Olympus Pen EE-2 Review

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

In this video, we dive deep into the Olympus Pen EE-2, a particularly interesting model in the legendary Olympus Pen camera series known for its beauty, simplicity, and ease of use. Whether you're a seasoned film photographer or just starting your analog journey, this camera is truly a delight and, I would argue, deserves a bit more attention from the film community.

This video features:

Historical Context:
The Olympus Pen was designed by the legendary Yoshihisa Maitani and became such a success that it saw a variety of models between 1959 and 1983. I am demystifying the complex naming convention and try to extract broad categories to better explain, where to place the EE-2 historically.

Camera Features:
The EE-2 is a true and original point-and-shoot camera. It features a built-in “Electric Eye” exposure meter, fixed focus, and a compact size perfect for casual snapshots or travel photography. The camera comes with only two shutters speeds (1/40s and 1/200s) and an expanded ISO range from 25-400.

Image Quality:
The EE-2 comes with the 28mm f/3.5 lens that made the original such a success. The video features photos from a trip to Mallorca and a wintery photo walk together with Jules. The results show the remarkable optical performance. Jules and I even did a few prints to demonstrate how much quality the lens captures on a half-frame negative. .

Handling & Personal Impressions:
We share our firsthand experience using the EE-2 - arguably one of the simplest cameras we ever reviewed on this channel. .

Why Choose the Olympus Pen EE-2?
This camera stands out for its beautiful greyish finish, compact design, and heritage as a true point-and-shoot. With such a rich history and no manual settings, the camera is a quintessential film photography experience that should be part of every film camera collection.

Join us on this visual journey and see why the Olympus Pen EE-2 is a favorite among film camera enthusiasts until today. Don’t forget to hit the like button, share with your fellow photography lovers, and subscribe for more Analog Insights!


Gear used:
Olympus Pen EE-2

Films used:
Ilford Delta 400
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Tri-X

All films developed and scanned by my trusted On Film Lab:
https://onfilmlab.de

Watch more reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7UnFHxJ8l14aDqFybkLF0mCw_eUATdP

MartinDuke Etsy shop for the half-case:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MartindukeShop

References:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AnalogCommunity/comments/rrmxtb/how_to_ionize_a_selenium_meter_cell_recipe/?rdt=52565
https://www.halfframeclub.com/olympus-pen-eed.html
https://www.biofos.com/coll/subcoll/vfpen.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20161211083439/http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/lecture/lecture1/index.html
https://www.biofos.com/pub/index.html
https://www.biofos.com/pub/vfbook.html
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/olympus
https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/vintage-classic-cameras-the-unvarnished-truth-the-olympus-pen-saga-part-1.175700/
https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/vintage-classic-cameras-the-unvarnished-truth-the-olympus-pen-part-2.175742/
https://web.archive.org/web/20050430133833/http://www.collection-appareils.com/olympus/html/olympus_penEE_2.php
https://web.archive.org/web/20161201222936/http://www.hicat.ne.jp/~bianchi/bianchi/
https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Olympus_Pen
https://www.halfframeclub.com/journal/guide-to-olympus-pen-half-frame-cameras
https://austerityphoto.co.uk/olympus-pen-ee-2-1st-roll-review/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Pen

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