, parallax indications
Light-meter: CdS, non-coupled
Film speeds: 10-400 ISO
Size: 108 x 67 x 50 mm, Weight: 400 g
Cds meter, non coupled, PC socket, tripod mount
Some photos:
A
nice and stylish little camera. The iconic gothic letter F on the lens cap comes from a Pen F lens.
Camera
front. CdS cell, finder, distance setting tab and PC socket.
Lens front.
Camera
back. Viewer, little meter button, film advance thumbwheel.
Camera
bottom. Rewind release, tripod socket and camera back opening mechanism. ISO setting on the lens barrel.
Seen
from above. Rewind, meter, shutter release and film counter.
The meter needle moves when you press the little button on the back. It gives EV system values.
On the lens barrel: Speed and aperture setting. The lttle EV window
should show the value you read on the meter. If speed or aperture are
not convenient, you can grab both rings and change speed and aperture
without changing the EV setting.
Distance scale. There are stops at 3m and 1.2m.
Back open.
Battery
compartment, takes a PX625 mercury battery. There are replacements
available. And there are loads of discussions about it.
A really cute little camera with an extremely luminous lens.
This Pen series cameras are regarded as the best of the half frame cameras although
launched about 60 years ago. They are very nice and very small
cameras with very good lenses and most
still work nicely after so many years. Seen today's film prices, half
frames are sought after. This led to high prices for the top
models.
Handling is easy and logic. The D3 combines a top luminous lens and a meter in a very small body. A nice find.
There is a lot of discussion about the battery. I do not use slide film
except for stereo cameras. Modern negative film is easy within 1 or 2
apertures. So no problem with a new U 625 battery. But I have ordered
an adapter to 1.3 V and I will report back later.